Politicization of Bureaucracy February 23, 2011
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH.Tags: bereaucracy
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Finance Minister MA Muhith told a hard truth that bureaucracy lost its effectiveness due to politicization.
He made the comment while talking to the journalists. He also added that Bangladesh should introduce American type of political bureaucracy where the senior bureaucrats would be changed with the change of the government.
Whether American system would be good for Bangladesh, it is revealed that the main fault of bureaucracy in Bangladesh lies in its politicization.
But Finance minister forget to mention that the trend not only is affecting the bureaucracy but also the other sectors.
The recruitment of teachers in the universities and other institutions, the selection of students in the post graduate studies, the business opportunities, cultural privileges,the judgments are also affected by this trend.
If the suggestion from the finance minister is accepted, not only bureaucracy, but all other sectors will be absolutely politicized beyond one’s imagination.
In Bangladesh where job crisis is extreme and job security is absent, the temporary service for months or a few years is an absurd idea.
For Bangladesh, the need is an independent, neutral and non -politicized bureaucracy.
An ordinary citizen
Bangladesh Co-hosting World Cup Cricket 2011 February 18, 2011
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, Sports.Tags: CRICKET, World Cup Cricket 2011
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Bangladesh is co-hosting the world cup 2011 along with India and Srilanka. It’s a great honour for Bangladesh which is comparatively new in the world cricket.
The inaugural festival was held in Dhaka. It’s a great challenge for Bangladesh. Bangladesh overcame the challenge with a great spectacular show where Bangladesh and other two hosting countries nicely projected their art and culture.
Prime Minister Sk. Hasina proudly opened the world cup 2011. The captains toured the stadium on traditional rickshaws of Bangladesh.
For the world cup, the capital Dhaka and port city Chittagong took a colorful look. The mascots, statues of players and national symbols were stationed at different places Of the two city.
The inaugural bonanza was attended by thousands of enthusiasts. Many couldn’t enter into the stadium due to lack of seats. Prime Minister, Ministers and dignitaries of different countries glorified the occasions by their presence. But there was visible absence of opposition leaders signifying the distance of political rivals in an occasion of national unity.
Bangladesh will also host few games, at Dhaka and Chittagong.
We hope that the play will continue smoothly and in good spirit. We hope that Bangladesh will do her best and will hit a good scores to win or challenge the opponents.
Bangladesh has also extra responsibility to take care of the players, guests and tourists. The safety of them should be a concern for the state.
Th traffic jam may prove bitter for the tourists and the citizens aw well if the authority couldn’t handle it properly.
All the good wishes for the world cup 2011.
An ordinary citizen
Egypt: Role of social media in people’s revolution February 13, 2011
Posted by bdoza in International Affairs, Media.Tags: Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, revolution
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Wael Ghonim has been released after 12 days in the prison. He is a google executive and a social net-worker. His facebook page is ‘We are all Khaled Said’. Said was a myrter who was died after days of torture by the Egyptian security personnel.
Ghonim was welcome in the Tahrir square as hero. Embarrassed he said, ‘I am not a hero. Real heroes are these people’. One would easily understand why he was arrested by the Mubarrak regime by visiting his page.
The other day I was listening to a discussion in Al Jazeera on the role of conventional media vs social networking in the peoples revolution in Egypt. Experts on the show acknowledged that the social networking played supplementary role in the uprising. Out of 3 experts, only one gave major credit to the social networking.
The April 6 Group that first initiated organizing youth movement, used mobile phones, text messaging and social media for promotion of their objectives and intercommunication.
It is true that social media act as a tool by the organizers and the power of social media to engage and empower the young minds is reflected by success of the revolution so far achieved in Egypt.
The power of the social media would only be intimately felt by the users of this media; the expert from the other world will never understand the magnitude of its appeal.
Some people wrongly try to draw a line between the social media and the conventional media. 8ut in the social networking, the important and referable content become intermingled and the reverse is not true. So, a social media user will be more conversant with the trends in society and politics where first hand reports are more trustworthy, though ‘non professional.
Face book,twitter, blogging and internet will be written down in history with unprecedented revolution of people in Egypt and will inspire the minds of the modern generation in other countries to change the course of history.
An ordinary citizen
links:
Facebook:’We are all Khaled Said’
Newsweek: Facebook Freedom Fighter
Egypt : techniques of survival of an autocrat February 10, 2011
Posted by bdoza in International, POLITICS.Tags: Egypt, Husne Mubarak, Tahrir Square
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A massive uprising of people is going on in Egypt that started on 25th January 2011.Thousands of people come down to the streets and squares in the cities. The most symbolic is the Tahrir or Liberation square in Cairo. Like many citizens of the world I was following the evolving events in Egypt. The mass movement led by the youths has taken its momentum. The peak arrived on when people from all walks of life, men and women, children and old all gathered together in the Tahrir square in ‘millions march day’ on 28th January 2011.
Government closed down the social networks, shut down the internet, stop the text messaging and then stop the mobile phones. They swoop on the journalists, arrested them and tortured them.CNN Anderson was also heavily assaulted by them. Independent Media had been closed.
On the face of upheaval Husne Mubarak has made some changes. He has appointed new vice president and a prime minister. Both are from security forces, the vice president was Chief of Intelligence and is seen as possible successor to the Presidency.
He addressed the nation, cited his past and expressed his commitment to the nation. He declared not for run for presidency in the next election, but want to continue till then to serve the nation and to protect the nation from falling in chaos.
Then we heard that pro-Mubarak people have gathered outside and chanted slogans.They came close to the protesters and initially there was no clash. Then suddenly we saw some men on horses and with whips ran their horses through the masses injuring many. Some pro-Mubarak also came on camels. Some of the horse riders were brought down by the protesters. Sporadic clashes between the two groups continued throughout the night. Snipers from the outside killed the 7 protesters and injured many. They pro-govt hooligans also threw molotov cocktails and set fire the cars and vehicles.
The police were withdrawn from the duties after the first few days. The thieves and thugs were encouraged to loot houses and shops. Many of the thugs were found to be from the security forces.
The army were deployed in the city and tanks and armored vehicles spread out in the city and they remain virtually neutral and didn’t prevent the aggressors to create the chaos. They only played a little positive role very recently. Nobody knows how long that will persist.
UN estimated that more than 300 were killed and 5000 were injured. Though the ministry of Health only acknowledged 17 deaths.
The Egypt is under emergency rule since his coming to the power in 1981. The Husne Mubarrak has allies in the international block like USA and Israel unlike Saddam who had few friends.
The Husne Mubarak government has raised the salary of the government employees to 15% and also increase the pensions.
Whether all these measures could save the regime from collapse, only time will say.
An ordinary citizen
Share Market Crisis: Whom to blame? January 29, 2011
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, GOVERNANCE, ECONOMY.Tags: Bangladesh Bank, CSE, DSE, SEC, Share market
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Government has formed an inquiry committee with Mr. Ibrahim Khaled as the chairman of the 3 member committee. He is given 2 months time to find out the loop holes of the share market of the past 2 years.
Even before initiating his investigation, the chairman said that it will be difficult to punish the stalwarts but atleast they will be able to identify the persons responsible for the irregularities of the share market.
In the meantime, immediately after the fall in the share market, a high level meeting in presence of the finance minister Mr.M A Muhith was held in the secretariat where fingers were pointed at a big businessman close to the government for the share market crisis.
The ordinary citizen does not like to blame any individual, rather he will blame the system or the regulatory bodies for the failure.
Barrister Moudud of BNP demanded the resignation of the finance minister. We don’t like to go that far. But atleast SEC should have taken the responsibility and chief of SEC should have resigned. 8angladesh Bank as policy maker and monitoring organization also should have taken some responsibility and should correct itself. So far an spokesman of SEC has been made OSD and an officer of SEC has been transferred. The measures are not enough to prevent the future collapse of the market.
The government also tried to revitalize the share market by the participation of the commercial banks in the share market. Many opine that progressive involvement of the commercial banks in the share market will jeopardize the share market as well as money market.
The serious concern is that if the offenders have political blessings, then the market will have little chance of revival.
An ordinary citizen
Dr. Yunus – Does he represent the 3rd Force in Bangladesh? January 27, 2011
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS, Yunus.Tags: 3rd Force, Danone, USA
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Recently Dr.Yunus has become the focus of attention in the media in Bangladesh. But he was more focused in international media for his concept of social business and its practical implication for the last few months after he got the Nobel prize for peace in 2006. Though Dr.Yunus was also greatly involved in developing multiple projects in Bangladesh with the leading companies of the world as Adidas, few people of his country were closely following his ventures.
But he came to the limelight of the local media with the news of documentary on the transfer of money from Grameen Bank to Grameen Kalyan. In the debate , not only people of different strata took part and expressed their opinion, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh also made the harshest comment.
The debate died down with the clarification of Grameen and reply of Norwegian government but not in Bangladesh. A case has been filed against Dr. Yunus in a magistrate court miles away from the capital for his comment made in 2006 against the politicians. The magistrate accepted the case and summoned Dr. Yunus to appear before the court. In the meantime government has formed a parliamentary committee to probe into the allegations against Grameen Bank.
USA has asked the Bangladesh Govt to deal the matter related with Dr. Yunus with honour. It is to be noted that Dr. Yunus has recently received 2 highest awards in USA.
For parliamentary Committee, a preliminary paper is prepared where 16 points are identified to inquire into . A new case has been submitted against Dr. Yunus for adulteration of Skakti Dai- a product of Grameen-Danone, joint venture of Grameen and Danone, Danone a world leader from French in nutrition product. Grameen-Danone is also the first model of social business in Bangladesh and may be the first in the world.
The ordinary citizen is feeling puzzled with the new development of events relating Dr. Yunus where the government is also taking active part.
Is there any political reasons behind all these? Does Dr. Yunus represent the 3rd force in Bangladesh? That’s why he has become the target of continuous harassment by the government? The opposition has so far made no comment in this matter.
It is known that Dr. Yunus was first approached by the sponsors of the last Caretaker Government. He refused the offer but proposed the name of Dr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed who headed the CTG for long 2 years and Dr. Yunua had his blessings for the CTG.
In Bangladesh, no political government so far could gain the sustained confidence of people and could win consecutively for 2 terms.
An ordinary citizen
Conflict of superiority between judiciary and parliament January 23, 2011
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, JUDICIARY.Tags: accountability of judiciary, independence of judiciary
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The controversy started on November 29, 2010 with the summoning of judicial staff by the subcommittee for law and parliamentary affairs.
The judiciary rejected the appeal on the plea that it is not accountable to parliament for its activities.
In reaction, Suranjit Sen Gupta, Chairman of the Parliamentary Subcommittee said that as per constitution parliament is the highest seat of authority. As the people hold the supreme authority and they bestowed their power on the elected members of parliament, it is the parliament who holds the authority over all the organs of the state. He opined that the judiciary also be accountable to parliament.
The chief justice Mr.Khairul Hoque said in a meeting that none is superior among judiciary, parliament and executive branch of the state. They are complementary to each other. the judges are accountable only to Almighty and the people. They express their accountability through the judgments to the people.
The comment of the chief justice drew further comments. Suranjit Sengupta tried to defend himself. Mr. Aminur Rahman a retired judge said that he thinks that it is the parliament to whom the judiciary should remain accountable. Barrister zahiruddin, the leading constitutional expert supported the opinion of the chief justice when asked by the media on the issue. He also said that if the judiciary does not remain independent, the majority party will try to dictate judiciary at its will.
The ordinary citizen respect the dignity and independence of judiciary.
An ordinary citizen
News link:
JS Sovereign-Daily Star
Crisis in share market January 13, 2011
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ECONOMY, GOVERNANCE.Tags: Share market, SEC, CSE, DSE
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The share market in Bangladesh made a nosedive and fell to the deepest in its history. Both the DSE and CSE were feeling the same experience in the last week.
The general index of DSE fell by 600 points or 7.75 percent to 7135 on 10.01.2010 . The general index at CSE fell 1395 points or 6.34 percent . The fall was consecutively for 5 days. Before this, on 19 Dec, 2010 the index fell 552 points or 6.72 percent. In 1996 on 5 Nov the fall was 233 point or approx. 6 point.
The fall created a deep depression among the investors.They took to the streets and tried to protest but in the face of police strong measures they had to retreat. Some of the protesters were also arrested.
The SEC, Bangladesh Bank and the government took measures to thwart the fall. Bangladesh Bank said that there is no liquidity crisis. Some blame on the inconsistent measures of SEC to regulate the market. Some blame the inherent weakness of AL government in managing the share market. In 1996 also after AL came to power share market experienced similar jolts.
The fall makes thousand of the shareholders penniless.
On the following day after the maximum fall, the market showed sharp rise which is also contrary to healthy state of the market. General index of DSE rose to 7512 points regaining 1012 of 1235 points lost in the previous two days. But there was minimum exchanges of shares and the matter seems to be beyond the control of the regulators.
The ordinary citizen had some experience with the share market. But he left it, as to him the market follows no logic. The matter seems to become a gamble and some powerful are stage-managing the whole show.
An ordinary citizen
An Ordinary Citizen: 2010 in review January 2, 2011
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, Blogging.1 comment so far
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.
Crunchy numbers
The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 76,000 times in 2010. If it were an exhibit at The Louvre Museum, it would take 3 days for that many people to see it.
In 2010, there were 41 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 515 posts. There were 47 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 3mb. That’s about 4 pictures per month.
The busiest day of the year was December 15th with 441 views. The most popular post that day was Why it is difficult to try war criminals after 36 years.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were google.com, search.conduit.com, facebook.com, en.wordpress.com, and rezwanul.blogspot.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for bangladesh, rabindranath tagore, wto, bangladesh pictures, and digital bangladesh.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
Why it is difficult to try war criminals after 36 years December 2007
1 comment
Introducing ranking system for the universities in Bangladesh April 2008
250 comments
Voter ID card Vs National ID card June 2007
80 comments
BNP should join the parliamentary sessions June 2009
5 comments
25th Baishakh: Exploring the Versatility of Rabindra Genius May 2009
3 comments
TIB report, findings and reactions December 27, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, CORRUPTION, GOVERNANCE.Tags: TIB, Transparency International Bangladesh
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TIB has published its report on the state of corruption in different government and non government service sectors in 8angladesh.The survey was conducted between June 2009 to May 2010 in 6000 households at Thana level.
In the survey judiciary came out as the most corrupt sector, followed by Law Enforcement, Land Reform and Board of Revenues.
TIB is conducting the surveys since 1997 at every 2 years interval. This is the first time that they are facing the steepest criticism. The Law Minister said that the report is not correct. The State Minister for Law expressed that the report was designed to demean the government and the judiciary and to jeopardize the trial of war criminals of 1971 and warned that legal actions will be taken against the executives of TIB. The police said that the report tarnished the image of the police department and the method followed is not fact-based.. Defamation cases have been filed against TIB bosses at Comilla and Chittagong. Though the case of Comilla has been canceled but the magistrate at Chittagong summoned the accused to appear before the court.
Mr. Iftekharuzzaman,Executive Director of TIB said the survey was made on scientific statistical method following international standard, that they are ready to face the court. He also opined that the promptness the court has shown against them is expected in all cases by the common people. Mr. Golam Rahman, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission said at the disclosure that the corruption is more widespread than that shown in the report, that the report shows corruption at the lower level, that higher level corruption is more than the lower level.
The report came when the ranking of Bangladesh leaped to 10 from 7.The report is showing corruption is increased in key sectors with no significant change in the ranking.The Daily Star,the leading English Newspaper in its editorial sharply criticized the government attitude. Daily Prothom Alo, leading Bangla vernacular also condemned the way the Government and its different organs reacted to the report. Most positive comment came from Surunjit Sen Gugta,MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Law and Parliamentary Affairs, who says that they may summon Law Minister for hearing on the findings after interviewing the TIB Executives.
An ordinary citizen
Follow up:
The supreme court has formed a 5 member committee to inquire into the allegations against the judiciary in the TIB report. The TIB is asked to submit the details of the report to the sub-committee.
TIB welcome the gesture of the supreme count and they will cooperate to their best
Supreme court opined that the report all the data in relation to the report.TIB obliged.
Supreme court said they need more information and asked for the hard copy of the report. TIB submitted. Then supreme court then invited the 3 bosses of TIB to have a cup of tea with them. TIB attended and exchanged information over the smoke of the tea.
After judging all information Supreme court concluded that TIB report is incomplete and not specific. There is no directive in the report to help them and they blame t judiciary inappropriately.
However, supreme court formed a committee of its own to inquire into the state of corruption in the judicial system.
TIB commented that their objective is attained as they could make supreme court aware of corruption in judicial system.
Ads and Accountability December 26, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, Media.Tags: ad, ad industry, advertising, billboard, models
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In a way it can be said that we are staying in an age
of advertisement.
Advertisement is there for since long. But never it was so visible and/or audible. our papers and magazines are filled with ads. It becomes so engrossing that the front and back pages of a newspaper are mostly occupied by the ads, not to tell about the inner pages.
In the electronic media, the ads are interrupting different programs- the news, drama ,talk shows, music etc.The most disturbing is of ads intrusion during news. You will get the ad before the news, after the headlines, and at intervals throughout the news. Sometimes it will be seemed to you that the news is secondary to ad.
Both the electronic and print media men will argue with you that the ads are required for their survival and profit. You will also encounter ads in the roads and highways. The billboards stand tall obstructing your views beside the streets. If it falls on someone and kills him, there will be none to take the responsibility and to give the compensation.
The ads also play with the health and nutrition of your children. The ad of Horlics and Complan have so mesmerized the children and their parents that they are thinking that these are the magic foods to be long. Sometimes the pretensions surpasses any imagination’- such as the ad of a flip-flop that make one taller. The cream that makes one fair and lovely also don’t do any miracle.
The ads become a huge industry and to promote the ad different sectors are involved including Ad manufacturers, promoters and models,none will take the responsibility of the failure of the product for which it is intended. Models portray the characters and influence the human psychology.The models form the main bridge between the people and the ad. They influence the people by their charisma and acting.
So if people are bluffed, would they not take the responsibility and be accounted for?
An ordinary citizen
Dr.Yunus, controversies & comments December 16, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, GOVERNANCE, Media, POLITICS, Yunus.Tags: Grameen Bank, microcredit, microfinance, Yunus
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When I first saw the news in a leading Bangla newspaper, I was surprised and hardly believe myself. The headlines and the news is arranged in such a way as if Dr. Yunus has removed $700m from Grameen Bank for his own purpose. Many people who didn’t go into the depth of the news would be confused the way it was presented in the media except a few.
Tom Heinemann, a journalist from Denmark cites in his documentary of the events of 14 years back that was shown in the Norway National Television. The documentary shows that Norway and allied countries collected 700m and donated to Grameen Bank for the alleviation of poverty.
Grameen Bank in a Board Meeting headed by Dr. Yunus decided to transfer the money to Grameen Kalyan for better utilization of money. The money was deposited back to Grameen Bank, the interest of which was utilized for education, housing and business of the poor people.
Interesting is that the news got huge coverage in Bangladesh media. They not only accused Dr. Yunus of wrong doing but many of them expressed their in-confidence over the microcredit system operating in the country and abroad. In the Internet blogs, facebook and other social media were flooded with posts and comments. While many of the comments from Bangladesh were crudely critical, the observation from outside were mostly cautious. The Grameen Bank on behalf of Dr. Yunus was awkwardly trying to defend Dr. Yunus by disseminating the facts at its hand. Even MPs demanded inquiry into the allegation. Prime Minister Sk. Hasina came out as the harshest critic on the event. Dr.Yunus hails the bid for inquiry. He emphasised that there was no wrong doing. A news also circulated in the media in reference to Indian PM which proved false.
When the tide was at it’s peak, the Government of Norway issued a statement that there is no irregularities or embezzlement of any fund by Dr. Yunus and Grammeen Bank and the issue was settled in 1998. The statement drew a curtain over the controversies regarding Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank pointing at the shallowness of our thoughts and intellect as a nation.
I was amazed by some of the answers of Dr. Yunus to the journalists when he came back to Bangladesh a few day’s back. At the end of interaction, he hoped that Bangladesh will move forward by the collective effort of us all.
But one thing is not clear to me why Tom Heinemann, took an event of 14 years back, the dispute of which settled at that time. Is it because he is a self employed journalist who thrives on so called investigative report and chose Dr.Yunus, who was at his peak of popularity , as his target to become famous in days? But it is not him to blame but it the temperament of Bangladesh people that made the news so important.
An ordinary citizen
Links: Opinion
Vilification of Grameen: Daily Star editorial
Honouring ourselves- Dr. Rehman Sobhan
Proud of Dr. Yunus-Dr.. Muhammad Ali Bhuiyan-University of North Carolina
A very dignified response-Abdul Hannan in Daily Star
Why this tirade against Professor Yunus-Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed -a Rhodes Scholar
Follow up:
A case has been filed against Dr. Yunus in a magistrate court in Myemenshigh for making comments against the politicians in 2006.
A parliamentary committee has been formed to probe into the allegations against Grameen Bank.
Dr. Yonus appeared at the magistrate court to reply to the summon.
USA requested Bangladesh to deal with respect the matters related with Dr. Yunus.
Parliamentary subcommittee has submitted 16 allegations against Dr. Yunus and Grameen 8ank.
A case has been put against dr. Yunus for adulteration in the Sakti dai. Sakti dai is a food product of Grameen Dannon a joint venture of Grameen with Dannone- a world leader in nutritional product.
Hartal: wrong approaches December 6, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS.Tags: AL, BNP
2 comments
BNP observed Hartal on 30th November ’10 in protest, as they said, against the price hike, deterioration of law & order situation, torture on the their activists and to save the sovereignty of the country and the freedom of the people but the Government was saying that BNP called the hartal to save Khaleda’s cantonment house (which was given to her family after the assassination of Ziaur Rahman by the then Government wrongly) and to protect her sons from the law (both of whom are accused of corruption).
Whatever the cause, people of Bangladesh were not in a mood to observe the hartal. The hartal will increase their miseries- the economic and personal life will be jeoperdised with this hartal. To create panic few vehicles were torched on the day before the hartal.
On the other hand, to nullify the BNP program, Government took all out action program including publicity against the hartal, forcible disruption of BNP procession, indiscriminate lathi charge on the procession and arrest of the activist before , during and after the hartal.
Our observation is that BNP is using an important weapon of protest prematurely annoying the public and Government also used unnecessary force to counter the program exposing their inner in-confidence on themselves.
An ordinary citizen
Advisers Vs Ministers November 24, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS.add a comment
Recently PM of Bangladesh advised the advisers of the government not to bossing but to help their respective ministers.
Bangladesh Government has appointed a number of advisers to look after the ministries in addition to the ministers. The ministers are mostly selected from the elected members of the parliament. On the other hand the advisers are appointed by the PM from the non-elected bureaucrats and professionals. But the fallacy is that the appointment of the advisers is not supported by the constitution.
Though the appointments were made to support the the ministers, sometimes conflict arises between the action of ministers and the advisers.
Sometimes, the advisers focused themselves more in the media to project their thoughts and ideas and the ministers find themselves in the sidelines.
It is true that the advisers are more prudent, more experienced and more professional than their ‘counterparts’ and we, the people, become more impressed by their ideas and deliberations. But it would have been better if the advisers play their role in the background than more in publicly. Sometimes an adviser also make blunder and raise controversy.
The adviser’s comment on the recruitment of staffs in health sector is a glaring example.
Do the advisers take the role of bosses? But the executive power should lie with the ministers, otherwise the discipline of the administration will be affected. The role of an adviser should be advisory, not executive in nature.
I like the advisers. But our political system does not support men like advisers to compete in the election and come out successful.
Our political system also need to be rectified.
An ordinary citizen
Digital Bangladesh: After waiting in the railway station for an hour October 29, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, GOVERNANCE.Tags: Digital Bangladesh
3 comments
I am invited to attend a workshop at British Council Council Dhaka on 4th November 2010. To procure a Ticket in the sleeper or A/C I went to the Railway Station by myself. To my disbelief I found myself at the end of a queue of at least 20 people. There is still 5 days in my hand. I was sure that there will be no difficulty in getting the ticket.
When I could reach the counter, I found a clerk busy with checking vacancy, giving tickets, receiving telephones and communicating with office for special instructions at the same time. He was taking about about 15 to 20 minutes to solve the need of a client. When I asked about my ticket, he said that no ticket is available for that day in any class. Many other people are also face the same fate like me in a dozen of rows.
People gathered there was making hue and cry telling that why the authority is not disclosing which tickets are not available, only to be frustrated after hours of waiting.
The Government has declared to make Bangladesh Digital. But where a simple digital display of vacancy of tickets is yet not possible in the major railway stations, total digital progress in the country wouldn’t be better than that.
Hope that highest government authority and the respective ministries will put necessary thrust to fulfill the dream of Digital Bangladesh.
We are eagerly waiting for a Digital Bangladesh.
An ordinary citizen
Arsenicosis in Bangladesh -poisoning of a population in search of pure drinking water October 16, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, CLIMATE.Tags: Arsenic poisoning, Blog Action Day 2010, water
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[Posted for Blog Action Day 2010]
In order to control epidemic of diarrhoeal diseases about 4 million tube wells were installed countrywide in 1960 in Bangladesh.
in 1980s- arsenic contamination in tube well water was suspected
in 1993 -first ever case of arsenic poisoning was detected and recognized in1996
‘Bangladesh is in the midst of a mass poisoning in the history, dangerous level of arsenic has been found in ground water, entering million of people sip by sip as they drink from over 4 million tube wells’ N Y Times, 10.11.98
‘Arsenic in drinking water poses the highest cancer risk ever found…
this is really a medical emergency’. N Y Times, 10.11.98
61 out of 64 districts, 270 out of 464 sub-districts are affected. No of contaminated tube well is 1.44 m, population exposed is 66m, total case detected more than 38000.
58% of the patients are suffering from mental agony
13% from fear of premature death, 55% girls face difficulty in getting marries, 37% patients facing restriction in sharing house commodities, 30% rejected from job, 20% had reduced payment.
The most alarming role of chronic arsenic poisoning is carcinogenicity which may occur decades after exposure. chronic ingestion of inorganic arsenic causes bladder, lungs or skin rashes.
[Source: Arsenicosis in Bangladesh, A presentation by Abdul Momin PhD]
An ordinary citizen
Cost of rice and Cost of living October 8, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ECONOMY, GOVERNANCE.Tags: cost of living, Price of essentials
2 comments
AL in its election pledges, promised to keep the price of rice to the minimum and within the reach of the common people. AL after forming the government has tried to keep it’s pledge in respect to price of rice. But the price of other essentials rises , some steadily and some occassionally in the market making the life harder for the low and middle income people.
The other items that making the life difficult is the cost of transport. The cost increases more in special occasions like Eid. The government has little control over the fare especially of Baby Taxi, the mode of transport of middle class citizens. Government has no effort to impose meter reading fare in Taxi, the reasons only better known to them.
The education cost is also increased over the years. The tuition fees is increased. The parents are compelled to admit their wards in coaching centers or have to employ additional teachers at home to compensate gap of teaching at school. At university level, Government has no control over the fees incurred by the administration of private medical colleges and universities.
The cost of living healthy is also gone beyond the reach of the common people. The Government hospitals and heath centers could hardly supply any medicine to the needy.When a major cost of medicare falls on the shoulder of a common man then he sees stars in his eyes. Such is the medicare support in our country.
Most of the people in urban areas, need to depend on rented house for their accommodation. As the government has no control over the rent, the owners are increasing the rent every year on their whims increasing the financial burden of common people.
The cost of living is also increased to maintain the culture in wedding, social functions etc and for the common man to pay the dowry for their daughters.
Will the government take necessary steps to keep the inflation controlled and to reduce the cost of living? Or the people will lose their last faith on the government?
An ordinary citizen
Media Vs Government September 28, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS.Tags: Media
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An interesting debate is going on between Media and Government.
The debate becomes more focused when the present Parliamentary session blasted Prothom Alo,a leading vernacular, its editor and reporters and few other newspapers for publishing reports criticizing the MPs for their passing bills to enjoy tax free cars and to remove taxes from their incomes.
The journalists and intelligentsia expressed their reactions in different forums over the threat and criticism of media in the parliament.
Before the debate is hardly die down, the Pabna Incident of assaulting the officers in Administration by the party cadres raised a fresh issue. Media depicted the helplessness of the Administration in its follow up reports. 21 accused in the incident were sent to jail after surrendering to the court. Adviser to the PM Mr. T H Imam visited Pabna with State Minister for Home to review the matter and discussed with the Administration and the party leaders. He emphasized that Government is taking necessary steps to settle the issue. After his visit, DC and SP of Pabna and UNO of Sadar Upzazilla are withdrawn. Mr. Imam also said the media exaggerated the issue.
A new event developed at Savar, as media reports, where some government officials made GD in the police station and are abstained from their duty for safely. They made complaints against the Upazilla Chairman for excruciating money from them. Government will not also take the matter lightly.
An uneasy situation is developing in the relation of media and the Government in Bangladesh.
Our dream is shattering as Sultana Kamal, a Human Right Activist and ex- Adviser to Caretaker Government expressed in an article very recently.
An ordinary citizen
The deprived September 24, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, GOVERNANCE, Income Tax, POLITICS.Tags: beggars, welfare state
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A very common scene in Bangladesh is beggars on the streets. The number of beggars increased in huge proportion on Fridays at mosques and during Ramadan and on Eid days. Many of them are disabled of various types, most are destitute in their appearance from child to old across the genders.
The numbers and disability reflect the state of poverty in our country and it also reflect how deprived these people are.
Thoughts pass through my mind-can’t we do something better for these people. Does society or the state bear no responsibility to these people?
Do these people have no right to get a share of the taxes that the citizens pay to the treasury?
To foreigners who travel this country, Bangladesh is also identifying itself as a state of beggars, it is reflected in the different writing in their blogs.
What I think, the beggars should be withdrawn from the streets, be given shelters and be trained in special occupations that suit them, the product could be sold in the market and the living should be subsidized by state treasury and organized by the Social Welfare Department.
In Islam, there is spacial system to look after these destitute- the Baitul Mal where state collects the Zakat and support these poor people. A democratic country could at least be a social welfare state.
But we are seeing little evidence in that respect. Not only beggars, people at large are being deprived from the welfare of the state. A state is supposed to give guarantee to the food, clothing, housing, education and health to all citizens. Security and justice should be added to the list.
In broad sense, Bangladesh could yet not be a state of welfare for the citizens.
An ordinary citizens
World Bank: Bangladesh Country Assistance Strategy 2010-2014 September 17, 2010
Posted by bdoza in BANGLADESH, ECONOMY, GOVERNANCE.Tags: Country Assistance Strategy, World Bank
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World Bank published Country Assistance Strategy for Bangladesh for Fy10- Fy14.
http://www.un-bd.org/UNDAF/Doc/CAS%20DP%20presentation.pdf
For comparison: Bangladesh Assistance Strategy Fy2006 -2009
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/BANGLADESHEXTN/Resources/CAS_MAIN_BOOK_FINAL.pdf
Bangladesh
