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Sunday, August 8, 2010

[ALOCHONA] Govt accused of threatening national security



Govt accused of threatening national security

 http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/08/09/news0026.htm



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[ALOCHONA] Our workers and our economy



Our workers and our economy
 
Late last month an advertisement in a local Bengali daily caught the eye. Several organisations of Europe and America had got together on a signature campaign and had published this advertisement, calling for the minimum wages of the Bangladesh garment workers to be fixed at 5000 taka. The fact that the workers are being given an 80% wage raise since the last caretaker government, doesn't seem to register. The general reaction to the ad was, "Mayer cheye mashir dorod beshi." In other words, these outsiders seem to have more sympathy for our people than we have.
 
We laud our workers for the foreign exchange they are bringing in. At the same time we laud the owners of the garment factories whose business acumen and investments have made this possible. With garment industries flourishing in Vietnam, Cambodia, China, India and other country of Asia, it is a tough struggle for Bangladesh to keep ahead of the competition. If the owners lose this edge and are forced to close down the industries, where will the workers go? The instigators have got their rewards and have nothing to lose. It is the workers who will suffer, the industrialists who will suffer, the economy that will suffer. In other words, the nation will suffer.
 
So while ensuring that the garment workers get a fair deal, the government must also ensure the sustainability of the sector.
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] Bolshie Bangladesh



Bolshie Bangladesh
 
Stoking anticapitalism sentiment is a sure-fire way to stay poor.
 
By K. ANIS AHMED
 
As Chinese wages rise, other developing Asian nations have an opportunity to attract industries that are being priced out of the mainland. Vietnam and Indonesia are already benefitting from shifting investment, and Bangladesh should too. But the country is being held back by one critical shortcoming—hostility to the free market.
 
The Bangladeshi economy has plenty of other handicaps, to be sure. Some pin the blame for slow growth on political corruption and poor governance. Others cite power shortages and the lack of good roads and efficient ports. All this is true.
 
However, after decades of reform and tweaking policies, it's time we admitted that the problem with the business environment goes deeper. Socialist thinking pervades public-policy circles and the public debate.
 
This might surprise outsiders, as Bangladesh was never a communist state. But socialism was one of the country's four founding principles, and many industries were nationalized in the 1970s. Leftist intellectuals who pushed Bangladesh toward socialism four decades ago continue to have an outsized influence in their new incarnations as heads of nongovernmental organizations, think tanks and media outfits.
 
These thought leaders mean well, and they don't see themselves as opposing investment. Indeed, no one argues for outright socialism anymore; rather they agitate in the name of worthy goals such as "rights" or "social equity." The dialogue goes awry, however, because the intelligentsia don't recognize wealth creation as the ultimate solution to welfare.
 
The government often includes left-leaning civic leaders on committees to review laws, while excluding industry representatives. The resulting laws are hostile to investors. For example, new legislation in the higher education sector would impose harsh restrictions and penalties on the institutions. Private universities are forbidden from collateralizing any assets, even for the university's development, though the same law requires them to build expensive campuses.
 
In the housing sector, a new "Detailed Area Plan" has finally been published. Almost two decades in the making, it has been outpaced by a doubling population and unplanned sprawl. It no longer answers the housing needs of one of the world's most densely populated capitals. While the government is now trying to broaden the dialogue to find practicable solutions, a segment of the activists and media seem more interested in punishing developers.
 
More puzzling perhaps is a new telecommunications law that imposes astonishing fines and leaves little room for appeals. It also grants the ministry sweeping powers to change licensing terms. This sector has drawn millions in foreign investment in recent years. In all these cases, the regulators' need for control seems to override any concern about investor reaction.
 
All this has created a culture in which companies can be attacked with impunity, with certain NGOs and the media stoking workers' grievances. Last Friday, a mob of garment workers rioted in central Dhaka, smashing vehicles and attacking police. This despite the fact that the government just raised the minimum wage by 80%. A number of garment-industry owners have sold off their stakes in the industry citing violence by workers, even though their factories were compliant with local and international regulations.
 
The Bangladeshi people are naturally entrepreneurial. From the hundreds of garment factories to the innumerable workshops and tea-houses lining the roads and highways, the sheer irrepressible desire of the people to work is evident everywhere. Yet this urge is suppressed. It is almost as if the country is divided against itself.
 
Society puts the highest value on being an intellectual, so that the brightest students compete to get into the public universities. They then join a tiny elite, who imbibe the leftist ideology at school, enter the bureaucracy and NGOs, and keep promoting retrograde policies and ideas.
 
As long as most local intellectuals consider a capitalist identity or ideology a terrible stigma to avoid at almost all costs, there is little hope for a more pragmatic dialogue. No country that constantly disavows the principles of capitalism can become prosperous. The burden of anti-business laws affects millions of micro-decisions and actions that make up a day's commercial activity. Even a tiny hesitation at every turn can add up to a large difference between competing economies.
 
Bangladeshis wonder why their country can't attract even a fraction of the funds that flow to Vietnam. Fixing infrastructure and tackling corruption will help. But the country won't succeed until deeply rooted hostility toward business is repudiated.
 
Mr. Ahmed is vice president of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh Foundation.
 


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[ALOCHONA] Successful traffic management



Successful traffic management
 
 
 
 
 
 


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[ALOCHONA] Extortion, control of halls lead to clashes



Extortion, control of halls lead to clashes
 


Leadership crisis and disputes over extortion money and "seat business" at student dormitories led to frequent clashes between Bangladesh Chhatra League factions at Rajshahi University since January this year.(The Daily Star)

After RU unit BCL President Awal Kabir Joy and General Secretary Majedul Islam Opu had assumed the posts in late January, their followers were locked in factional clashes over 10 times.Both the factions gathered huge caches of weapons, including around 40 firearms, in their bids to establish supremacy on the campus.

With the authorities and law enforcers turning a blind eye, the BCL men do not even spare the teachers. They assaulted the proctor, a number of provosts and house tutors and a police official.Speaking anonymously, a provost said around 700 students were forced to leave their dormitories recently as the armed cadres collect toll between Tk 200 and Tk 1,200 from each resident student and beat them up for refusal.

Sources say Joy group has full control over Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque, Nawab Abdul Latif, Sayed Amir Ali and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman halls, while Opu group controls Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardi, Shaheed Habibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman halls. Moreover, both the groups jointly control four other halls on the campus.

The BCL men occupy 50 to 100 seats at every hall and turn some rooms into their political offices. They "rent" other occupied rooms out to students at Tk 100 to Tk 1,200 per month. Joy, despite being a resident of Sayed Amir Ali Hall, has been illegally occupying the room no 233 at Bangabandhu Hall since mid-March after driving out the real residents. "Both Joy and Opu are so inefficient that they have no control over their followers. As a result, our repeated warning did not work at all," city unit Awami League acting general secretary Shafikur Rahman Badsha told The Daily Star.He also blamed the university authorities for favouring one group against the other keeping alive their rivalry. He blasted the central BCL unit for not approving the fully-fledged RU committee.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner M Nawsher Ali said they are playing their role properly as per the government's directives. Replying to a question, he said, "Normally we cannot recover hidden arms cache as the cadres run away sensing police raid."He said they have already arrested Opu and are looking for others involved in crimes and illegal activities.

Asked if the authorities have failed to disarm BCL on the campus, Proctor Chowdhury Mohammad Jakaria said, "It is not true that the authorities are silent to BCL activities. We are trying our best."On the allegations of taking seat rent at halls, he said, "We haven't yet got any complaints in this regard."

Before his arrest, Opu told this correspondent, "Some untoward incidents are occurring as some BCL men feel insecure on the campus and apprehend attacks by Shibir cadres anytime."Asked about his room at Bangabandhu Hall, Joy said, "My fellow students have willingly kept me there."

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=150002
 


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[ALOCHONA] India to get access to its northeastern states: FM



India to get access to its northeastern states: FM


Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on Sunday disclosed India will get access to its landlocked seven northeastern states through Bangladesh with construction of road and railway connectivity.(UNB, Dhaka)

So long the issue of transit to the seven sisters had been a bone of contention between Bangladesh and India. "When we are thinking about transforming Bangladesh as a regional hub and when the entire region will be brought under the connectivity, India will have access to its northeastern states," she said, adding "unfettered movement of people and goods will be taking place … Bangladesh had been isolated for long."

Dipu Moni viewed that extending transit facilities to India would bring economic benefits to Bangladesh.

Asked if 14 projects approved for implementation with borrowing from India was intended to serve the purpose of connecting the seven sisters with western part, the Foreign Minister said one billion dollar Indian credit was taken for Bangladesh's interests. India will too get the benefit. "If connectivity is in place, all will get the benefit. It will be a win-win situation," she added.

Dipu Moni suggested that one must get out of the negative thinking that India will be benefited if roads and ports are developed. She said if rail communications are improved Bangladesh will get the benefit and in some area India will also get the benefit. Terming the 1.75 percent interest bearing Indian loan a kind of 'concessional loan', she said donor agencies would not like to give loan to every project of Bangladesh's interest.

Replying to a question she said the Indian government will give the loan through Exim Bank and the Bangladesh government will fix its priority projects for implementation with the loan.

To a question the Foreign Minister said not only trucks from Nepal will enter into to Banglabandh in Bangladesh, Bangladeshi trucks will also have access to Nepal through India. The arrangement will be done through exchange of letters and no protocol is required to be signed for this. She said Bangladesh-India Joint Border Working Group will meet in September to address the issues of demarcation of 6.5 km border and exchange of enclaves and lands in adverse possession. The Foreign Minister expressed the hope that an interim agreement on sharing of waters of the Teesta River will be concluded next year.

 http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/leading%20news.htm



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[ALOCHONA] Bangladeshi vessels being subjected to restrictions in Indian ports



Bangladeshi vessels being subjected to restrictions in Indian ports

 

Bangladeshi vessels are being subjected to a number of impediments allegedly created by the Indian port authorities. These include absence of facilities for ship pilots, refusal of permission to them for disembarking from the vessels and creation of visa problems, BIWTA sources said.

These problems were raised at a meeting between the officials of Bangladesh and India on the standing committee on port of calls between Bangladesh and India in Dhaka yesterday.

It was held at the office of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to iron out the problems and other issues to prepare agreed minutes on the port calls of vessels of the two countries. Rajeev Gupta, joint secretary of Indian shipping ministry led an eight-member delegation, while Md Alauddin, joint secretary of the shipping ministry led a 13-member Bangladesh delegation at the meeting.

Both the sides had agreed on existence of such problems and decided that after examining them, they would take necessary actions to sort them out, the sources said.

After an eight-hour long discussion, both the sides signed the minutes, the sources said adding, the minutes were signed by Md Alauddin and Rajeev Gupta on behalf of their respective governments.

But the two-year agreement will finally be signed at secretary level soon ironing out the impediments, he said.

According to a high official of the BIWTA, "Bangladesh raised different issues like India never giving facilities to the Bangladeshi pilots. The Indian port authority always creates different impediments to the sailors of the Bangladeshi vessels when they disembark from the ships in their ports."

"Obtaining Indian visa remains a serious problem for the Bangladeshi sailors," he added.

The sources said, the Indian team had urged the Bangladesh side to open the Ashuganj port in a full-fledged way and repair the Khanpur jetty terminal at Narayanganj, upgrading it to handle containers.

The shipping ministry will set up a river port at Ashuganj and procure six dredgers at a cost of Taka 744.70 crore under a US$ 1 billion credit to be provided by India.

The construction of Ashuganj river port would cost Taka 250 crore.

The sources said, five ports of call would be built at Narayanganj, Sirajganj, Khulna, Mongla and Ashuganj on Bangladesh side, while Kolkata, Haldia (West Bengal), Pandu (Guwahati), Karimganj and Shilchar (Assam) in Indian side.

Meanwhile, BIWTA Chairman Abdul Malek Mian said India-Ashuganj container terminal via Khulna, Mongla, Barisal and Narayanganj will be used to ferry goods to the north eastern region of India.

BTWTA Executive Engineer Rakibul Islam Talukder said, implementation of the project would begin on the receipt of the allocations. The project is scheduled to be completed between 2010 and 2013.

http://www.theindependentbd.com/paper-edition/frontpage/129-frontpage/3427-bangladeshi-vessels-being-subjected-to-restrictions-in-indian-ports.html


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[ALOCHONA] Re: BCL at it again :10 injured in factional clash at RU



 


On Sun, Aug 8, 2010 at 7:34 AM, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
BCL at it again :10 injured in factional clash at RU
 


An armed group of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists in Rajshahi University during their factional feud on campus that left 10 injured.
 
Ten people were injured, two of them bullet-hit, in a factional clash among Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists over establishing supremacy on Rajshahi University campus yesterday afternoon.Later in the evening police picked up BCL university unit general secretary Mazedul Islam Opu from Rajshahi Medical College Hospital premises in connection with the violence.

Campus sources say the clash ensued as Opu's men threatened Kabir Hossain, supporter of BCL RU unit president Awal Kabir Joy, at Ziaur Rahman Hall on Friday night.Both the sides locked in an altercation around 3:00pm near Tukitaki Chattar on the campus yesterday.

At one stage, supporters of Joy attacked Opu's men with machetes, Chinese axes and sharp weapons injured Fardin Ahmed, fourth year student of Islamic studies, Azijul Islam, final year student of physics, and Tanim Ahmed, master's student of accounting.Immediately afterwards, Opu's men equipped with iron roads, hockey sticks, machetes, Chinese axes, sharp weapons and firearms chased their rivals.
 

Later, supporters of both the factions locked in a clash in front of Madar Bux and Suhrawardi halls, leaving two students -- Manirul Islam of finance and Nahid Hasan of management -- hacked.

During the melee, Opu group fired gunshots near Madar Bux Hall and chased their rivals leaving Mehedi Hossain of Sanskrit and Shakib Ahmed of chemistry bullet-hit.Joy group returned fire and made a counter chase on its rivals. The sources say around 12 bullets were fired during the clash.

In a separate attack, Opu's men severely stabbed Delwar Hossain of anthropology and Shariful Islam of management in front of third science building and Suhrawardi Hall premises.On information, the university proctorial body along with law enforcers rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.

The injured were admitted to the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital after giving first aid at the university medical centre. Of them, Fardin Ahmed, Azijul Islam, Tanim Ahmed and Shariful Islam were in a critical condition.A tense situation has been prevailing on the campus.

Awal Kabir put the blame on Opu and alleged that he is trying to establish supremacy on the campus. Opu denied the allegation saying the clash erupted as Joy's men hacked three of his supporters over a trifling matter.

Vice-chancellor Prof Abdus Sobhan said he would take stern action against the people trying to destabilise congenial atmosphere on the campus.Officer-in-Charge of Motihar police Abul Khair said additional police personnel have been deployed to avert any untoward situation. 

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=149882



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[ALOCHONA] Turbulent days ahead?



Turbulent days ahead?

 

Unrest in the garment sector, the war crimes trial, constitutional amendments and political uncertainties indicate turbulent times ahead

 

by ANWAR PARVEZ HALIM

 

Bangladesh has been caught up in a whirlwind of uncertainty. The garment sector is riddled with violence, Constitutional amendments has given rise to a flurry of questions, the trial of the criminals has come into focus, Ramadan is around the corner and already the market prices are spiralling out of control. The country's politics seem to be hurtling ahead towards a turbulent future.

As it is the people are apprehensive of the state of affairs. And then when a ruling party leader declares, "There is bloodshed all around. Dark days lie ahead. The fog hasn't lifted from politics since 1/11. We lack national cohesion. We are nearly on the list of precarious states. Are we to heading towards a Sudan, Somalia or Afghanistan?" Obaidul Kader made this remark on August 2 while addressing a meeting at the Press Club. It certainly holds significance. The question reverberating all around is: Where are we heading?

 

Anger lingers in the garment sector

 

This is not the first time that unrest has been instigated in the readymade garment sector, the export-oriented sector which rakes in the most foreign exchange earnings for the country. A total of 2.5 million workers and their families are dependent on this industry. Unfortunately, this sector is yet to gain stability and vested quarters take full advantage of this time and again. The present situation is a recurrence of past, but with growing cause for concern.

About six months ago a whisper campaign took off from unknown sources, declaring that unrest would break out in the garment sector. After that, the workers took up the movement for a 5000 taka minimum wage. Then on July 23 when a garments worker Beauty was thrown off the roof of Vertex Fashion Ltd in Mirpur to meet her death, violence erupted and spread like wildfire.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made an appeal to consider the wage increment from a humanitarian viewpoint. The workers were thrilled at the Prime Minister's sympathy and took it for granted that this was a guarantee for their 5000 taka minimum wage. But on July 28 the Wage Board announced a minimum wage of 3000 taka, their hopes were dashed to the ground. Of course the Wage Board has justified its decision.

It says, during the caretaker government, the minimum wage was fixed at 1662 taka and now it has been increased 80%. Neither the workers not the management is happy with this. On July 29 the wage scheme was announced. Then on July 30, persons claiming to be workers ran riot. They went on rampage, destroying property, houses, offices, banks and shops in the Tejgaon, Mohakhali and Gulshan areas. President of BGMEA Abdus Salam Murshedi says, "Many owners were not agreeable to an 80% increase in wages, but in response to the Prime Minister's appeal, they consented. But there condition was that the security of their industries had to be ensured."

The ground reality is that the government is unable to provide the industry any security, despite the Prime Minister's stern warning to the troublemakers. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner says that they have a list of the instigators' names. If so, why are they not being arrested? Why are the police failing to bring the situation under control?

It has been learnt that at least 22 NGOs and 15 labour leaders have been behind this recent spate of labour unrest. Intelligence agencies claim that the conspirators are reportedly spending crores of taka on the labour leaders. It is more or less an open secret that foreign hands are pulling the strings. On July 21 a leading Bengali daily ran a large advertisement in which a number of foreign organisations declared unity with the garment workers of Bangladesh, calling for 5000 taka minimum wages. If the 5000 garment factories of the country close down in the interests of foreign quarters, this business will go elsewhere. India and Sri Lanka stand to gain.

India and Sri Lanka have to pay tariff in many countries where they export readymade garments. Bangladesh, having tariff free facilities, is eyed with interest. Many are eager to go into joint collaboration with Bangladeshi garment industrialists to reap the tariff-free and quota-free benefits. The process in this regard has already begun.

In the meantime, on August 1 a tripartite agreement was reached between the labour leaders, garments workers and the government. A minimum wage of 3000 taka was agreed upon. The labour leaders called upon the workers to go back to work.

Sources say that while a section of the workers have moved away from the movement, a large section remains aggressive. They are very suspicious about the announcement that the new wage structure will come into effect from November. They see it as a deprivation of their Eid bonuses and smell a rat in the whole matter. They demand that the new wages come into effect from August 1.

Analysts do not see the labour unrest being quelled any time soon. There is all likelihood that their agitation will increase during Ramadan. It looks like invisible hands as pushing things in that direction.

The unrest in the garments sector may be a turning point in national politics, some feel. Economists feel that the sharp rise in the price of essentials during Ramadan will have a serious impact on the garment workers. As it is their house rent is going up.

 

Ramadan, war crime trial and BNP's fears

 

Last Ramadan the government had announced that it would monitor the market, but that did not assuage the situation and prices hit the roof. There are all chances of the market becoming unstable this time too. Already the prices of rice, lentils, edible oil, sugar and other essentials have shot up. This has hit the common man hard and fear has entered the public.

Iftar parties have become a tradition for political parties during Ramadan and the political arena remains calm for at least this period of time. This time things are different. Jamaat-e-Islami leaders are in the dock about to face the war crime trial. The party's leadership stands rife with suspicion and inner conflict. Jamaat may even split. However, analysts say that along with the war crimes trial, other religion-based parties are feeling uncomfortable and might go 'underground'. This may usher in Islamic militancy. In such a case, the western powers would find ample grounds for intervention. On one hand India has lent full support to the war crimes trial, while the US and UK are insisting that the process be transparent and follow international standards. Political commentators say that the government is facing a tough test of balancing the interests of the powers that be.

It is clear that BNP is not taking a direct stand in favour of Jamaat where the war crimes trial is concerned though there is pressure upon Begum Khaleda Zia from within the party to take a stand in this regard. BNP is not going for any strong movement against the government for the time being. They aim at post-Eid months to drum up a movement.

The Saudi King, meanwhile, has extended a state invitation to Begum Zia. She is like to pay a visit to Saudi Arabia before Eid. Analysts read significance into this visit as well as the recent incident of US Ambassador Moriaty calling upon her.

 

Constitutional amendments and disheartened secular group

 

The secular forces of the country have long been demanding a reverting to the Constitution of 1972. Awami League too had been committed to reviving this Constitution. However, the court verdict in this regard has been accepted and the secularists within Awami League are aghast. While placing stress on the Fifth and Seventh Amendments, the government remains silent when it comes to the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. Yet it was through this Amendment that Ershad introduced Islam as the state religion.

Critics point out that secularism was one of the main pillars of the 1972 Constitution. They say if Islam remains the state religion, then the term 'secularism' has no meaning whatsoever. This is a contradiction. President Ziaur Rahman had introduced 'Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim' in the preamble of the Constitution. The court has upheld retaining this. Nirmul Committee leader Shahriar Kabir is irate. He says that if this term is removed from the Constitution, it will not create any harm. He is in favour of removing the words 'Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim'.

With the court cancelling the Fifth Amendment, religion-based politics is supposed to be banned. It is the government's responsibility to implement the verdict. But will the government take the initiative to ban religion-based politics? Several quarters doubt if the government will actually take this decision. The secularist civil society has decided to step up pressure on the government to prohibit religion-based politics.

Persons of the nationalist ilk say that this cannot be called a return to the 1972 Constitution. They say that Awami League is simply using this to meet their own ends. They point out that the Prime Minister and her ministers, raising the issue of the Fifth and Seventh Amendment, are spewing out abuse towards President Ziaur Rahman. In other words, their objective is to belittle Ziaur Rahman.

Various quarters feel that one of the main agendas of the government in dabbling with the constitutional amendments is to do away with the caretaker government system. Work to this end is on within the government. This will consolidate Awami League's position further in the future. Government policy makers reason that they are a majority in parliament and with BNP and Jamaat in their present predicament, there is little chance of any public protest. Thus this is the right time to annul the caretaker government system.



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