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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

[ALOCHONA] No rule of law in the country: HRC chief



No rule of law in the country: HRC chief
 
Dhaka, Aug 11 (bdnews24.com)—There is no rule of law in the country, National Human Rights Commission chairman Mizanur Rahman has said. "In addition, the rule of law is widely absent inside the judicial system," he said on Wednesday. He was speaking at the launch of a policy paper on the judiciary at the conference room of Journalism Training & Research Institute. The event was organised by the Institute of Governance Studies, BRAC University.

Rahman said the general people think that the justice is bought with money. The law is only applicable to the poor, not the rich. He called for widespread use of Bangla in courts. "It will benefit the poor." He also observed that those who are politically conscious and sympathetic to the poor should be given preference in the appointment of judges.

The Institute's research associate Mohammad Sirajul Islam presented the paper. He recommended setting up of an independent authority for the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court. An independent judicial secretariat was suggested to ensure the financial and administrative independence of the judiciary.

The BRAC University's School of Law director Shahdeen Malik said there are around 12 lakh cases pending across the country and the existing 35,000 lawyers are not enough to handle those cases, creating a huge backlog.
The Institute of Governance Studies director, Manzoor Hasan, conducted the ceremony. 

 


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[ALOCHONA] Interim govt defrauded people by forming Tac



States HC in full text of its recently released judgement; ACC now free to go after the amnesty-seekers

The immediate past caretaker government defrauded the people by forming the now-defunct Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac), the High Court observed in its judgment that declared the commission illegal.

It said the Voluntary Disclosure of Information Ordinance 2008, by which Tac was constituted, was formulated by misinterpreting and violating numerous articles of the country's constitution.

The ordinance was enacted "by deception, tantamount to fraud", and it encroached upon the existing system of criminal justice, the existing courts, the constitution, and the people, in the name of an alternative system of justice, the court observed.

The full text of the HC judgment was released on June 22 this year, over a year and a half into the announcement of the verdict on November 13, 2008.

"The High Court observation means the then caretaker government defrauded the criminal justice system by promulgating the voluntary disclosure ordinance," Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) counsel Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star recently.

The recent ACC move for reopening cases against 297 graft suspects, pardoned by Tac, got a shot in the arm following the release of the judgment's full text, as there is now no bar on such reopening, said legal experts.

"The ordinance is liable to be declared to have been made without lawful authority and is of no legal effect and ultra-vires of the constitution and all acts or deeds or exoneration made or proceeding taken under the said ordinance is also liable to be declared to have been done and made without lawful authority and is of no legal effect," the judgment said.

"The ordinance is repealed in such a way as if no such act ever existed in the country," said Md Asaduzzaman, one of the five lawyers for the petitioners who had challenged the formation of Tac.

Law Minister Shafique Ahmed told The Daily Star recently that the government has not yet taken any decision regarding the fate of those persons who had confessed to Tac that they had committed corruption.

"The Truth Commission received money from the corruptionists on behalf of the state. As the government is the real owner of the ill-gotten money, it will not be refunded to those who surrendered the money," he added.

Former law adviser to the immediate past caretaker government Hassan Arif declined to comment on the matter after he could finally be reached through repeated attempts.

"Aggrieved individuals may go to court against the verdict while the government has the chance to file a delayed appeal against it," said Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.

"The court was convinced by the arguments presented by the lawyers of the petitioners, but not by the arguments of the government lawyers," said former attorney general Salahuddin Ahmed, who represented the government.

"Tac is one of the many illegal activities the illegal caretaker government carried out during its tenure. People involved in formulating the ordinance should be brought to justice," said Adilur Rahman Khan, a Supreme Court lawyer who is also one of the petitioners against the formation of Tac, and also the secretary of human rights organisation Odhikar.

On August 25, 2008 Foreign Minister Dipu Moni who was Awami League's women affairs secretary back then, SC lawyer Adilur Rahman Khan, Ubinig Executive Director Farida Akhter, and Odhikar Director Nasiruddin Elan filed the petition as a public interest litigation challenging the legality of the ordinance that had allowed Tac to be formed.

After assuming power on January 11, 2007 the caretaker government launched a massive drive against corruption reconstituting the ACC, and formed the army-led National Coordination Committee on Corruption and Serious Crime (NCC), which is also defunct now.

The ACC served notices against over 300 graft suspects many of whom were of high profile, and filed over 200 cases against those influential suspects in 2007 and early 2008.

The idea of Tac emerged at the end of 2007 as an alternative way for dealing with the cases, by allowing the offenders opportunities to admit their culpabilities and be instantly penalised monetarily, instead of prolonged legal process and convictions by courts.

Several sources in the immediate past caretaker government said it was the NCC that conceived the idea of forming Tac after realising that it would take a long time to put all graft suspects behind bars, which would not be possible before the general elections held in December, 2008.

Tac began its journey on August 3, 2008 with a five-month tenure and got dissolved in January, 2009.

The ordinance, that formed the commission, destroyed the constitution's basic concept, the HC judgment said.

The court observed that the ordinance also destroyed the essential limb of the judiciary, namely the Supreme Court (SC), by setting up a rival commission parallel to the High Court Division, in the name of speedy trial of criminals.

Tac was given the authority to call upon the judiciary for assistance if necessary, it could stop trials and ask for records from trial courts before framing charges against any person.

"The supervisory power of the Supreme Court has been encroached and disregarded and the Administration of Criminal Justice are not functioning in accordance with law and procedure due to interference of the Truth Commission," the judgment said.

Tac was also given the authority of punishment like seizures, confiscations, forfeitures, removals, and attachments of properties, which is directly inconsistent with the constitution, the HC said.

Commenting on the activities of Tac, the court said, "It has occasioned deception and fraud by invoking a misnomer, misleading nomenclature, namely 'The Truth and Accountability Commission'."

The definition of commission ensures taking of oath from an offender, examination of evidence and deposition of witnesses, but Tac awarded clemency solely based on the offenders' statement, the HC added.

"It does not adhere to the ingredients of a 'commission' and it acts far in excess of a commission by assuming powers of determination that affects the fundamental rights of the individuals and is contrary to so many provisions of the constitution," the judgment went on.

Even scope was not given to test the validity of the ordinance as it was enacted for five months on June 8, 2008 at a time when the election was announced to be held in December the same year, the judgment added.

According to the current tradition, an ordinance is required to be placed before a parliament within 30 days of the House's formation, but the Voluntary Disclosure of Information Ordinance, 2008 ceased to exist even before the current parliament was formed.

The ordinance was in violation of the equality clause of the constitution as it gave "suitable atmosphere" and "special privilege" of exoneration to a class of offenders, the judgment said.

The very enactment of the ordinance was also in violation of the constitution because that was a policy decision, and a caretaker government is not allowed to take any policy decision, the HC concluded.
 


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[ALOCHONA] Re: Cry for power, protest against outages on



Police charge truncheon on protesters at a restaurant at Mandalpara in Narayanganj in the wee hours yesterday. People of Baburail, Paikpara, Deobhog, Nayapara, Bhuiyanpara and Nitaiganj villages disgruntled by power cuts came to the Mandalpara Power Substation Office in processions around 1:30am and attacked it. Clashes with police went on until four in the morning. Police fired 250 rubber bullets and lobbed some teargas canisters to bring the situation under control.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On 8/11/10, Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com> wrote:
Cry for power, protest against outages on
 
Power-hungry people demonstrate at Naohata point on Rajshahi-Naogaon Road, right, vandalise the main office of Rajshahi Palli Bidyut Samity in the area yesterday. Several other districts witnessed similar incidents due to power outage.
 
People besieged electricity offices and blocked roads and rail tracks, turning violent at places, in protest against frequent power cuts across the country during the ongoing humid weather.


Over 20 people, including two police officers, two Ansar members and an electricity official, were injured as locals ransacked offices of Palli Bidyut Samity at Naohata of Paba and Bhawaniganj of Bagmara upazilas in Rajshahi district yesterday, reports our staff correspondent from Rajshahi.Demanding smooth power supply, the agitators also put electric poles and torched tyres, blocking Rajshahi-Naogaon and Bhawaniganj-Rajshahi roads.
 

Over a hundred people stormed the head office of Rajshahi Palli Bidyut Samity after the PBS officials returned a group of villagers telling them that the power crisis cannot be solved shortly. The angry mob broke the main gate and the security check post and pelted insiders with stones and brickbats. Ansar members Faridul Islam and Bablur Rahman and employee Punam Das received serious injuries on their heads. The attackers ransacked the GM's office, administrative building, store and workshop while several officials and staff hid at other rooms to save themselves.
 
 

"Villagers want 24-hour power supply but it is just impossible. We are getting only 10 MW supply against average daily demand of 42 MW. The problem worsened as the power distribution is being centrally controlled," said Abdur Rahman Sarker, AGM of the office.

In Bagmara, the sub-office of Natore Palli Bidyut Samity came under attack at around 11:00am. In one and a half hours, the locals damaged 10 transformers, 25 meters, two computers, two motorcycles, wireless and telephone sets while rampaging the office.

The mob also assaulted Jesmin Akhtar, a cashier of the office, and sub inspectors Mahabur Rahman and Zahangir Hossain.

Ekramul Haque, deputy general manager of the office, said they are facing an extra power shortage due to 'central control' over the local power distribution.

Oor Tangail Correspondent reports: Power hungry people besieged the electricity office in Tangail town and the Gopalpur zonal office of Rural Electrification Board (REB) on Monday night demanding smooth electricity supply.

The people of Gopalpur upazila under the banner of 'Gopalpur Bonik Samity' brought out a procession at the upazila headquarters in the evening demanding smooth power supply in the upazila. Later, locals besieged the REB office at night and damaged its gate.

As the people of Dhulerchar and Hazraghat areas under Sadar upazila besieged the power office in the district town at 9:00pm, the officials and employees of the office fled for safety, sources said.

The protesters alleged that officials and employees of the power office demanded Tk 5,000 for change of the 200KV transformer in their area that got burnt 17 days ago.

Earlier in the morning, locals blocked road at Basail upazila headquarters for two hours protesting unusual load-shedding in the upazila.

Tangail district unit of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League brought out a procession and held a rally in the town yesterday morning demanding smooth power supply in the district.

Hundreds of people of Sharifpur and Ranagacha unions under Sadar upazila blocked Jamalpur-Mymenshingh-Dhaka highway and Nandina Railway Station by setting fire on tyres and leaving trees and bamboos on the road and rail lines at Nandina Bazar in the district yesterday, reports a correspondent from Jamalpur.

During the blockade from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, intercity Teesta, Agnibina up and Commuter down trains remained stranded at Nurundi, Peyarpur and Jamalpur stations while several hundred buses and trucks, bound for Jamalpur and Dhaka, got stuck on the road, much to the suffering of people.

Following assurance from the local administration of smooth supply of electricity, people withdrew their blockade at 4:00pm.

Aggrieved women on Sunday night vandalised the Palli Bidyut Samity office at Protap under Nalchiti upazila protesting frequent power cuts, reports a correspondent from Jhalakathi.

At around 8:00pm, around 20 to 25 women of Bhairabpasha and Protap area entered the office and damaged chair, table and other furniture, said Habibur Rahman, general manager of Jhalakathi Palli Bidyut Samity.

Hundreds of power-hungry people in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur yesterday besieged Palli Buduyt Samiti office at Basundhara village demanding smooth power supply in the upazila, reports our Dinajpur correspondent,

A correspondent adds from Chandpur: Locals yesterday blocked Chandpur-Comilla highway at Mohamaya Bazar under Sadar upazila demanding uninterrupted power.

The agitators set fire to tyres on the road during their demonstration from 10:30am to 12:30pm, creating a huge tailback on the road for hours.
 
 



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[ALOCHONA] Objections over $ 1 billion Indian Loan?

This is not right. We should refuse to take this loan since our Mollaas and opposition Parties hate India and love Pakistan. We should take loans from Pakistan only if she offers. Otherwise, we do not need any loans, right?
.
As a World Class Economist according a 'Letter of Commendation' awarded to me by Firth Foundation of USA, can I point out that no Foreign Loan remains un-spent because it is always credited to the Foreign Exchange Account of receiving country by IMF, the Foreign Exchange Book Keeping authority that was created by UNO?
.
The Government of Loan Receiving country is supposed to print the equal amount of Loan Money in Local Currency and spend on the Project that it receives such loan for. It creates inflation but is helpful for total growth though the Loan Money credited to Foreign Exchange account of such country is used for paying for imports if those are in excess of her exports, Foreign Investments, Remittances and other income.
.
S U Turkman

---, "Mohd. Haque" <haquetm83@...> wrote:
>
> One billion dollar loan from India has impeccably divided the nation. In one side clearly the so called pro-liberation, Shadhinotar pokhyer, alias Awami League, Jatiyo Party and another 12 parties and on the other side the so called anti liberation, jamaat and two other parties. One side is saying their prayer raising their joint palms touching forehead praising their secular god and His blessing through India â€" the friend, savior and rescuer to offer the biggest financial package ever given to take the Bangladesh into prosperity.
> Other side is simply riling on the whole package of incentive that only invest, employ and facilitate the lenders fundamental interests go beyond the economic and financial means.
> Who is right?
> Turkey signed an MOU during Abdallah Gul’s recent visit to Bangladesh, a One billion dollar offer, most of the AL doctrine media refuses to spread the news. We know the multilateral or bilateral donors committed pipe line package stacked with billion of dollars remains unutilized for need of earnestness from the part of the government or good governance. That could have built our Railway, road or transport net works, port and more interestingly the crippled power sectors. There is no dearth of money. But then why with such a fun fare and extra enthusiasm drumming up of this deal signing in lightning speed!  
> Infrastructure development that sets the centre stage of the whole package is to be mainly intended for lenders own interests in their own country, the troubled and difficult â€"eastern part. To facilitate their own cargo, one should not loose sight of barrier created for our own indigenous(not quite in their definition of quality and origin except environmentally hazards produce like ‘brick’) product to their land, cement, rod, glass, garment, cosmetics, toiletries already faced with no entry.
> It would have been better to meet the Indian demands in economic terms by upgrading our own infrastructure in our own terms, from variety of cheaper sources, that too to cater not only India but whole region in competitive economic terms and perspective. Our investment would have been more productive and facilities more beneficials.
> Another aspect of this deal is, nothing from, what AL, with all their cultural, political, economic and personal submission to their long proven mentor’s utter discomfort, yet expected under the popular demand  a little gesture as reciprocate to their total submission and services one after another. Not even a single one, expect the same promise of â€" ‘looking’, ‘considering’, ‘in the next meeting’.
> These hollow promises make great value to our so called pro liberation forces because they think because of India we have our liberation today. Even our Sector Commanders, Muktijodhya Shanksod and the whole bunch of cultural workers, who always keep them ready to offer yet more, in their quest for happiness and gratefulness!
> It reminds me of today’s British politics and its total submission to USA.  â€" submitting to US pressure has become so ingrained in British politicians that they have lost all capacity to think for themselves. What ever enthusiasm is created by the new coalition government of David Cameron he proved to be even no worse then Tony Blair â€" re-writing British history in America’s favor as he recalled how Britain had been ‘very much the junior partner’ in 1940 when Britain and the US became united in the war against Nazi Germany. In fact, the United States had not even entered World War II at that stage!
> If this is the case for a nation like Britain, what on earth we should think of autonomous policies of our own for which millions of our people gave lives.

[ALOCHONA] Chhatra League (BCL) cadres beat 3 Dhaka University (DU) teachers



Chhatra League (BCL) cadres beat 3 Dhaka University (DU) teachers

 


Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) cadres injured three teachers and five students of Dhaka University (DU) campus over a trifling matter yesterday evening on the campus.

The injured teachers were Assistant Professor Siddiqur Rahman and Iftekharul Huda of Islamic History and Culture Department and Dhiman Barua of Pali and Buddist Studies Department of the university.

The students injured in the same incident were Al Mamun (4th year), Shahadat (2nd year), Sumon, Rasel, Shahidul Islam and Nirob (1st year). All are students of Islamic History and Culture Department.

Eyewitnesses said BCL SM Hall General Secretary Anwar Hossain Anu led the attack on the teachers on the central playground of the university soon after a football match between the Islamic History and culture (IHC) and the Pali and Buddist Studies Department.

IHC Department won the game by 3-0. But players of Pali Department raised question over a decision of the referee Jalal Ahmed. They engaged in dispute with him. At one stage Anwar Hossain Anu, captain of Pali department, with his fellows, physically assaulted the referee.

Seeing that Prof Siddiqur Rahman, Iftekharul Huda and Dhiman Barua tried to calm down Anu and his associates but they failed and also were injured by them.

Meanwhile, some students of IHC department came for the help of their teachers and they were also attacked ruthlessly by the followers of Anu, students alleged. Later, police brought the situation under control.

The agitating students vandalised instruments in the Gymnasium.

Students of IHC Department who reside in SM Hall alleged that followers of Anu were threatening them not to return to the hall.

Sources said a probe committee was formed to investigate into the incident.

 http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/08/11/news0115.htm



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[ALOCHONA] Cry for power, protest against outages on



Cry for power, protest against outages on
 
Power-hungry people demonstrate at Naohata point on Rajshahi-Naogaon Road, right, vandalise the main office of Rajshahi Palli Bidyut Samity in the area yesterday. Several other districts witnessed similar incidents due to power outage.
 
People besieged electricity offices and blocked roads and rail tracks, turning violent at places, in protest against frequent power cuts across the country during the ongoing humid weather.


Over 20 people, including two police officers, two Ansar members and an electricity official, were injured as locals ransacked offices of Palli Bidyut Samity at Naohata of Paba and Bhawaniganj of Bagmara upazilas in Rajshahi district yesterday, reports our staff correspondent from Rajshahi.Demanding smooth power supply, the agitators also put electric poles and torched tyres, blocking Rajshahi-Naogaon and Bhawaniganj-Rajshahi roads.
 

Over a hundred people stormed the head office of Rajshahi Palli Bidyut Samity after the PBS officials returned a group of villagers telling them that the power crisis cannot be solved shortly. The angry mob broke the main gate and the security check post and pelted insiders with stones and brickbats. Ansar members Faridul Islam and Bablur Rahman and employee Punam Das received serious injuries on their heads. The attackers ransacked the GM's office, administrative building, store and workshop while several officials and staff hid at other rooms to save themselves.
 
 

"Villagers want 24-hour power supply but it is just impossible. We are getting only 10 MW supply against average daily demand of 42 MW. The problem worsened as the power distribution is being centrally controlled," said Abdur Rahman Sarker, AGM of the office.

In Bagmara, the sub-office of Natore Palli Bidyut Samity came under attack at around 11:00am. In one and a half hours, the locals damaged 10 transformers, 25 meters, two computers, two motorcycles, wireless and telephone sets while rampaging the office.

The mob also assaulted Jesmin Akhtar, a cashier of the office, and sub inspectors Mahabur Rahman and Zahangir Hossain.

Ekramul Haque, deputy general manager of the office, said they are facing an extra power shortage due to 'central control' over the local power distribution.

Oor Tangail Correspondent reports: Power hungry people besieged the electricity office in Tangail town and the Gopalpur zonal office of Rural Electrification Board (REB) on Monday night demanding smooth electricity supply.

The people of Gopalpur upazila under the banner of 'Gopalpur Bonik Samity' brought out a procession at the upazila headquarters in the evening demanding smooth power supply in the upazila. Later, locals besieged the REB office at night and damaged its gate.

As the people of Dhulerchar and Hazraghat areas under Sadar upazila besieged the power office in the district town at 9:00pm, the officials and employees of the office fled for safety, sources said.

The protesters alleged that officials and employees of the power office demanded Tk 5,000 for change of the 200KV transformer in their area that got burnt 17 days ago.

Earlier in the morning, locals blocked road at Basail upazila headquarters for two hours protesting unusual load-shedding in the upazila.

Tangail district unit of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League brought out a procession and held a rally in the town yesterday morning demanding smooth power supply in the district.

Hundreds of people of Sharifpur and Ranagacha unions under Sadar upazila blocked Jamalpur-Mymenshingh-Dhaka highway and Nandina Railway Station by setting fire on tyres and leaving trees and bamboos on the road and rail lines at Nandina Bazar in the district yesterday, reports a correspondent from Jamalpur.

During the blockade from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, intercity Teesta, Agnibina up and Commuter down trains remained stranded at Nurundi, Peyarpur and Jamalpur stations while several hundred buses and trucks, bound for Jamalpur and Dhaka, got stuck on the road, much to the suffering of people.

Following assurance from the local administration of smooth supply of electricity, people withdrew their blockade at 4:00pm.

Aggrieved women on Sunday night vandalised the Palli Bidyut Samity office at Protap under Nalchiti upazila protesting frequent power cuts, reports a correspondent from Jhalakathi.

At around 8:00pm, around 20 to 25 women of Bhairabpasha and Protap area entered the office and damaged chair, table and other furniture, said Habibur Rahman, general manager of Jhalakathi Palli Bidyut Samity.

Hundreds of power-hungry people in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur yesterday besieged Palli Buduyt Samiti office at Basundhara village demanding smooth power supply in the upazila, reports our Dinajpur correspondent,

A correspondent adds from Chandpur: Locals yesterday blocked Chandpur-Comilla highway at Mohamaya Bazar under Sadar upazila demanding uninterrupted power.

The agitators set fire to tyres on the road during their demonstration from 10:30am to 12:30pm, creating a huge tailback on the road for hours.
 
 


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Re: [ALOCHONA] Crisis in the poultry sector



The blatant, public and naked strategy of this administration to destroy our local industry in favour of becoming a vassal to India continues to astonish me.

It is now crystal clear to all of us that Mujib, his blood line, his party and their followers sold their souls to India for the power to rule Bangladesh. In my eyes, they are not even Bangladeshi.

Our military is clearly weak or corrupt - either way they are failing in their duty to defend this nation from this foreign invasion.

Emanur Rahman | m. +447734567561 | e. emanur@rahman.com


From: Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com>
Sender: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 12:39:35 +0600
ReplyTo: alochona@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Crisis in the poultry sector

Crisis in the poultry sector

 

by ANWAR PARVEZ HALIM

 

Eggs are selling at 26 taka per hali (four) in the market and broiler chickens at 150 taka per kg. Breeder farms sell day-old chicks at 50 to 60 taka each. Over the past three months the small farm owners have been demanding that the price of chicks be reduced.

With the price of eggs and chicks going up, and with Ramadan around the corner, the government took the decision to import these items. And, in the face of demands, the government fixed the price of chicks at a maximum of 30 taka each for broilers and 32 taka each for layers. But the owners of the breeder farms are not accepting this. They say that the production cost of each chick is about 40 to 45 taka and then there are transportation costs. So unless they sell the chicks from 50 to 55 taka, they will be incurring losses.

Mashiur Rahman, Managing Director of Paragon Group, says, "Unless the government changes its decision, the poultry farm owners will lose everything. Even if chicks are imported from India, these can't be less than 50 taka each." He says that after the government gave its approval, only four truckloads of chicks were imported. As there is not too much difference in price, no one is very interested in bringing the chicks from outside.

Other sources say that India is trying to capture the market in a different way. Venketesher, the Indian company which controls about 80% of India's poultry industry, has placed a 700 crore taka investment proposal with the government. Another Indian company Godrej ACI has begun business in collaboration with Bangladesh. They are already doing business in several districts of North Bengal, marketing eggs, chickens and chicken feed. Local breeder farms owners say that the aim of these companies is to capture the Bangladesh market.

Mashiur Rahman, Convenor of the National Coordination Committee on Poultry, says, "There is a move to destroy this flourishing industry in our country. The industry is hostage in the hands of middle-men parading in the name of agents and dealers. They have agitated the small farms owners. He blames the concerned ministry's ignorance and neglect for this state of affairs. Many apprehend that if this local industry faces a blow, India will monopolise the market.

 

Going back

 

Towards the nineties, farm-bred broiler chickens and farm eggs gained popularity and commercial viability. Private investment began to pour into this sector. Basically from 1995 the poultry industry began to flourish in no uncertain terms.

There are about 150,000 poultry farms, small and large, in the country at the moment. Of these, five are large grandparent stock farms, 40-50 are parent stock farms and hatcheries. These produce eggs, chickens and chicken feed. Aftab, Kazi Farm, Nourish, CP, Paragon, ACI/Godrej are the leading farms in the country.

Private investment in the poultry industry at present amounts to 20 thousand crore taka. About five million people are directly and indirectly involved in this industry. The industry contributes 6-7% of the GDP.

Engineer Mahbubur Rahman, Operative Director of Aftab Bahumukhi Farms, states that the weekly demand for broilers and layers is about 76 lac 50 thousand. But the production and supply is 55 lac 50 thousand. That means there is a shortfall of 21 lac chickens.

According to Paragon Group's MD Mashiur Rahman, every day 1.5 crore eggs are produced in the country. If every day everyone has even one egg each, the deficit will be ten times the production.

The entrepreneurs say there has been a 10% growth in this industry over the past 15 years. They say that with government help, investment in this sector will double in the next five or six years and the shortfall will be met.

Fazle Rahim Shahriar, Managing Director of Aftab Farms, says Bangladesh's self-reliance has increased in the poultry sector. Huge amounts of foreign exchange is being save every year. Medicines, feed, and other essential raw materials are being produced. Not only that, we supply eggs and chicken at a much lower price than in China, Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan.

However, eggs and chickens produced in Bangladesh are costlier than those produced in neighbouring India. The reason behind this, say the entrepreneurs, is that India produces all the essential raw material of the sector itself. And their government also extends all sorts of facilities to the industry. Bangladesh has to import the raw materials. The government has affixed a 5% tax on this import. This pushes the production costs up. The producers have appealed to the government to lift this tax so that the market will be affordable till at least 2015.

 

Cause of the crisis

 

The entrepreneurs also blame the present predicament of the poultry industry upon the caretaker government. Then there was the avian influenza or bird flu which also dealt a serious blow to the sector. It is still reeling from that crisis. With demand more than supply, the price of day-old chicks has shot up.

Many have been alarmed by the government's giving permission to import chicks and eggs. They say it is not safe to import chicks from India. If they have any sort of disease, it will spread like wild fire in the industry here.

 

The middlemen

 

The small farmers at the grassroots make the biggest contribution to the poultry sector, yet they can't purchase chicks, eggs, feed and medicines directly from the breeder farms. The breeder farm owners have hundreds of dealers and agents who act as the middle-men. The small farmers are dependent on them. The dealers or agents pay in advance for the chicks and supply them on credit. That is why when the chicks grow, the farmers can't sell them directly to the market. They have to hand these over to the middle men at the price agreed upon.

It is said that the dealers sell the chicks to the farmers at a much higher price than what they buy it for from the breeders. After 30 to 35 days when the chick grows up, the dealers buy it from the farmers at rates lower than the market price. The dealers also keep a wide profit margin on medicines and feed. It is not just the farmers but the entire industry that is held hostage by these middlemen.

The poultry farmers have started a movement and the big farm owners blame the middlemen for this. They allege that they are in collusion with outside quarters to destroy the local poultry industry. They are demanding that the middlemen link be abolished and that they do business directly with the farmers. Paragon Group MD Mashiur Rahman says that the government must come forward to help in this regard.

The owners of the breeder farms say that the government has livestock offices in all the districts. They can be used to help the small farmers in capacity building, to train them about poultry diseased and so on. The government should help the small farmers to directly avail loans from government banks and NGO so they can buy chicks directly from the hatcheries rather than through the middlemen.



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