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Thursday, February 5, 2009

[ALOCHONA] The trade agreement between Bangladesh and India :Full text


The trade agreement between Bangladesh and India renewed on March 21, 2006 and signed by the then finance minister M Saifur Rahman and Indian commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath in New Delhi is as follow:

The Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh,

Being conscious of the urge of their two peoples to enlarge areas of mutual co-operation;

Desirous of expanding trade and strengthening economic relations between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit;

Have agreed as follows:

Article I
The two Governments recognizing the need and requirement of each other in the context of their developing economies undertake to explore all possibilities, including economic and technical cooperation, for promotion, facilitation, expansion and diversification of trade between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Article II
The two Governments agree to take appropriate measures in accordance with the evolving international trading system for mutual benefit of developing countries and least developed countries in so far as such measures are consistent with their individual, present and future development, financial and trade facilitation.

Article III
The two Governments agree that expansion of their mutual trade exchanges would make an important contribution towards their development. To this end, they agree to take appropriate and special measures during periodic reviews taking into account the asymmetries between the two countries with a view to augmenting and diversifying their mutual trade specially in respect of specific products as may be agreed upon.

Article IV
All payments and charges in connection with trade between the two countries shall continue to be effected in freely convertible currencies in accordance with the foreign exchange regulations in force in each country from time to time.

Article V
Imports and exports of commodities and goods produced or manufactured in India or Bangladesh, as the case may be, shall be permitted in accordance with the import, export and foreign exchange laws, regulations and procedures in force in either country from time to time taking into account asymmetries between the two countries.

Article VI
Each Government shall accord to the commerce of the country of the other Government, treatment no less than that accorded to the commerce of any third country.

Article VII
The provisions of Article VI shall not prevent the grant or continuance of:-

a) Privileges which are or may be granted by either of the two Governments in order to facilitate frontier trade by separate agreement(s);

b) Advantages and privileges which are or may be granted by either of the respective neighbouring countries;

c) Advantages resulting from any customs union, a free trade area or similar arrangements which either of the two Governments has concluded or may conclude in the future.

d) Advantages or preferences accorded under any scheme for expansion of trade and economic cooperation among developing countries, which is open for participation by all developing countries, and to which either of the two Governments is or may become a party.

Article VIII

The two Governments agree to make mutually beneficial arrangements for the use of their waterways, roadways and railways for commerce between the two countries for passage of goods between two places in one country through the territory of the other.

Article IX
Each Government will grant merchant vessels of the other country while entering, putting off and lying at its ports the most-favoured-nation treatment accorded by their respective laws, rules and regulations to the vessels under the flag of any third country.

Both the Governments agree on the basis of shipper's preference, to utilize to the maximum extent possible, the vessels owned/chartered by shipping organizations of the two countries concerned for shipping cargoes imported or exported under this Agreement at competitive freight rates.

Article X
The two Governments agree to cooperate effectively with each other to prevent infringement and circumvention of the laws, rules and regulations of either country in regard to matters relating to foreign exchange and foreign trade.

Article XI
The two Governments agree to accord, subject to their respective laws and regulations, reasonable facilities for the holding of trade fairs and exhibitions and visits of business and trade delegations sponsored by the Government concerned.

Article XII
In order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement, the two Governments shall consult each other at least once in a year or earlier as and when necessary, and shall review the working of the Agreement with special attention to the asymmetries between the two countries.

Article XIII
This amended Agreement shall come into force on the 1st April, 2006. It shall remain in force for a period of three years. It may be extended by a further period of three years by mutual consent subject to such modifications as may be agreed upon.

Done in New Delhi, on the 21st March, 2006, in two original copies, each in Hindi, Bangla and English, all the texts being equally authentic. In case of difference, the English text shall prevail.

(Kamal Nath)
Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of the Republic of India

(M. Saifur Rahman)
Minister for Finance & Planning, Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh
 
  http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=74636



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[ALOCHONA] ACC chief rebuffs PM's claims

ACC chief rebuffs PM's claims
 
The Anticorruption Commission chief has dismissed as "not right" the prime minister's contention that the antigraft drive was used to shackle politicians. "The Anticorruption Commission has conducted its drive on specific information and evidence. The remark that the commission was used to shackle politicians is not right," chairman Hasan Moshhud Chowdhury said on Thursday.

He negated prime minister Sheikh Hasina's remarks at a regular briefing of the commission at its headquarters in Segun Bagicha in the city. Hasina on Wednesday told parliament that the ACC should be "reconstituted" to ensure its accountability.

During her weekly question-answer session, the head of government said the antigraft drive during the caretaker government's two-year tenure became an "anti-politician drive", and the ACC was itself tainted by allegations of corruption.

The prime minister, who herself was detained in jail for 11 months until 2008 on graft charges brought by the ACC, said the commission itself was said to be involved in corrupt practices during the caretaker regime.

"During the caretaker government's tenure we heard many stories. Some people were arrested on corruption charges, but later released in exchange for money," said Hasina. She said people had hailed the ACC's anti-graft drive, "but it came under suspicion when it was aimed at elimination of politicians".

"Their anticorruption drive was called into question when they became involved in forming a new political party, executing the so-called Minus Two, Minus One formulas," Hasina said. But, Hasina also had some positive words for the caretaker government's antigraft drive.
"During the caretaker government, people began to realise that none could escape trial for corrupt practices. They could be tried any time."

The prime minister said she would examine the ACC's recommendations on elimination of corruption and subscribe to those that were "acceptable".

The ACC boss said he had not been considering to resign his position. "I don't see anything to decide suddenly being hot tempered. I hope the matter will be clear in the coming days," he said.

On the premier's comment that the ACC should be "reconstituted" to ensure accountability, he said, "I don't think I have any scope to comment on the prime minister's remarks, as I think that would be indecent. "If there is any necessity of any explanation of her remark, it is she who should give it."

"Now our duty is to create a work-friendly relation with the government and to inform it about the ACC's working procedure." Replying to another query, Hasan Moshhud said he met the prime minister on Jan.. 21 and discussed on ACC's management. "I hope the government would take appropriate steps on the basis of necessity."

He denied the allegation that the ACC's activities during the last caretaker government had raised questions. "The allegation is not right. The cases during the period was filed on the basis of information and proof. It is yet to be proved that the ACC is under question," he said.

Two ACC commissioners have been tasked to investigate allegations against Hasan Moshhud of money laundering at the Trust Bank, while he was chairman of the private bank. Whether the investigation against the ACC chairman by the ACC commissioners will be influenced, he said, "It is not correct that they are [under my influence]. Both of them are working independently."

"They have interrogated me without any resistance on my side and they will do it again if necessary." On why the ACC did not press any charges against any Awami League leader since the party's win in the Dec. 29 general election, the chairman said, "We didn't do it willingly."

An adviser to the former caretaker government, Hasan Moshhud said he was '51 percent satisfied' with his performance over the last two years since his appointment on Feb. 25, 2007.

http://bdnews24..com/details.php?id=75642&cid=2
 
 
 

Citizens from all walks of life including lawyers, businessmen, clerks and litigants welcomed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's comment on Wednesday in the Jatiya Sangsad on the reconstitution of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
   They, however, said that the government should allow the commission to work independently to check corruption in the country.


   Mir Nasir Hossain, former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the recent anti-corruption drive had raised awareness among the people and succeeded in creating a sense of accountability.


   'But hastiness, lack of transparency and improper investigation have marred the anti-corruption drive,' said Nasir while supporting the recasting of the ACC only to ensure more professionalism, integrity and effectiveness.
   The ACC's image has been tarnished to a large extent because of allegations against many politicians and businessmen that have not been proven,' said Zafar Osman, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.


   But asserting that the ACC is a necessary institution, Osman hoped that the elected government would keep in mind that none of the voters like corrupt people, whatever their profession or calling or whether or not they are politicians.


   The ACC's senior counsel, Anisul Huq, said the commission itself needed investigation into the allegations made against it and its reconstitution was necessary to allow it to function independently.


   He blamed the military-controlled interim government and the High Court Division for hampering the ACC's anti-corruption drive in the last two years.
   Giving her reaction to the prime minister's statement, human rights activist Fawzia Karim Firoze said,' 'The ACC has become controversial with the change of government, but the government should allow it to function independently.'
   She feared that that many innocent people would be victimised if the ACC is not allowed to function independently, as has happened during the interim regime.


   Lawyers' clerk Mohammad Ali demanded reconstitution of the ACC. 'The commission does not do the work it should do,' he added.Litigants Sona Gazi and Shafiqul Islam made similar demands but both expressed the need for keeping the ACC away from all kinds of politics.


   'If the commission works as per the direction of the ruling party, how will the people be benefited by the reforms?' asked Shafiqul Islam, a student of a college in Comilla, in his reaction to the PM's statementSona Gazi, a farmer of Barguna, said, 'I did not get justice from the commission after filing a complaint against a police officer who threw my family onto the streets.'


   Gazi said that the ACC had not brought many of the actually corrupt people to justice and had only looked into allegations against political bigwigs and activists 'No one has observed the commission's activities like the prime minister did. She must have found irregularities in the commission's work,' he said.


   In his reaction to the prime minister's speech, the Supreme Court Bar Association's canteen official, Mohamamd Yousuf, said Sheikh Hasina had not made the observation for personal reasons but on behalf of all the people.
   Rokeya Begum, a senior teacher of Holy Cross Girl's School, told New Age on Thursday that the PM's move was partially right as some innocent persons along with many corrupt people were snared by the ACC in the last two years.


   'It is a good decision to restructure the ACC, but the government has to give it full freedom to enable it to eradicate corruption from the society,' she said.Abu Taher, a grocer at New Market, said the common people are frustrated as many of the suspects have been able to disprove ACC's allegations.


   'But all the citizens want each and every corrupt person to be grilled and punished,' said Taher, demanding that the government should in no way give people grounds to think that the ruling party's members are beyond the ACC's reach.

 

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/feb/06/front.html




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[ALOCHONA] IHT - Bangladesh & India: Neighbors who should be friends

Philip Bowring: Neighbors who should be friends

By Philip Bowring

Thursday, February 5, 2009

International  Herald Tribune

http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=19959816

 

 

DHAKA, Bangladesh: A goodwill visit by a foreign minister to a neighboring country is not normally noteworthy, but the Indian foreign minister's trip to Bangladesh on Monday could mark a turn toward better relations between the neighboring countries, with benefits for all South Asia.

 

The immediate occasion for Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit was the victory of Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League in the recent Bangladesh election, which was very warmly received in Delhi.

 

The Awami League has always been friendlier to India than the opposition parties, and Hasina has personal links to the Gandhi family. Beyond that is an alignment of forces telling both sides that they need to stop sniping and start cooperating.

 

At the broadest level, there is a growing recognition in India's leadership that a rising India needs to foster cooperation with its neighbors, and not to view their weaknesses as its advantage.

 

In the long run, India's relationship with its eastern neighbor of 150 million people may become as important as the relationship with Pakistan, not least because Bangladesh is crucial to resolving the isolation and insurgencies in India's seven North-East states.

 

More immediately, if India cannot have cooperative relations with a moderate, secular and democratic Muslim country with which it has no insoluble conflicts of interest, it has scant hope for coexistence with Pakistan or wider cooperation in a South Asia notorious for its lack of economic integration.

 

Given its growing global stature, India should seek to be a benign rather than overbearing regional leader, especially since security infections can spread from unstable and unhappy neighbors into India.

 

For Bangladesh, there are pressing economic reasons to escape from old notions that cooperation will lead to Indian dominance. Bangladesh may deem it unfortunate that it is surrounded by India on all sides except for a small border with Myanmar, a far from ideal neighbor.

 

But with garment exports and worker remittances - the props of Bangladesh's economy - now vulnerable to the global crisis, realism needs to supplant the politicking which has frustrated economic relations with fast-growing India.

 

For India, security issues have taken top priority in the wake of the Mumbai bombing. While Indians have often exaggerated the dangers of Islamic fundamentalism in Bangladesh, Dhaka has sometimes been complacent in the face of a small extremist fringe which is known to have overseas links.

 

Hasina has herself been the target of terrorist bombs, so she is more willing than previous governments to discuss security cooperation. Bangladesh could also become more proactive in preventing Indian insurgents from using its territory as a safe haven. But India must accept that the 4,000-kilometer border will remain porous, and that it cannot blame others for all its security problems.

 

On the economic front, Bangladesh, which has a huge trade deficit with India, badly needs India to remove a host of tariffs and other barriers to its goods. Given the relative size of the two economies, these barriers are a political tool, not an economic necessity.

 

In turn, Bangladesh must end its resistance to the transit of goods to India's northeastern states. An agreement on this has never been implemented, depriving Bangladesh not only of transit fees but of an opportunity to become a hub for trade with northeastern India and Southeast Asia. The World Bank and other agencies are eager to support road, rail and port projects if political obstacles are removed.

 

Fear of Indian domination has also led Bangladesh to refuse to allow Myanmar gas to be piped across its territory to India and to export its own gas and coal to India. A mix of Bangladeshi fears and Indian trade barriers have also deterred Indian investment in Bangladeshi manufacturing, and general lack of cooperation has prevented Nepal and Bhutan hydro power from being harnessed for sale to Bangladesh and India.

 

For the long term, Bangladesh badly needs a more cooperative attitude from India if the damage inflicted by climate change - most notably rising sea levels - are to be addressed. Lying at the downstream end of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, Bangladesh is uniquely exposed. But as the headwaters of these and other major rivers are controlled by China, India too is vulnerable to lack of international cooperation.

 

Years of mutual distrust are not easily erased. But there are plenty of tradeoffs that can be made now. A change of attitude in Dhaka has already been reflected in official speeches, but Bangladesh will probably need some generous gestures from India, notably on trade, if Hasina's government is to overcome nationalist opposition to substantive progress.

 

As for India, it would do well to devote a quarter the energy its spends on Pakistan and Kashmir to the issues of Bangladesh and the northeast states.

 



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[mukto-mona] Darwin day celebration: Please participate in rally on 12th February

 
Shiksha Andolan Mancha and Mukto-Mona with other organization including Biggan Chetona Parisad will be observing the ensuing Darwin Day.
 
1. We will hold a rally on February 12, at central Shahid Minar Chattar in Dhaka.

2. We will hold a day long seminar on various aspects of Darwinism and its scientific and social impact. 
 
It is quite likely that we will hold series of progammes spread over the year. Final time and date of the seminar will be disclosed later. Please checkout MM links regularly for latest news:
 
 
Avijit
 



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****************************************************
Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration: 
Call For Articles:

http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68

http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585

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VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

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"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190




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[ALOCHONA] TIFA,Transit : Discuss In Parliament First

 
 
TIFA,Transit : Discuss In Parliament First
 
 
 
Press has reported that the Awami League-led government is intent on signing the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States and providing transit facilities for India, the commerce minister said. Disclosing Dhaka's latest position on the two proposed deals with Washington and New Delhi , the commerce minister, Faruk Khan, on Tuesday told a business gathering the government of Sheikh Hasina would not sign any agreements contrary to the national interest.
   'We have almost come to the final stage [of striking the deal]. We think this will be beneficial for both the countries,' he said about the proposed agreement which the United States wants. 'The deal will be shown to the cabinet [before signing],' he said as he addressed the monthly luncheon meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh.  As for giving transit facilities to India, Faruk said the matter had already been covered by an earlier bilateral agreement although it was yet to be made operational. 'I see no reason why we should not give transit,' he said and blamed the mentality of the politicians for hindering international cooperation in trade and economic development.The government has not yet made public the draft of TIFA or the already prepared position paper, and it is yet to be ascertained whether the issue of transit will fall under a proposed bilateral free trade agreement with India. 'A lot of studies have been done on transit,' the minister claimed.
   Indirectly accusing the opposition BNP of maintaining double standards on transit for political posturing, Faruk claimed a clause on transit to India for the use of Bangladesh's waterways, roads and railways was included in the Indo-Bangladesh Trade Agreement of 1978, which had been renewed by all governments, including the previous BNP government in 2006.'The people who oppose these agreements have a problem of understanding,' he said adding both TIFA and the transit agreement would be signed only if they were beneficial to Bangladesh.
   Article VIII of the trade agreement the minister quoted is worded thus: 'The two governments agree to make mutually beneficial arrangements for the use of their waterways, roadways and railways for commerce between the two countries for passage of goods between two places in one country through the territory of the other.'   Former AmCham president Aftab ul Islam and the North-South University vice-chancellor, Hafiz GA Siddiqui, raised questions about the contentious issue of transit, TIFA and Bangladesh's market access to India at the meeting presided over by the chamber president Syed Ershad Ahmed. The US ambassador to Bangladesh, James F Moriarty, was present there. When asked if Dhaka would link the issue of giving transit facilities to India with transit to Nepal and Bhutan through the Indian territory for the use of Bangladeshi ports by the two landlocked Himalayan states, Faruq said, 'All issues can be resolved if political will is there.'
   The preamble of TIFA's draft has mentioned the issue of 'corruption and bribery,' something which, experts have pointed out, has nothing to do with trade and investment. In the draft agreement, Washington has not yet pledged duty- and quota-free access of Bangladeshi products to the US market.  The US ambassador also refrained from making any specific commitment to this demand.
 
 
 
We think it is commerce Minister, not other people ,who has not understood the issue of transit/corridor.India can not be given transit/corridor without linking the issue of our transit to Nepal, Bhutan, even China later.In our view any hurry in this matter only on what India wants will injure our long-term interest.The government should place th drafts or position papers in the Parliament for discussion .The resent administration has just come and has already bungled up so many issues, Upazila election, election of Deputy Speaker, seat distribution in parliamenr, vendetta on on opposition people by its student organization and supporters, making so many officers OSDs etc.They should not bungle up further.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Re: [ALOCHONA] 42pc of students drop out this SSC session

 
Bhai E Rahman,

In any count it is a dangerous slide, not only in our education status but in social status as well. Social scientists should come up with corrective measures.

As the analysis suggests poverty (against the allowance given) is not the root cause, notice, being the poorest division Rajshahi's count is only 33 %. However, poverty is the greater element- please read on. Only weeks back I called an old government Degree college's principal. She was narrating to me how the students from poor family could not or with much difficulties registered for their HSC exams. It is a real burden for them. (isn't it for the nation as well?). You the expatriate can help these poor students and so on...   

 

If we really need to improve, we need to retain much more than the article indicates. I believe we all can play a role.

 

Look forward to your feed back.

 

(on a different note – I am a great fan of New Age's editorials, I am sure you've read the editorial on the subject same day).

 

Haque
--- On Tue, 3/2/09, Ezajur Rahman <ezajur.rahman@q8.com> wrote:

From: Ezajur Rahman <ezajur.rahman@q8.com>
Subject: [ALOCHONA] 42pc of students drop out this SSC session
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, 3 February, 2009, 2:22 PM

42pc of students drop out this SSC session
Courtesy New Age 3/2/09 Siddiqur Rahman Khan

Above 42 per cent of the students enrolled in Class IX in the 2007-2008 academic session, to become eligible to take the SSC and equivalent examinations scheduled to start from February 15, 2009, have dropped out.
   'Early marriage of female students, enrolment of a significant number of female students only for getting stipends, registration of some fake students in Class IX for retaining the licence of some schools and madrassahs have been identified by the education boards as the reasons for such a great number of drop-outs.
   Besides, some students failed the exams for promotion from Class IX to Class X while some failed to pass the SSC qualifying tests, and some male students went abroad for jobs, according to the boards.
   According to the statistics available with the education ministry, in the 2007-08 session more than 12.67 lakh students enrolled in Class IX in ten education boards, but only 7.33 lakh students are going to take the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations in 2009.
   The percentage of drop-outs is 42.15 this year, which is somewhat of an improvement since it was 48 per cent in 2008.
   More than 10.63 lakh students, including some 3.3 lakh students who failed in the SSC exams in the last two or three years, have registered to take the SSC and equivalent exams of 2009.
   The Sylhet education board topped drop-out percentage rate among the ten education boards with 57.25, while the Rajshahi education board is at the bottom of the list with 32.76 per cent.
   The drop-out rate is 50.76 per cent in the Comilla board, 44.19 in Dhaka, 43.01 in Jessore, 44.84 in Chittagong , 43.11 in Barisal and 33.15 in Dinajpur.
   Students are going to take SSC exams for the first time this year under the newly formed Dinajpur board.
   In the Madrassah board the percentage of drop-outs is 36.62 and in the technical education board it is 54.32.
   'The government should launch a special drive to reduce such a huge drop-out rate,' said an education board chairman. 'Stern action should be taken against the dishonest school and madrassah authorities who enrol students only to get stipend benefits.'
   'Besides, the students who fail in the final exams of Class VIII should not allowed to get admission to Class IX any more,' he said.
   The current drop-out rate in primary schools is about 48 per cent despite various efforts to reduce it, according to official statistics.

 



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Re: [ALOCHONA] What is your advice to Sheikh Hasina ?

Dear Bhai Cyrus,
 

If I may share my views on the issue of prospective sectors back home, that seems to be on the focus in our last postings; here are few points on an encouraging note –

 

BD is an emerging economy and there appears to be many prospective sectors. What interests you most should be the matter.

 

Good professional analyses should help determine the feasible industry.

While doing that it would be pertinent to consider the rapid shift of 'economy of scale' in many potential sectors that attracting huge investments. BD already have world class glass, ceramic, sugar, cement, steel and pharma cos in terms of quality as well as volume.

 

Before or even after you decide where to invest kindly browse through Amartya Sen's Noble winning book,  "supply and demand" contention in your postings of two, might invite a resolve as well as other social factors for an economy to sustain.

 

Considering the general economic level, I would say millions are looking up to those who can invest and employ.

The entrepreneurs as well need to give a fresh look, Jeffrey Sacks's Clinical Economics or even our Professor Yunus's Social Business paradigm, worth pondering.

 

"Greed is good" is a professed virtue where you live, but the BD Diasporas from USA or West need to look beyond. A perfect blend that is not only good for them but can help lot more of those who need to move from subsistence.

 

Your success is cherished by them and myself.
 
Take care.
Haque


--- On Mon, 2/2/09, Cyrus <thoughtocrat@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Cyrus <thoughtocrat@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] What is your advice to Sheikh Hasina ?
To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, 2 February, 2009, 9:47 PM

Mr. Haque:
 
Thank you for your very well-thought and sound arguments, and I am completely in agreement with you. I do have, however, a few more additions to what you said:
 
1. Since BD is heavily in debt at this moment, I agree that economic growth needs to be organic, from within. This would require long-term investments and new financial tools. So, creative thinking is a must. Looking at the composition of AL government, I am somewhat skeptical that creative economic policies would arrive any time soon.
 
2. The economic policy ideas that I have proposed are somewhat foreign to BD, but they are not new. It is true that it is relatively easier to implement these policies in Western democracies. But if we don't want to learn from successful economies from the West or in Asia (e.g. China, India, Taiwan), we would have a difficult time catching up. So, I suggested policies that would help BD economy to grow from within, without too much dependence on foreign aid or debt.
 
3. Enacting new laws is the easy part in any state. Enforcement is a completely different issue. If BD wants to become a healthy democracy and compete in a global economy, it must create mechanisms to enforce laws and not just create them.
 
4. Privatization of industries, supporting entrepreneurial ventures, as well as creating environment for private capital to grow would require AL government to guarantee/secure investment, give tax breaks to investors, and most importantly, protect individual and business investors from "chandabaz", kick-backs, bribes, etc. AL govt. needs to do that with an iron hand and restore investors' confidence. Until that environment is created, and investors feel secured to make investments in our local economies, no amount of law would be able to turn the tide. As a matter of fact, I've been trying to start a venture in BD, with support from foreign partners, and so far the responses from regulatory bodies in BD have not been very encouraging. But that's a different story.
 
5. Finally, I totally agree that AL needs to invest in energy. BD used to be called the "Greenest Country in the World", quite literally. However, our environmental record is abysmal. This is an opportunity for the AL government to create our energy infrastructure that would tackle environmental problems, create new jobs, and secure our future. We have local technologies available (e.g. hydro power, wind power, solar energy) that we can utilize. Government needs to incubate these technologies so that our energy needs are met.
 
Hopefully, the leadership of AL and BNP would retire within the next decade and a new group of visionary thinkers would emerge to take BD to the next phase. Successful economies in Asia have grown because they developed "Growth Plans" (South Korea has a 250 year economic growth plan!!), and I am of the opinion that we need to do the same. Changes can be made along the way, but the goal is to create a prosperous BD within the next 30 years is not unachievable. Only time will tell.
 
Looking forward to your input.
 
Thanks,
Cyrus


From: Mohd. Haque <haquetm83@yahoo. com>
To: alochona@yahoogroup s.com
Sent: Monday, February 2, 2009 8:22:41 AM
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] What is your advice to Sheikh Hasina ?


Dear alochok Cyrus,

 

Whatever might be the way, we all wish good for our country and pin our hope on our leadership to deliver that for our poor and oppressed people.

With such a huge mandate if AL or Sh. Hasina fails we all will fail, our people will fail.

 

After five years Sh. Hasina may go for a retirement in Miami beach but 160 million will remain destitute as before which would compound with her failure.

 

Let me begin with your contention about Alochona – I do not understand what happen to it, may be it has caught up with its hidden politics or less active for some other reasons. Hope it starts again to encourage healthy debates.

 

I have to apologise being a non economics student, I can only make suggestions from common sense.

 

What is needed most is to create a foundation for economics to work. Basic infrastructure and rule of law.

Fundamental is Economy should create more jobs, that's employments, means employers, means factories for productions and sectors to provide value added services. Heart of these are energy- human energy and chemical energy to run manufacturing lines and produce services.

Electricity/ energy should be number one priority.

Fixing the Dhaka university or the total education system should be the second most priority.

Then comes the transport networks and port facilities.

To do all these she needs to emphasise on rule of law, without applicable laws no one can employ their free franchise as we have been witnessing since the birth of our nation, you need to grease, lobby or waste in unscrupulous means to get a small thing done.

Population and environment control she/our nation can not set aside uncontrolled.

 

To get all these done, requisite investment should be made. And getting the precious investment is no big deal(?).

Perhaps your suggestions on this reflects the system where you live, it may or may not be our resolve.

But, within the existing capacity certainly government can increase its own resources and increase development budget through mobilisation of private capital enacting and applying yet some good laws. All it requires to enhance its legal and technical capacity building to negotiate with variety of equity and capital sources that are strong in the market. World Bank, IMF or ADB can not be our hope but certainly, being a share holder we can obtain a better deal provided we do not look at only tomorrow or next election and we should learn (rather faster) to put a cap on their foria marketing technics.

Only her determination to do good for our people can make good things to happen.

--- On Sun, 25/1/09, Cyrus <thoughtocrat@ yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Cyrus <thoughtocrat@ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [ALOCHONA] What is your advice to Sheikh Hasina ?
To: alochona@yahoogroup s.com
Date: Sunday, 25 January, 2009, 8:44 PM

You know, it's amusing to read all these self-righteous and somewhat sanctimonious advises for the PM, but I hardly read about any useful policy advises these days. I miss the old days of Alochona! Since, no one is starting a policy discussion, and just engaging in petty moral virtues, here are few advises for the PM.
 
------ 
"It's the Economy, Stupid" - We have double digit inflation and unemployment, almost asinine monetary policies, and no visionary trade policies. The economic policies of the last 15 years has been such that every govt. only looked ahead at the re-election, and not the rejuvenation of the economy for the long haul. In the short-run everything looked peachy, but as Keynes once said, "in the long run, everyone is dead". Here are some "common sense" ways to deal with the economic fiasco that we are in
 
a)  Audit the national budget and immediately eliminate wasteful programs and departments. Create a national budget, as well as, divisional budgets in collaboration with the opposition MPs, so that their districts and divisions are also represented. This will give the new admin an idea as to where and how the money is being generated and spent.
 
b) Pass laws to create a stock exchange for each division, so that local businesses can go public. We already have Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges, but other divisions need to do that as well. These smaller stock exchanges can trade newer financial tools, such as government bonds, municipal bonds, small-cap companies, etc., who don't necessarily have the market power to go national.
 
c) If I am not mistaken, we have a fixed exchange rate in BD. Floating exchange rate needs to be the official name of the game, and that will re-valuate the currency and its abysmal performance.
 
d) Since our system is lacking serious "cash flow", so to speak, one idea is to generate enough cash through a social security system. A Social Security system that guarantees retirement payment, regardless of the market condition, is a tremendous and powerful way to encourage savings and generate funds. But collecting social security also requires personal income tax and corporate tax collection, which the govt. has been reluctant to collect.
 
We have been living on borrowed money and to feed our hunger, the central bank has stupidly flooded the market with newly printed taka (hence the inflation!). Printing new money must stop immediately. There are plenty of ways to establish a new tax code and enforcement mechanism. Tax revenue, plus voluntary social security deduction would ensure that such funds are used in proper ways. Of course, we are notoriously distrustful of our government. So, in a self-policing move, a law needs to be passed that would ensure that any fraud of the social security fund would constitute "treason" and "adverse to public benefit", punishable by life imprisonment and other penalties. Feel free to make examples out of a few politicians. I am sure you would find a few of those greedy bastards in both parties. I digress...
 
e) Destruction of public property, whether by your cadres or the opposition, is a felony in all civilized nations. It is a shame that even today, we stay silent about riotous mob, pillaging through public and private properties and setting them on fire to prove their points. Make it a national priority that anyone caught with destruction of public or private property would receive severe punishment. See how it works out. You just might be able to save a few hundred million dollars a year.
 
f) I think, this the most important move that any administration could make to turn around the economy - CONSOLIDATE PARA-MILITARY FORCES. We have way too many para-military forces on our payroll, but not enough police officers to keep civic order. I personally think that the ineffective police department needs to be re-organized under the leadership of the BDR, which has a long track record of protecting our borders and keeping civic order whenever necessary. This would immensely grow the capacity of our police, and BDR would be ordered to take on the role of the police as well. Petty crime is still a problem in BD, and the police has proven to be ineffective to deal with this. 
 
I don't believe that RAB was an effective force. It is a bunch of trigger happy, licensed goons, fashioned after the "moral police", who feel that they are above the law. We need a disciplined, combat ready, civic police who can keep order and protect the civilians. Not wild wild west style commandos with a license to kill.
 
I can go on with the ideas for the PM...but I am hungry and must sign off...Let's begin the discussion here. Looking forward to hear more ideas from other readers. Let's have a constructive discourse...
 
Thanks,
Cyrus
 

 


From: Mohammad Hossain <MHossain@YorkTech. com>
To: alochona@yahoogroup s.com
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 11:15:26 AM
Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] What is your advice to Sheikh Hasina ?

I have a few advice for Hasina:

 

1.       Please stop killing, maiming and up-rooting your political opponents and adversaries; the tide of time will turn before you know it.

2.       You are a public servant, the public  is not your servant, and you have been elected to serve the public; not your friends, cronies and relatives.

3.       Forgiveness is a greater virtue  than revenge

4.       Don't mix business and pleasure – this can get you in a lot of trouble fast

5.       Keep your election promises as much as the available resources permit

6.      You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to
disagree.

The last one is the most important advice.

 

That's all folks!

 

Nurul Hossain

USA

 

From: alochona@yahoogroup s.com [mailto:alochona@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Md.Hasibul Hassan
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 2:49 PM
To: zoglul@hotmail. co..uk; mbimunshi@gmail. com; rehman.mohammad@ gmail.com; mahmudurart@ yahoo.com; farhadmazhar@ hotmail.com; premlaliguras@ hotmail.com; dhakamails@yahoogro ups.com; khabor@yahoogroups. com; alochona@yahoogroup s.com; bdresearchers@ yahoogroups. com; bangla-vision@ yahoogroups. com; mouchakaydheel@ yahoo.com; odhora@yahoogroups. com; ayeshakabir@ yahoo.com; sayantha15@yahoo. com; shahin72@gmail. com; minarrashid@ yahoo.com; history_islam@ yahoogroups. com; jangoonetilleke@ aol.com; editorazad@gmail. com; jason@prio.no
Subject: [ALOCHONA] What is your advice to Sheikh Hasina ?

 


  What is your advice to Sheikh Hasina ?

 

Your points will be placed to sheikh hasina .

 

thanking you

 

Habib

 




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