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EDITORIAL
Labour scene with a human face
An indispensable factor of production, the country's labour scene does not offer a healthy picture. On Wednesday last disquieting news came from Chittagong... Labour unrest is too frequent in Dhaka city and its suburbs where bloody clashes between the management and labourers take place. And all these emanate from discontent over wages, delayed disbursement or dispute caused by breach of commitment and so on.
Angry workers of three Chittagong garment factories went on the rampage and vandalised over 50 vehicles in Kalurghat BSCIC Industrial Area on Tuesday last demanding an increase in their allowances. Hundreds of workers of Orchid Sweater Ltd, Global Specialised Garments and Savar Sweater, all conglomerates of Azim Group, took to the street for an increase in their share of piece-rate on each garment product and breakfast allowance. Witnesses said the unruly workers vandalised buses, trucks, private cars, microbuses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, mugged commuters, looted shops, and damaged office of Azim Group.
Similar and even more massive outbursts took place last year affecting 300 factories, including 21 factories in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (EPZ), Savar, causing a total loss of the garment industry to the tune of Tk 4 billion (nearly $70 million) in the past. Many global buyers have already communicated to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), that it would not be possible for them to give export orders any more unless the situation improved. We are always against vandalism and sabotage as such acts lead to a point from where resolving problem through dialogue becomes difficult
It is a great mystery how a woman or man can stay alive with a minimum wage of Tk. 1650 (not yet complied with in many garment factories) after paying for board and lodging.
Does it not seem dehumanising when you see a destitute girl in her late teens is compelled to continue to exist with food worth Taka 800 [ some $14 USD ] for long 30 days, which means about US 46 cents a day, after defraying rent for lodging without minimum privacy as she has to share her bed with another girl in a room where at least 10 women live?
The agricultural labourers have seasonal jobs the duration of which may be barely four months a year. It is worth pondering how these denizens, most of whom are landless will survive. Before and after the seasons, certainly odd jobs of sundry types are their only choice. Another hapless lot are those involved in construction, which too is an uncertain sector.
Employment generation is not only essential for us it is indispensable in a country where over 60 per cent of the people live in dire poverty. Umpteen times in the past has it been criticised at various forums by civil society leaders and even entrepreneurs' bodies at home and abroad that the Bretton Woods projects -- the World Bank (WB), IMF and its affiliates -- have one common goal: to kill jobs of poor public sector factory workers in Bangladesh and other underdeveloped countries, to raise fuel prices, to stop agri-subsidies and what not. But when it comes to agricultural subsidies given abundantly in the US and other Western countries, the WB - IMF's jaundiced eye is too stark and even brazen.
Ill, pernicious advice of WB and IMF has forced successive governments to shut down our public enterprises including jute mills, while on the other side of the western border, in West Bengal, quite a number of new jute mills have been set up over the past decade. [ God be praised, the Gazipur Machine Tools plant capable of turning out mother machines -- now under Army management -- has escaped being scrapped and doing well].
The bottom line is: it is advisable that the RMG factory owners look at the ground reality and try to comprehend the acuity of grinding poverty with a little bit of compassion, cutting back on their profit margin, say 5 per cent, which could possibly add a few hundred Takas to the pay package of their junior employees. The same plan is suggested to other entrepreneurs.
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INDIA MAY FACE LEADERSHIP TEST
Food security concerns in East Asia
P. S. Suryanarayana
In a fundamental sense, the ongoing "globalisation" process has had a dramatic negative impact on the prices of food, including rice, across this region, which comprises all 16 member-states of the East Asia Summit.
The gathering crisis across the world of rising prices of food, of rice and other staple items in particular, has not as yet messed up the political and social landscape in any country in Greater East Asia. However, the region, home to some leading rice exporters and also big consumers, is not immune to the crisis. India has, in this context, expressed its support for Thailand's leadership in organising a Rice Summit.
In a fundamental sense, the ongoing "globalisation" process has had a dramatic negative impact on the prices of food, including rice, across this region, which comprises all 16 member-states of the East Asia Summit. There are several reasons for this, but a political reality stands out. The United States continues to deploy its space-age war-machine in Iraq for the so-called "war on terror." A major spin-off, actually a worldwide economic consequence, is the space-age velocity with which the price of oil has been driven up. Such a negative spin-off can be traced to three factors: the politics of external intervention in Iraq, the confrontational attitude of the U.S. towards the oil-rich governments considered to be hostile to its global interests, and the inevitable backlash to such "neo-hegemonic" tendencies.
In these circumstances, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has, without of course making a compelling political reference to the U.S., declared that "the era of cheap food is over, if the era of cheap oil [for fuel] is over."
Surely, the linkage between crude oil, on the one side, and food and curry, on the other, is not nullified by different perceptions about the meaning of low prices on either side of the worldwide development divide. Moreover, it requires no special insight to recognise the cascading effect of fuel prices on costs of production in the farm sector and, therefore, on the retail prices of rice and other commodities.
Political leaders and economists do not, of course, see the brewing crisis through the solitary prism of fuel prices. Other identified factors include the conversion of farmland into special economic zones and the like in the developing countries; the diminishing productivity since the gains of the decades-old Green Revolution in several parts of the world; and the obsession of the developed bloc with biofuels.
As an institution committed to "globalisation," the Manila-based ADB is of course very circumspect in its assessments of the emerging East Asian food situation. Its Managing Director-General, Rajat M. Nag, said in Singapore a few days ago that the rice stocks in Asia "are the lowest in decades" but that there was no cause for "a doomsday picture of huge scarcity." However, he agreed that stocks were not always available in the right quantities at the right places and at the right time - in essence, that it is a distribution challenge.
The huge magnitude of the escalating distribution challenge, caused in part by the rise in demand due to growth of incomes across Asia, is acknowledged by the region's political leaders. An economic contradiction, at another but related level, is that "globalization" has not brought cheer to the poor. Without directly blaming "globalization" for this, the ADB estimates that nearly 1.2 billion people in Asia are now in a highly vulnerable category. Among them, roughly 600 million make the equivalent of less than $1 a day, while almost a similar number of people have daily earnings of just over that benchmark level.
The poverty profile of Asia makes it vulnerable to the phenomenally high food costs. The prices of finer varieties of rice in Thailand, the largest exporter of the commodity, zoomed past the $1000-a-tonne mark at one stage in recent weeks. No less important to the regional scene are the supply vagaries noticed during this period and the fears of future scarcities. The rice export restrictions imposed independently by Vietnam and India, in a calibrated fashion to protect domestic supplies, have come in for adverse attention. Thailand has been at pains to proclaim its intention to refrain from resorting to an export ban. Moreover, moves are under way to launch a Thailand-initiated organisation of rice-exporting countries.
The marketplace, however, is dominated by the mood of the price-sensitive buyers among the vulnerable sections; and they tend to be sceptical about long-term supplies as well.
In the eyes of the affected people, the balancing acts of the rice-exporting countries, in their search for domestic and global food security, can well be politics on a different planet.
The public protests in several pockets of South-East Asia, including in Indonesia and the Philippines, have been largely overshadowed by the "panic-buying" at outlets retailing subsidised rice. While food riots of the kind witnessed in some other parts of the world did not mark the initial reactions of East Asians to the current rice crisis, there is no denying the crisis itself in this region.
Thailand, and Vietnam, another key export-player, are under the spotlight in East Asia. India and China are invariably watched on the regional stage as regards a variety of issues. China, currently preoccupied with Olympics-related matters, is known to set, and act on, its own terms, very often successfully, on the regional front. And, Japan has announced plans to extend food aid of the order of $100 million to vulnerable countries, including those in East Asia. On May Day, President George W. Bush, too, pledged new food aid, which would take the total US pledges to nearly $1 billion to help tide over the global crisis. Significantly, in this context, East Asia, which the US treats as its own backyard for geopolitical and geo-economic reasons, might also stand to benefit.
This keeps the East Asian focus on India, a major rice-exporter, in high intensity. The ADB has suggested that India should not resort to curbs on its export of non-basmati varieties and must desist from imposing price controls. In this situation, New Delhi may face a leadership test in the region over the rice crisis, after having come under the spotlight on climate change and the India-U.S. civil nuclear energy deal.
- SAN-Feature Service
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VIEW POINT
This derogatory practice should stop
A. M. K. Chowdhury
We have developed a practice these days. We seek foreigners' help to settle any dispute, issue and finalise any programme. We invite them to attend to our functions and we feel proud of their presence in our domestic affairs. We consider it as a credit to explain our activities to them. This has facilitated them to interfere in our internal affairs, one should admit it.
We are not discouraging to invite foreigners. We should invite them to extend hands of friendship and to strengthen the relations with their countries. But we should not seek their interference at the cost of our prestige and dignity.
Once, former energy adviser Mahmudur Rahman filed a defamation case against Dr. Rehman Sobhan, Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya and three other members of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Policy dalogue (CPD) on the ground that they had branded him as 'Rajakar'. At one stage he withdrew the defamation suit following a consensus through several meetings initiated by several diplomats.
The British High Commissioner in Dhaka, Anwar Chowdhury, former American Ambassador Patricia A Butenis and some other senior diplomats took the initiative to resolve the issue. We have so many intellectuals and civil society members who could take the initiative for a settlement between Mahmudur Rahman and Dr. Rehman Sobhan and the CPD. This would have upheld our image.
When the Home Ministry put restriction on Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's a return to the country from the United States on April 23, 2007 in apprehension of a risk to country's law and order, stability, public security and economic life, the British High Commission' (BHC) in Dhaka sought clarification from Bangladesh authorities for it. Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign country. We could not understand how the BHC sought clarification from Bangladesh authorities in respect of our internal affairs. How could the British High Commission ask for such clarification, which is a clear interference in the governance of an independent and sovereign country of 15 crore people?
One Payam Akhavan, a Canadian lawyer who witnessed the trial proceedings of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the special court on January 30 last, questioned the neutrality of our judiciary expressing 'doubt' about getting justice while the case is now sub-judice. He urged the Caretaker Government to immediately release Sheikh Hasina by throwing out 'the Azam Chowdhury case' and "allow justice to prevail over political expedience." He criticised our judicial system.
Sometimes our political leaders discuss political issues with diplomats and foreigners and give them warm reception at a 5-star hotel or at their residence and seek their suggestions. This encourage them to poke their nose into our political activities.
We are the proud citizens of an independent and sovereign country.
This practice of seeking help and suggestions from foreigners reflects inefficiency, incompetence, a lack of sense of proportion and responsibility among the politicians and public servants. Such practices encourage foreigners to criticise our judiciary and undermine our sovereignty. This practice has to stop in the interest of the country.
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LETTERS
Mrs Blair's visit
Dear Editor:
It appeared initially in the news paper that she would be coming to Bangladesh for a private visit. But upon arrival she disclosed she was here as a legal counsel for Sheikh Hasina. Previously also two other human rights activists from Canada took visa as tourists but upon arrival here became legal counsel for Hasina.
Before leaving, both of them alleged about "violation of human rights" in Bangladesh. As usual this lady also started shedding crocodile tears for alleged "violation of human rights" in Bangladesh due to promulgation of emergency.
Did Mrs Blair protest when her husband Tony Blair sent British Army to invade and unleash barbaric armed attack with latest destructive armory on the unarmed innocent men, women and children of two independent countries of Iraq and Afganistan -- killing them mercilessly destroying and burning their homesteads, looting their wealth, raping their women etc?.
Did not she notice violation of human rights there? Does not occupation of a sovereign country by sheer force is a glaring example of greatest violation of human rights? What is the definition of violation of human right in her dictionary?
While talking on violation of human rights in another country one should look into one's own practice before preaching others.
Mohammad Ataul Hoque,
Dhaka.
Rajuk and the new gazette
Dear Editor:
We the small land owners owning property up to 10 katha in Dhaka city were very hopeful after the declaration was published in the national dailies dated 28th march 2008 by the ministry of housing and public works that the Government has accepted in principle to allow the small land owners to build houses after giving up 30 per cent instead of 40 per cent of the total land area for sake of creating better environment in this mega city.
Though the government's gazette notification expected to become effective from the 14th April (pahela baishakh), it is yet to see the light of the day. We have been building castles in the air based on promised hope. Now frustrations have started overwhelming us. We are standing still not knowing what to do. Majority of the land owners in this mega city where a piece of land is costlier than gold, own mostly a small portion of land what some of them have been able to acquire with the savings of their lifetime with a dream that one day they will have a roof over their head. But it seems to be a far cry.
We hope the ministry will shortly publish the formal announcement as per the promise which was made after taking into consideration the ground reality like areas having height restrictions etc. I can not also stop myself from mentioning that good environment in true sense means a clean and an odour free city in all respects. But what do we see everyday that our city is full of garbage and bad smells. The surrounding rivers are getting filthier day by day. So having a few sky scrappers built on half of the plot of land -what difference it will make to the environment except creating hardships for the small land owners. Everyone knows the past BNP Government enacted those unrealistic rules only to make quick bucks. We should develop each and every inch of land and build low cost houses to ensure a roof over the heads of majority people.
We only fervently hope that the caretaker government will not keep us waiting on vague hopes any longer and publish the gazette as soon as possible. This will ensure employment and generation of economic activities.
Abul B. M. Zakaria
1228 East shewrapara
Mirpur, Dhaka-1216
Mini cold-storage using solar power
Dear Editor:
Without waiting for Western technology, we should immediately develop some pilot projects to set up mini-cold storages in rural areas using renewable sources of energy (solar, wind, biogas etc).
It would cut back wastage of food products and help the farmers with marketing. Coal can also be used later, when available.
The prototype equipment may be approved for mass-production in economic zones.
Engr Md. Abad,
Dhaka.
Azerbaijan's conflict with Nagorno-Karabakh
Dear Editor:
Nations seeking independence and fighting for the same from the colonial powers have become order of modern civilization and globalization does promote the positive process of gaining freedom in a meaningful way. While the occupying powers resist the freedom bids of the people, most of the countries support such moves. Many nations have already secured independence and some others are still struggling for achieving freedom. And sooner or later, as natural outcome of the historic flow, they will achieve their legitimate right. Recently, Kosovo has declared independence form Serbia, one of the states of Yugoslavia, which transformed itself into several smaller nation-states as a result of the collapse of the Warsaw Treaty orgnization.
Nagorno-Karabakh region in the Caucasus mountain in Azerbaijan, a former republic of Soviet Union that got independence in 1989, sought freedom, supported by neighbouring Armenia - another former Soviet republic - apparently for religious reasons, but denied by its parent state Azerbaijan. Although Azerbaijan prevented the region from becoming independent, Nagorno-Karabakh has already declared itself free form Azerbaijan. The region's ethnic Armenian leaders or the so called "separatists" run their own affairs, with support from Armenia. Despite Nagorno-Karakh's declaration of its independence from Azerbaijan, no other state in the region has recognized it. Hence the stalemate continues.
Azerbaijan says Armenia has illegally occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, and a number of Azeri districts surround the country. Baku, which announced a 53 per cent rise in military spending this month, says it is committed to stalled peace talks but has refused to rule out using force to restore its control.
Armenia's new president Serzh Sarksyan said on April 29 that Azerbaijan must accept that its breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region is an independent republic that will never be returned to Azeri control. Nagorno-Karabakh, broke away from Azerbaijan when the Soviet Union fell apart, and sparked a war which killed about 35,000 people. A ceasefire was agreed in 1994 but the search for a lasting peace is stalled. "Azerbaijan must understand the simple reality that the existence of the republic of Nagorno-Karabakh's independence is irreversible," said Sarksyan, who was sworn in this month.
Azerbaijan and Armenia are still officially at war and their troops frequently fight skirmishes along a heavily mined front line. Up to 16 soldiers were killed in a clash earlier last month. Russia, the United States and France are mediators in the conflict. It appears likely that Ban Ki Moon the UN Secretary General would convene a special session of UN exclusively to debate on this crucial issue and devise strategies to reach a settlement that would cease blood letting.
Dr.Abdul Ruff Colachal
Researcher in International Relations,
Analyst, Columnist & Commentator
Delhi.
Zebra crossing, traffic police at Wari
Dear Editor:
About a quarter of a mile long road of Jatrabari-Gulistan route from south-east corner of Rajdhani Super Market to western corner of Folder Street-Joykali Mandir Road, Wari, passing through the so-called thickly crowded residential-cum-commercial areas of Wari, Hatkhola and Narenda are always full of running buses, trucks, cars, taxis, rickshaws and push carts. But there is not a single foot over bridge, underground passage, zebra crossing or traffic police signal for millions of people of the area to cross the important and busy quarter of a mile one-way road traffic.
In between Wari and Hatkhola there is Folder Street, Wari, on all the times busy Jatrabari-Gulistan route and on both sides of Folder Street there are Wari School on the south and Sher-e-Bangla School on the north.
Thousands of people and pedestrians of all ages, young and old, men, women and Children, school boys and girls are required to cross the Folder Street Wari, several times daily to go to their various works, duties, marketing, attending schools, colleges and offices and returning back to their residences amid facing running vehicles at the great risk of their lives.
There are many road accidents, injuries and death to pedestrians but who cares?
We have requested the DCC and DMP several times for setting up Zebra crossing and posting of traffic police but in vain.
Now when the much talked about Jatrabari-Gulistan fly over construction has been cancelled we would once again request the DCC and DMP for setting up a Zebra crossing and posting of traffic police at Wari School. Sherebangla School point, Folder Street, Wari, without further delay and to construct a foot over bridge or underground passage there in the near future for movement of vehicular traffic all the times and also for the safety and security of the pedestrians in the greater interest of public service.
O. H. Kabir,
Dhaka.
Voter-cum-national ID cards
Dear Editor:
I applaud the Election Commission for doing a good job: Completing of registration for issuing 6 crore voter-cum-national ID cards.
No political regime did it. Bangladesh has set an example for the Third World. We can also be the best if we apply our mind.
It means: Channelise the talent of the huge human resources for the benefit of the nation.
A. Mawaz,
Dhaka.
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