Malaysian envoy to Dhaka Abdul Malek Abdul Aziz says

Malaysia keen to invest in Bangladesh infrastructure sector

Mohammed Ali Sattar

Malaysia will continue to contribute positive efforts to promote and expand bilateral relations with Bangladesh, particularly in trade and investment. In this regard many Malaysian companies have shown keen interest to participate in infrastructure projects here such as power generation, sea port development, waste disposal system, construction of roads and highways as well as in the service sector such as education and healthcare. This was stated by Dato Abdul Malek Abdul Aziz, Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, while talking to Holiday Correspondent Mohammed Ali Sattar on issues mainly focusing on trade relations between the two countries. Excerpts from the interview follow:
   
   Holiday: Are there specific proposals pending?
   Malek Aziz: Yes, there are, like the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, worth $1.2 billion, power generation, port development etc. We want to participate in the national development programmes of Bangladesh.
   Holiday: In addition to manpower export -- which is the only issue that dominate the trade talks between the two countries -- what other areas you think Malaysian investors can invest?
   MA: I think not much is being explored at people-to-people level or at government level. We have many unexplored areas between our two countries, like art and culture, media programme exchange, development of tourism etc.
   I think the age-old perception has to be changed. The common people in Bangladesh associates Malaysia only with manpower business. There's much more than that. Malaysia and Bangladesh need to open up more. This is what I am trying to do.
   Holiday: What's your personal approach in this regard?
   MA: You see, Malaysia should also go beyond the limited issue of manpower import. I want to see Malaysia go beyond this. It should transcends its border and discover Bangladesh, which has great potential. I want to promote 'Know Bangladesh' programme.
   Exchange of art, history, literature is the subject which will enrich both the people.
   Holiday: Since manpower export from Bangladesh has been the dominating topic and there has been much talk about it, please throw some light on it.
   MA: Export of Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia is an ongoing process under the biometric system which is compulsory for all Bangladeshi workers going to Malaysia including Sarawak for employment. The Bangladesh Association for International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) office is still operating the biometric system under the supervision of a government-appointed administrator. We are happy that the BAIRA administrator had further tried to improve the process of the workers' biometric data by acquiring more biometric machines, and now they have 24 fingerprint sets.
   The workers go to BAIRA office to digitalise their finger prints. And when they arrive at Malaysian airport these are checked by our immigration staff and then they are issued entry permits. We do not issue visa from the High Commission.
   Holiday: What is your opinion about cooperation from the Government of Bangladesh?
   MA: We have also received good cooperation and support from the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training during this manpower recruitment exercise. More than 45,000 Bangladeshi workers had already entered Malaysia during the last three months.
   Malaysia is also recruiting 10,050 Bangladeshi workers, mostly cultivators, under a special scheme for the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) oil palm plantations.
   To meet the growing demand for the workers we arranged 22 extra flights to reach them to their work destination. I appreciate the Bangladeshi hardworking and disciplined expatriates in Malaysia.
   The first batch of 210 FELDA workers left for Malaysia on 29 April, 2007 on a special MAS Flight. There were 22 additional scheduled flights from MAS from May 1 to enable workers to go to Malaysia as soon as possible after obtaining visa.
   Holiday: Is there any cutoff time after obtaining visa?
   MA: Yes, one year.
   Holiday: What about other areas that need attention? Has any company showed interest in investing in Bangladesh?
   MA: As development partner of Bangladesh, Malaysia will continue to contribute positive efforts to promote and expand bilateral relations particularly in trade and investment. Many Malaysian companies have shown keen interest to participate in infrastructure projects here such as power generation plant, sea port, waste disposal system, roads and highways as well as in the service sector such as education and healthcare.
   Holiday: How about tourism and education?
   MA: Over the last couple of years more than 30,000 tourists went to Malaysia and seven thousand Bangladeshi students are now studying there.
   Holiday: We would like to know about you and your family.
   MA: I started my career in 1981. My schooling was in Malaysia. I graduated from University of Malaysia in economics. I did my post-graduation from Pittsburgh University in US in 1991. I am happily married with three children, one son and two daughters. My son (who is the eldest) studies in Australia, elder daughter studies in Malaysia and the youngest one attends school in Dhaka.
   Holiday: We understand that madam Jamila Aziz is busy with her creative works?
   MA: (Laughs!) Yes, Jamila is very keen on handicraft, she is very good at it. She takes interest in handicraft, singing, dancing and of course, cooking. We've had a few exhibitions of her products made of egg shells, handicrafts, sewing and design.
   Holiday: You are a great lover of music and enjoy karaoke!
   MA: (Laughs aloud!) Yeah, I take interest in singing and recitation. I also take interest in video film making.
   Holiday: Who are your favourite singers and which type of music are you fond of?
   MA: I like both English and Hindi.
   Holiday: Your observation on Bangladesh?
   MA: I took up office in December 2005 and presented my credentials on February 7, 2006. I try to discover something new in Bangladesh. I see great culture and heritage: the people are so nice and simple, and the nature here is something special. It is green out in the rural areas; the scenic beauty of the tea gardens of Sylhet and the hills of Rangamati are simply great treat to the mind and eyes.
   I went to many places outside Dhaka. Your country is really beautiful. It needs to be properly explored and exploited.
   Holiday: Thank you, excellency, for your time, wish you a happy stay here.
   MA: Thank you, my good wishes to the readers of the Holiday.

^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE

Milkshake contains no milk!

Dr. Mercola

I came across an article in one of Britain's biggest newspapers, The Guardian. I found the article funny, but at the same time, shocking. The headline of the article says that there are 59 ingredients in a Fast Food Strawberry Milkshake. Now, that's not a very good start. Is it? Fifty-nine ingredients!
   So, I looked a little further, and it turns out that in one fast food restaurant strawberry milkshake from a big fast food chain, there are two ingredients that are notably absent: Milk and Strawberries! Does that put you off for life already? Well, let's see if I can put you off a bit further.
   It turns out that the strawberry flavour they use to flavour their milkshakes is actually made from 40 different chemicals. Let me read you a couple of the names of these chemicals. This is just the strawberry flavour. Forty different chemicals.
   Amyl valerate; Anethol; Ethyl lactate; Methylphenylglycidate; Ionone.
   Maltol; Methyl benzoate etc. That's just to name but a few of those 40 ingredients that go into their strawberry flavouring.
   Now, I don't know about you, but I've had strawberry milkshakes from fast food chains before, and some of them are very, very tasty. But after finding out that there's 59 ingredients, and that both MILK and STRAWBERRY are absent from these milkshakes, I can definitely say I've been put off for life, and I hope you are as well.
   Now that you've got this information about fast food restaurants' strawberry milkshakes, (and I'm sure this goes for their other milkshakes as well) I hope you will want to avoid them like the plague.

^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE

Tribute to a dedicated historian

Professor M. Mufakhrul Islam

Professor Abdul Karim, the senior most historian of Bangladesh with great international repute, and the former Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University, breathed his last on 24 July. Like his large number of students, friends, acquaintances and relatives I was deeply saddened by his expiry.
   I had the privilege of learning at his feet in Dhaka and working as his colleague in Chittagong University for a short spell, respectively, in the late 1950s and early 1970s. However, the contact continued later as I met him from time to time in Chittagong and Dhaka. I developed a great liking and respect for him as an outstanding teacher, a caring colleague, and a great human being, easily accessible, amiable and with a simple life style. I presented him a neck tie in 1973, but he kept wearing it throughout his life (may be this was the only neck tie he had). That he was a brilliant teacher will be, I am sure, the unanimous view of all his students in Dhaka and Chittagong University.
   Professor Karim had a splendid career. Born in 1928 in Chittagong he did his Masters in History from Dhaka University in 1950 and the next year he joined the same university as a lssecturer. He continued teaching in Dhaka till 1966 when he joined the newly established University of Chittagong as the first Head of the Department of History.
   Meanwhile he obtained two Ph.D. degrees, one from the University of Dhaka and the other from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. Though basically a research scholar and a teacher, he held many administrative posts: those of Provost of Alaol Hall, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, member of the Senate and Syndicate of Chittagong University and finally its Vice-Chancellor. During his teaching career in Dhaka University he was the House Tutor of S.M. Hall. He excelled in all these capacities. In 2001 Chittagong University appointed him Professor Emeritus, a post which he eminently deserved.
   
   Specialisation
   As a researcher Professor Karim specialised in the medieval history of Bengal - its political, social, religious and economic life, its inscriptions, coins and literature. He was eminently qualified for this job as he was proficient in both Persian and Arabic.
   He had to his credit a large number of publications: 36 books and about 200 articles in English and Bangla. The articles were published in standard research journals at home and abroad. In recognition of his outstanding scholarship he was awarded Akbar Gold Medal by the Indian Numismatic Society, Peace Award by the International Association for Religious Freedom, Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh and Gold Medals by the Bangladesh History Association and the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Professor Karim made significant contribution to the development of Bangladesh Asiatic Society and the Bangladesh History Association, respectively, as the General Secretary and President.
   Even though he held many administrative positions from time to time, at heart he remained a teacher and a researcher. Immediately after he became the Vice-Chancellor an official from the British Council met him and asked him whether he would accept an invitation to visit some British universities. He answered in the affirmative, saying that he would prefer an opportunity to look into certain documents in the India Office Library and Records and the British Museum Library in connection with his current research. I could see that the British Council official was a bit surprised. Though he was a 'traditional' historian, his painstaking research has greatly enriched our understanding of the life and society in the medieval period.
   In Professor Karim's death the nation has lost a brilliant teacher, a dedicated historian and an able administrator. Unfortunately his death will also mean the virtual end of our long and rich tradition of research in medieval history. It would also mean a huge loss personally for me, because
   he was a sincere wellwisher of mine.
   We pray for the salvation of his departed soul.
   The writer is a Professor, Department of History, University of Dhaka.

^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE

Warid Telecom on August 8 distributed relief materials among flood affected people in Manikganj, says a press release.
   A Warid Telecome team led by CEO Muneer Faruqui handed over relief materials to 500 flood affected people who take shelter in temporary flood camps in Manikganj Model School, Manikganj High School and Pashchim Dashara Primary School.
   Warid team distributed relief packs that include rice, lentil, salt, flattened rice, molasses, candle, match, oral saline, essential drugs etc among the flood victims.
   Talking to the pople at the shelters, Muneer Faruqui said, "Warid Telecom always wants to be beside the distressed people and help them. You will always find us beside you. We will do our best to help the flood affected people. He said, "Flood is a natural disaster. We have to work together and live up to human spirit to overcome the situation."

^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE