Banner Advertiser

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

[ALOCHONA] Re: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths

Yeah man. Yahya said kill 3 million. Mujib heard about it. And so 3 million is the number we believe killed.

By this account we are more moronic than I initially thought!!

I think it is more likely that 3 lacs was wrongly translated, unintentionally, by Sheikh Mujib into 3 million. Once spoken he thought he could not take it back. This is more plausible and less moronic than Farida's version.

But of course it would be too difficult for Farida's class to even contemplate such a thing. Far better to bang on about what Yahya said. You see, this way responsibility is shifted away.

Her definition of genocide maybe agreed upon by the UN. Her reluctance to look for the dead and to count the dead can only be agreed upon by Bongu Intellectuals.

--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Farida Majid <farida_majid@...> wrote:
>
>
> In my short write-up, the date of the Yahya Khan's projected aim of killing three million Bonggals in a radio interview is given THREE (3) different times -- February, 1971, which is at a time of negotiation between the General Election if Dec. 1970 and the Military crackdown on Dhaka on the 25th March, 1971. There is no reason why such boasting on the part of the Martial Law administrator who was also the President of Pakistan should remain unreported to Sheikh Mujib, the overall winner of the election, waiting to convene the Parliament and form a democratic government.
>
> It just goes to show the kind of attention you choose pay to truth. You are just keen on slandering people on half-truths, outright lies, and ignorant and malicious guesswork. You are even spreading gobbledygook dressed up as 'kobita'.
>
> My definition of Genocide follows closely the United Nations Convention on Genocide. Yours is the non-rational attempt to deny it's reality -- even if it means screwing up the obvious dates of event in history.
>
> Farida Majid
>
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> CC: bangladeshiamericans@googlegroups.com; khabor@yahoogroups.com
> From: shahadathussaini@...
> Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:37:27 -0500
> Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Farida:
>
> I hope also that he knew the difference between three million and three lacs but your argument does not suffice at all because Sheikh Mujib did not hear about Yahya's boast (the statement you mentioned) by then (immediately after release). Because that book was not publish until later. I am sure Bhutto or Yahya did not tell that to his ear before he boarded for the London bound plane. I think we still have time to take a survey and make it a historical fact about our deaths. "A nation who does not know to count their dead is a dead nation." You know this.
>
> If a survey corrects the number, Mujib will not loose his face. Mujib was a human being and might have said something emotinally which we might not have to keep alive for his sake.
>
> Please talk rational not emotional.
>
>
>
> Shahadat Suhrawardy
>
> Washington DC
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To: alochona@yahoogroups.com
> From: farida_majid@...
> Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2011 13:43:34 -0500
> Subject: RE: [ALOCHONA] Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Serajur Rahman has been pushing this story ad infinitum and most recently it appeared in that 'letter' in the Guardian. It is told in a clever format so that the figure '3 million' appears as an instantaneous invention of an ebullient leader who does not know the difference between the Bengali number 'lakh' from the English word 'million'. Serajur Rahman does not divulge that Sheikh Mujib might have actually heard the Yahya Khan radio interview given in Feb. 1971, or he might have heard about Yahya Khan boasting of the jolly prospect of killing 3 million Banggals through the post-1970 election grapevine of intricacies.
>
> I try to avoid getting into the '3 million killed' argument. It is a pointless argument, as if a million subtracted here or added there makes a whole lot of difference. Genocides are not defined so much by the enormity of the number, though that is an important determinant, but by the ferocity of the intentionality. Below is a snippet excerpt from something I wrote on Genocide of 1971 two years ago.
> . . . . . . . .
>
> He quotes R. J. Rummel again: �It was Yahya Khan, then President of Pakistan", who said regarding his ill-conceived miliitary crackdown on East Pakistan in March, 1971: "Kill three million of them and the rest will eat out of our hands" (p315).
>
>
> The intended number to be killed mentioned in the statement of Yahya in a radio interview in February, 1971 is not nearly as important as the explicit aim for mass killing that is expressed in the bombast there. And the aim of this mass killing was to make �them� eat out of �our� hands, i.e., subjugation of a whole race of people by brute, inhuman force.
>
>
> ------------
> But that was Pakistani military's neo-colonial aim. I like to distinguish between that aim and the one that was in the blackened hearts of the Bengali Razakars as they conducted the mass murders of fellow-countrymen in 1971. Those Razakars (and their newer versions) with the same murederous desires in their hearts are still among us. We keep knocking over them even in this forum.
>
> Farida Majid
>
>
>
>
>
> To:
> From: bdmailer@...
> Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:22:40 +0600
> Subject: [ALOCHONA] Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
>
>
>
>
> Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deathsSerajur RahmanRetired deputy head, BBC Bengali ServiceOn 8 January 1972 I was the first Bangladeshi to meet independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after his release from Pakistan. He was brought from Heathrow to Claridge's by the Indian high commissioner Apa Bhai Panth, and I arrived there almost immediately.Mujib was puzzled to be addressed as "your excellency" by Mr Panth. He was surprised, almost shocked, when I explained to him that Bangladesh had been liberated and he was elected president in his absence. Apparently he arrived in London under the impression that East Pakistanis had been granted the full regional autonomy for which he had been campaigning. During the day I and others gave him the full picture of the war. I explained that no accurate figure of the casualties was available but our estimate, based on information from various sources, was that up to "three lakh" (300,000) died in the conflict.To my surprise and horror he told David Frost later that "three millions of my people" were killed by the Pakistanis. Whether he mistranslated "lakh" as "million" or his confused state of mind was responsible I don't know, but many Bangladeshis still believe a figure of three million is unrealistic and incredible.http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/24/mujib-confusion-on-bangladeshi-deaths
>


------------------------------------

[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.comYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alochona/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alochona/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
alochona-digest@yahoogroups.com
alochona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
alochona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ALOCHONA] Re: [notun_bangladesh] CONGRATULATIONS, HON. SHEIKH HASINA !!!!!!!!!!!

This Peace Model would have been drafted by an AL intellectual who wanted to ingratiate himself to the PM. This letter would have garnered, at best, some polite thank yous from abroad which would have made the PM very pleased with herself. The massed ranks of her cronies and sycophants would applaud her thereby making her even more pleased with herself.

It was probably written more for domestic consumption than anything else.

The intellectual who wrote it was probably an academic connected to a foreign university where a tinpot award for something or other is up for grabs. If he can get it for her then, he thinks, he will have served his country well.


--- In alochona@yahoogroups.com, Desh Bondhu <desh_bondhu@...> wrote:
>
> Mr. Manik,
>
> This is the JOKE of this Century.
>
> Sk. Hasina is exporting 'Peace Model' (???)/(!!!!) to the world.
>
> .....Bangladesh needs to buy Peace immediately.... Most of the front pages of the daily newspapers say this.
>
> How hypocrite Sk. Hasina and
> how blind you are!!!!
>
> Desh-Bondhu,
> 'Desher Kotha Bolay'
>
> On 23 Nov 2011, at 23:23, Muhammad Ali <manik195709@...> wrote:
>
> > সাইনইন ¦ নিবন্ধিত হà§&lsqauo;ন
> >
> > ইউনিজয় ফনেটিক
> >
> >
> >
> > ঢাকা
> > তাপমাত্রা : ২৩° সেলসিয়াস
> >
> > আজকের পত্রিকা আজকের ফিচার সম্পাদকীয় ২য় রাজধানীসব শিরà§&lsqauo;নামই-পেপার
> > ঢাকা, বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৪ নভেম্বর ২০১১, ১০ অগ্রাহায়ণ ১৪১৮, ২৭ জিলহজ ১৪৩২
> > প্রথম পাতা খেলা শিল্প বাণিজ্য খবর ঢাকা পড়ালেখা টেক প্রতিদিন মাঠের রাজনীতি প্রিয় দেশ দেশে দেশে শেষের পাতা
> > মূল পাতা প্রথম পাতা
> >
> > « পূর্ববর্তী সংবাদ
> > ¦ শেয়ার
> > পরবর্তী সংবাদ »
> > শেখ হাসিনার 'শান্তির মডেল' জাতিসংঘে গৃহীত এনা, নিউ ইয়র্ক
> > জনগণের ক্ষমতায়নের মাধ্যমে উন্নয়নের গতি ত্বরান্বিত করে শান্তি প্রতিষ্ঠায় বাংলাদেশের প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনার 'শান্তির মডেল' জাতিসংঘের সেকেন্ড কমিটিতে সর্বসম্মতভাবে গৃহীত হয়েছে। ১৯৩ সদস্য রাষ্ট্রের সমর্থনে পাস হà¦"য়া সিদ্ধান্তটি জাতিসংঘের রেজ্যুলেশন আকারে প্রকাশের জন্য শিগগির সাধারণ অধিবেশনে উপস্থাপিত হবে।
> > জাতিসংঘের সেকেন্ড কমিটির চেয়ারম্যান বাংলাদেশের স্থায়ী প্রতিনিধি ড. এ কে এ মà§&lsqauo;মেনের সভাপতিত্বে গত ২২ নভেম্বর অনুষ্ঠিত সভায় সিদ্ধান্তটি গৃহীত হয়েছে 'পিপ্্ল এমপাà¦"য়ারমেন্ট অ্যান্ড ডেভেলপমেন্ট' শিরà§&lsqauo;নামে। অধিবেশন ফ্লà§&lsqauo;রে বাংলাদেশের সংসদ সদস্য সুরঞ্জিত সেনগুপ্ত, তহুরা আলীসহ বাংলাদেশ মিশনের কর্মকর্তারা উপস্থিত ছিলেন।
> > সিদ্ধান্তের মূল বক্তব্য হচ্ছে মানুষের ভà§&lsqauo;টের অধিকার, কর্মসংস্থান, শিক্ষাব্যবস্থাকে যুগà§&lsqauo;পযà§&lsqauo;গী করা, সর্বস্তরে বৈষম্য দূর করা, প্রতিটি গà§&lsqauo;ষ্ঠীর মূলধারায় অন্তর্ভুক্ত হà¦"য়ার পথ সুগম করা, দারিদ্র্য বিমà§&lsqauo;চন, মানবিকতার উন্নয়ন ঘটানà§&lsqauo; à¦" সন্ত্রাস নির্মূল করা। সর্বà§&lsqauo;পরি সমাজব্যবস্থার সর্বস্তরে জবাবদিহিতা প্রতিষ্ঠা করা। এসব কাজ করতে পুরà§&lsqauo; জনগà§&lsqauo;ষ্ঠীকে ঐক্যবদ্ধ করার নিরন্তর প্রয়াস থাকতে হবে।
> > প্রসঙ্গত, শেখ হাসিনার এই শান্তির মডেলকে সারা বিশ্বে ছড়িয়ে দিতে গত এক বছরে ছয়টি মহাদেশের বিখ্যাত বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, আন্তর্জাতিক খ্যাতিসম্পন্ন প্রতিষ্ঠানে মানবাধিকার সংগঠক, সুশীলসমাজ, অর্থনৈতিক সংস্থা, আইনপ্রণেতা, ছাত্র-শিক্ষক, গবেষক, সমাজকর্মীদের সঙ্গে নিয়ে বেশ কয়েকটি সেমিনার করেছে আà¦"য়ামী যুবলীগের একটি টিম। যুবলীগের নেতৃত্বে এই টিমে রয়েছেন ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের অর্থনীতি বিভাগের চেয়ারম্যান অধ্যাপক ড. আবুল বারকাত, স্থানীয় সরকার প্রতিমন্ত্রী জাহাঙ্গীর কবির নানক, যুবলীগের চেয়ারম্যান à¦"মর ফারুক চৌধুরী, সাধারণ সম্পাদক মির্জা আজম এমপি, সাংবাদিক সৈয়দ বà§&lsqauo;রহান কবির এবং ইশতিয়াক আহমেদ চৌধুরী।
> > রাষ্ট্রদূত ড. মà§&lsqauo;মেন বলেন, 'সিদ্ধান্তটি পাস করতে আমরা ইউরà§&lsqauo;পীয় ইউনিয়ন এবং জি-৭৭ গ্রুপে প্রভাব রয়েছে এমন দুজন কূটনীতিক নিয়à§&lsqauo;গ করেছিলাম। কেউ দ্বিমত পà§&lsqauo;ষণ করলে তাঁদের নিবৃত্ত করাই ছিল এ দুজনের কাজ। আমরা সফল হয়েছি। সাধারণ পরিষদে এটি রেজ্যুলেশন আকারে গৃহীত হতে কà§&lsqauo;নà§&lsqauo; সমস্যা হবে না। কারণ এই ১৯৩ জনই সেখানে উপস্থিত থাকবেন। সবচেয়ে বড় কথা হচ্ছে, একটি রাষ্ট্রà¦" এর বিরà§&lsqauo;ধিতা করেনি।'
> > « পূর্ববর্তী সংবাদ
> > পরবর্তী সংবাদ »
> > এই প্রতিবেদন সম্পর্কে আপনার মতামত দিতে এখানে ক্লিক করুন
> >
> >
> > মূল পাতা প্রথম পাতা
> > প্রথম পাতা -এর আরো সংবাদ
> >
> >
> > টিপাইমুখ নিয়ে দেশের স্বার্থ
> > ক্ষুণ্ণ হতে দেব না : হাসিনা
> >
> > বাঁধ নির্মাণ হলে ৩ কà§&lsqauo;টি মানুষ হুমকিতে পড়বে
> >
> > দীপু মনি কেটে পড়লেন, তেমন কিছু
> > বলেননি সচিবà¦"
> >
> > দেশি-বিদেশি বিনিয়à§&lsqauo;গ বাড়বে
> >
> > স্থিতিশীলতা স্থায়ী হবে
> >
> > স্ত্রী বুবলী, না ভাই কামরুজ্জামান
> >
> > ১০০০ টাকার সà§&lsqauo;ডিয়াম বাতি ৩৪০০ করে কিনছে ডিসিসি
> >
> > আপত্তি সত্ত্বেà¦" ভিডিআইকে দায়িত্ব দিতে নির্দেশনা
> >
> > 'রিট নিষ্পত্তির আগ পর্যন্ত ভর্তি কার্যক্রম স্থগিত থাকবে'
> >
> > ডিসিসি বিভক্ত করতে সংসদে বিল উত্থাপন
> >
> > তৃতীয় দফায় বাড়ছে বিদ্যুতের পাইকারি দাম, ঘà§&lsqauo;ষণা আজ
> >
> > প্রথম দিনে অনুপস্থিত পৌনে দুই লাখ
> >
> > পিএসসির নতুন চেয়ারম্যান হলেন আহমেদুল হক
> > পাঠকের মন্তব্যভারত ফারাক্কা চালু করার সময় বলে ছিল ...Mahbubur Rab, Sylhet, Bangladeshদীর্ঘ দিন ধরে প্যারালাইসিস এ আক্রান্ত রাজউক ...Abu ahamed patwary, Feni, Bangladeshএকদম সত্যিকথা। নরসিংদীর ছেলে হিসাবে আমি সর্বদাই ...Mahadi Hasan Azad, Dhaka, Bangladesh
> > আরà§&lsqauo; মন্তব্য »
> >
> > ঈদ সংখ্যা - ২০১১
> >
> > অনলাইন জরিপআজকের প্রশ্নটিপাইমুখে বাঁধের বিষয়ে সরকারের অবস্থান সন্তà§&lsqauo;ষজনক মনে করেন কি?হ্যাঁনা
> > মতামত দিন
> > বিজ্ঞাপনের মূল্য তালিকা
> > (প্রিন্ট সংস্করণ)
> >
> > আজকের পাঠকসংখ্যা
> > ৪৫৮৭০
> > পুরোনো সংখ্যা
> > » কালের কণ্ঠ à¦"য়েব সম্পর্কে আপনার মতামত দিন
> > সকল ফিচার
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > টুন টুন টিন টিন
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ঘà§&lsqauo;ড়ার ডিম
> > মগজ ধà§&lsqauo;লাই
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > জয়িতা বিশেষ সংখ্যা
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > বিশ্বকাপ ক্রিকেট ২০১১
> > বিশেষ ক্রà§&lsqauo;ড়পত্র
> >
> >
> >
> > ঈদ আনন্দ ২০১১
> >
> > আজকের পত্রিকা আজকের ফিচার সম্পাদকীয় ২য় রাজধানীসব শিরà§&lsqauo;নামই-পেপার
> > ঢাকা, বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৪ নভেম্বর ২০১১, ১০ অগ্রাহায়ণ ১৪১৮, ২৭ জিলহজ ১৪৩২
> > প্রথম পাতা খেলা শিল্প বাণিজ্য খবর ঢাকা পড়ালেখা টেক প্রতিদিন মাঠের রাজনীতি প্রিয় দেশ দেশে দেশে শেষের পাতা
> > সম্পাদকমণ্ডলীর সভাপতি : মà§&lsqauo;স্তফা কামাল মহীউদ্দীন, ভারপ্রাপ্ত সম্পাদক : ইমদাদুল হক মিলন, ইস্ট à¦"য়েস্ট মিডিয়া গ্রুপ লিমিটেডের পক্ষে মà§&lsqauo;স্তফা কামাল মহীউদ্দীন কর্তৃক বসুন্ধরা সিটি, ১৩/ক/১ পান্থপথ থেকে প্রকাশিত এবং প্লট-সি/৮৩, ব্লক-কে বসুন্ধরা, খিলক্ষেত, বাড্ডা, ঢাকা থেকে মুদ্রিত।
> > বার্তা à¦" সম্পাদকীয় বিভাগ : বসুন্ধরা আবাসিক এলাকা, প্লট-৩৭১/এ, ব্লক-ডি, বারিধারা, ঢাকা-১২২৯। পিএবিএক্স : ০২৮৪০২৩৭২-৭৫, ফ্যাক্স : ৮৪০২৩৬৮-৯, বিজ্ঞাপন ফোন : ৮১৫৮০১২, বিজ্ঞাপন ফ্যাক্স : ৮১৫৮৮৬২। E-mail : info@...
> > © 2010 The Daily Kaler Kantho
> >
>


------------------------------------

[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.comYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alochona/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alochona/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
alochona-digest@yahoogroups.com
alochona-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
alochona-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ALOCHONA] Daily Star opinion poll



Daily Star opinion poll


http://www.edailystar.com/contents/2012/2012_02_21/content_zoom/2012_02_21_20_7_b.jpg



__._,_.___


[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com




Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___

[ALOCHONA] ‘Fundamentalist Economy in Bangladesh’: An Analysis



'Fundamentalist Economy in Bangladesh': An Analysis

Shah Abdul Halim

An article on 'Fundamentalist Economy in Bangladesh' by Dr. Abul Barakat, Professor of Economics, Dhaka University, appeared in The Daily Inqilab on 27 April 2005. On reading the summary of the article, I became interested in reading the full text. Thanks to Dr. Nazmul Huq Rabi, Managing Director of Institute for Development and Research, for providing me with the full text of the article.

We are used to regard a teacher of a university with great respect. We would like to look upon a university teacher in the same way even in future.  But when an 'eminent' teacher assumes the role of a propagandist rather than taking a neutral and impartial approach in a discourse, it naturally raises a lot of questions. The key condition for presenting something in a fair way is to have an objective approach. However Prof. Dr. Abul Barakat in his article 'Fundamentalist Economy in Bangladesh', I am sorry to say, could not maintain that and I shall make an attempt to prove that in my discussion.

Dr. Abul Barakat, in his article, has mixed up and amalgamated the basic difference between Islamic way of life and worldly materialism. He wrote: "They (the fundamentalists) have invested in the short and long term projects from which it is possible to earn large profits. That means, though they are showing their keen interest in the Hereafter, they are more conscious about worldly life than many others". [Prof. Dr. Abul Barakat, Bangladeshe Maulobader Orthoniti (Fundamentalist Economy in Bangladesh), Samaj Orthoniti O Rastro, Mukti Bhavan, 22/1 Purana Paltan, Dhaka 1000, April 2005, pp 19-20].

Without questioning the authenticity of this statement, I would like to say that if Dr. Abul Barakat had clear knowledge about the teachings of Islam and its lifestyle, he would have hesitated to make such a comment.

Everyday we say in our prayer: Rabbana Atina Fiddunia Hasanataw Wafil Akhirati Hasanataw- Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter [2 (Surat Al Baqarah):201]. In Islamic beliefs, the Hereafter is not insignificant rather worldly life of a Muslim is the way for success in the Hereafter.

Thanks to Dr. Abul Barakat for analyzing the economic condition in the post-independence Bangladesh, especially for his comment 'the gap between the promise [by the progressive leaders] and the reality' [p 9]. During that period poverty has increased. In his words: "During the last 33 years some people have become owners of huge wealth and resources while a large section has become pauper; resources were not mobilized for productive purposes, unearned income looked for more sources of unearned income; lives of some have enhanced in elegance while the difficulties and deprivations of various kinds of the vast majority have increased; high-rise buildings have been built, while the number of slums have increased.  Real government spending in public  welfare has decreased, while it has increased in unproductive sectors; foreign interference has increased, but local and indigenous initiative has decreased; government expenditure in  unproductive sectors has increased, at the same time has increased the distance between the public and the public servants; election expenditure has increased,  but good governance and effectiveness of the elected institutions have decreased; the power of black money has increased, while the compassion of the politicians towards the people has decreased. Disparity between the rich and the poor in education has increased, but the actual government funding in the basic education sector has decreased; poverty related diseases have increased, so is the cost of healthcare,  but the competence of the public health sector has decreased" [p 12].

"This trend of development during the last 33 years has clearly divided our country of 14 crore into two groups: In the first group are the powerful minority whose number is maximum 10 lakh … a situation where as against 10 lakh powerful are 13 crore and 90 lakh powerless, helpless, disadvantaged and deprived people" [p 10].  For this situation the writer has accused "a self-destructive plundering culture that has invaded all sectors, including economy, politics, education and culture" [p 10]. In his own words: "The characteristics of this plundering culture are black money, terrorism, illegal weapon, muscle power, bribery corruption, maladministration, oppression and repression etc." [p10].  

Dr. Abul Barakat rightfully pointed out: "In the post-independence Bangladesh welfare oriented politics did not flourish as expected" [p 13]. Naturally the question arises: who were inseparably linked and associated with this plundering culture? For whom the progress of welfare-oriented pro-people politics did not get momentum, necessary impetus and vigor? Who were at power during that period? During that period the people who were at power were the advocates of secular, left and so-called progressive ideas.   

Coming to the discussion on fundamentalism, Dr. Abul Barakat mentioned eight business and financial sectors and said that fundamentalist political parties are being financed from the income of the establishments of these eight sectors. In his words: "Part of the profit goes to organizational activities" [p 17].  More so, he said: "Many a people think that armed terrorist religious communal forces of the country get all the money to run the organization from outside the country" [p 17]. "They got huge amount of foreign money in the 70s and 80s" [p 17], Dr. Abul Barakat said though he did not provide any proof or evidence to support his claim. How far academic is such generalized and sweeping comment is a big question.

Dr. Abul Barakat has presented a balance sheet of the fundamentalists' economic activities in Bangladesh. In his opinion: "Now the net profit from fundamentalist economy in Bangladesh is approximately Taka 1200 crore" [p 17]. He has given a breakup of Taka 1200 crore: 27 percent from financial institutions like banks, insurance companies and leasing companies, 20.8 percent from non-government organizations, 10.8 percent from commercial organizations, 10.4 percent from healthcare including pharmaceutical industries and diagnostic centers, 9.2 percent from educational institutions, 8.3 percent from real estate business, 7.5 percent from transport business and 5.8 percent from news media and information technology [pp 17-18]. The percentage of net profit, in his words, 'pattern' is based on 'assumption' [p 18].

The information and the statistics provided by Dr. Abul Barakat do not in any way represent the true picture rather these are utterly imaginary. In order to prove the futility of his claims we shall analyze a few of his claims. He claimed that Islamic banks, Islamic insurance companies and Islamic leasing companies make net profit of Taka 325 crore (27 percent of Taka 1200 crore) [p 18]. His claim is not at all true. Let us examine the matter in depth. At present there are six Islamic banks, five Islamic insurance companies and one Islamic leasing company in Bangladesh of which the sponsors and directors of one Islamic bank come from progressive and secular background. None of its sponsors and directors is fundamentalists rather they are known in the society for their opposition to fundamentalism.

Of the five Islamic insurance companies, only one as a successful business establishment has issued public shares. In 2004 this insurance company after deducting Taka 15 crore 76 lakh as tax and appropriation has distributed profit of Taka 90 lakh among the shareholders. In 2004 the net profit earned by the other four Islamic insurance companies, after keeping reserve of Taka 2 crore 64 lakh as appropriation, did not have taxable income or sufficient profit to distribute among shareholders.

The only leasing company as a successful business establishment till now did not issue public shares. This leasing company after deducting Taka 1 crore 26 lakh as tax and appropriation made profit of 1 crore 47 lakh. The leasing company, however, made provision to issue bonus shares equal to the amount of profit. It means the shareholders of this Islamic leasing company did not get any profit in cash in 2004.

Of the six Islamic banks, if we leave the Islamic bank whose sponsors and directors come from progressive and secular background and are known in the society for their opposition to fundamentalism, we have five Islamic banks. In 2003 these five Islamic banks after deducting Taka 119 crore 50 lakh as income tax and appropriation distributed Taka 70 crore 45 lakh as profit among the shareholders. In the same period one Islamic bank made a net loss of Taka 39 crore. It may be mentioned here that the first Islamic bank that was established in Bangladesh in 1983 and which now has 151 branches, its 58 percent ownership is held by foreign nationals and organizations notable of which is the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

So where do we stand? Islamic insurance companies made a profit of Taka 90 lac. Islamic banks made a profit of Taka 70 crore 45 lakh that was distributed to the shareholders. The lone Islamic leasing company made a profit of Taka 1 crore 47 lakh. The leasing company, however, made provision to issue bonus shares equal to the amount of profit. That means Islamic banks, Islamic insurance companies and the lone Islamic leasing company's net income, after deducting the amount paid to the government as income tax and other appropriations, is Taka 72 crore 82 lakh which the shareholders received.  Yet Dr. Abul Barakat in his article has claimed that Islamic banks, Islamic insurance companies and the lone Islamic leasing company made net income of Taka 325 crore. In his words, this is the net income of the fundamentalist financial institutions.

Now the question is whether there is any scope for the financial institutions to transfer any money to any political party for carrying out its political activities? Dr. Abul Barakat is definitely aware that these financial institutions have been established under the statutory rules as in case of banks under the Bank Company Act 1991. All banks are to operate under the supervision of Bangladesh Bank, the country's central bank, and financial institutions whose shares are transacted in the share market and available for buying and selling, they must follow the rules and regulations of the Securities & Exchange Commission, besides they have to follow the rules and regulations of Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange. The accounts of the financial institutions are approved by the annual general meetings, besides profits and appropriations also are to be approved by annual general meetings. It is evident from this that there is no scope of transferring money from the financial institutions to somewhere else without recording transaction in the books of account.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that the net profit from the fundamentalist non-government organizations and commercial organizations is Taka 380 crore (31.6 percent of Taka 1200 crore. 20.8 percent of non-government organizations and 10.8  percent from commercial organizations) [p 18].To keep the readers in confusion,  he did not explain which organizations specifically represent non-government organizations and which represent commercial organizations As an honest academic researcher he should have provided a list of such organizations but possibly he did not do it intentionally.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that the net-profit earned from the healthcare sector, including pharmaceutical industries and diagnostic centers, amounts to Taka 125 crore (10.4 percent of Taka 1200 crore) [p 18]. In 2004 the annual profit of the pharmaceutical industry at Shafipur after paying income tax was Taka 2 crore 86 lakh that was distributed among 10,000 shareholders. The clinic at Dhanmondi belonging to the same group is a Trust organization. In 2004 it made a profit of Taka 4 crore 10 lakh after paying income tax.  Even if there are a few similar organizations it is impossible that the net profits from this sector will add up to Taka 125 crore. It is thus evident that the claim of Dr. Abul Barakat that the fundamentalist economy earns Taka 125 crore annually from healthcare including pharmaceutical industries and diagnostic centers is fantastic. The statistics are imaginary having no link with truth.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that the net profit from the fundamentalist educational institutions is Taka 110 crore (9.2 percent of Taka 1200 crore) [p 18]. This is an unrealistic proposition, utterly impossible. The Madrasas of the country mainly depend on Zakah, Sadaqah and donations. Everyone knows it. It is not clear to us how Dr. Abul Barakat calculated this figure of Taka 110 crore. The few schools, colleges and universities that have been established in the private sector by the country's eminent Islamic scholars, educationists and social workers are all Trust organizations. Therefore, no person can take profit from such educational institutions and the country's law also does not permit that.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that the net profit from the fundamentalist news media and information technology sector is Taka 70 crore (5.8 percent of Taka 1200 crore) [p 18]. The daily published from Moghbazar was never a profitable establishment and there have been periods when journalists and workers of this daily have not been paid salary and other allowances for consecutive eleven months. Possibly only one daily published by the circle who believes in Islamic social transformation is running successfully. The fundamentalists also do not have any news agency or private television channel. It is not understandable how Dr. Abul Barakat reached the figure of annual net profit of Taka 70 crore from the fundamentalist news media and information technology sector. He did not explain it either.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that the net profit from the fundamentalist real estate and transport sectors is Taka 190 crore (15.8 percent of Taka 1200 crore. 8.3 percent from real estate business and 7.5 percent from transport business). He did not mention the names of the real estate houses and transport business organizations with which the fundamentalists are associated. The figure of Taka 190 crore as income from these two sectors as mentioned in his article is imaginary like the statistics of other sectors. There is no doubt about it.

Dr. Abul Barakat claimed that it is "possible to engage 5 lakh party members for full time if only 10 percent of the annual net profit of fundamentalist economy of Taka 1200 crore can be used in organizational activities. This is what they (the fundamentalists) do and give cross- subsidy in other sectors" [p 20].  

Let us examine the matter in depth. 10 percent of Taka 1200 crore is Taka 120 crore with which the fundamentalist party gives full time employment to 5 lakh party members. What does it mean? It means one party member would get Taka 2400 per annum for 'full time' employment, monthly Taka 200 only. How reasonable is such salary structure and how much it reflects the socio-economic condition of the country that only Dr. Abul Barakat would better tell. If cross-subsidy is given to other sectors then Taka 120 crore would not be available for full time employment of party members. It that case, it would not be possible even to give Taka 200 to a party member per month for full time employment.

I am obliged to say that the article of Prof. Dr. Abul Barakat is nothing but a concocted story devoid of truth. It is not a well researched analytical economic discourse. The author cannot avoid the accusation that by this article he has confused the people.#

Writer: Researcher, Political Commentator and Chairman, Islamic Information Bureau Bangladesh

E-mail:sah1947@Yahoo.com
Note: Taka is Bangladesh currency, US $ 1= Taka 65, Lakh means one hundred thousand, Crore means ten million.

http://www.shahfoundationbd.org/halim/fundamentalist_economy_in_bangladesh_an_analysis.html



__._,_.___


[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com




Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___