How many freedom fighters will die without treatment

      "Freedom fighter" won't live in pain during my tenure, so said the prime minister a few months ago.However, according to a report published in the Bangla daily Prothom Alo on Monday, Abu Taher, a 56-year-old freedom fighter from Badarganj upazila in Rangpur, passed away without any treatment . The unfortunate freedom fighter, says the report, did seek financial help from the prime minister his appeal went unheard.Before his death, he reportedly said, 'I am going to die without treatment but I wish our prime minister a happy and peaceful life.' It is not sad but also shameful for the nation. Taher's death should be an eye-opener for the political leaders, especially of the ruling party. There are many freedom fighters like Taher in the country, leading their lives amidst extreme hardship. One can only hope that the government would take good care of them; after all. they fought and won independence for the country and its people.

Topping world banl's cblack list

   David Bergman 's front page report printed in your January 11 issue is not something to be proud of as reported since 2009, we have had 22 individuals and 16 organisations  from Bangladesh back-listed by the World Bank. Eleven of them were black -listed in 2011. It is a very sad and sorry reflection of the country and the absence or ineffectiveness of the much -flouted anti-corruption activities . The prime minister should seriously take up this matter in right earnest; otherwise the Awami League should bid goodbye to governance. This increase of over 40 percent in blacklisting in 2011 (from 27 to 38) should shame the government.
    To create public awareness and to let us have more information on the matter, the World Bank should publicly list the alleged 38 persons and organisations that were involved in this shameful matter. For the government, it must be top priority to find out who they are, and to investigate the matter thoroughly . It will  be advisable for the government to issue a white paper on the whole issue in overall public interest.

Politics for young generation

     Bangalis are considered to do politically aware, at least that's the impression one will get from the speakers at various one will get from the speakers at various talk shows. But are we really politically aware or is it just another chapter of glorious history? This is question that we, the young generation, have to ask ourselves and must find the answer to , right now. We can want better governance , more transparent activities or zero tolerance for corruption, but as the famous saying goes 'there are no free lunches'. we need to question ourselves are we actually actively working to achieve what every citizen desires.
     For centuries politics have been considered to be one the best platforms to express one's opinion or to influence others to share the same ideology and the theory of democracy which goes a long way back to Aristotle merely attempts to give everyone a better share of that stage. So we live in democracy which gives greater freedom to be part of politics and we are considered to be a politically aware nation so why is it that a significant section of younger generation considers this unique opportunity a taboo? What has happened to the generation of the 21st century?
       A glimpse at the past may help us find the answers.A brief glimpse at the socioeconomic and political backgrounds of the MPs durings 1972-1974 shows that majority of the MPs were in young, educated and from middle -class backgrounds. But the present parliamentary structures show the complete opposite. The members of the late middle ages and come from upper rich backgrounds.Why is it that no new leadership has emerged in the past 40 years is a question that intrigues all of us. For most of the past four decades the young generation has failed to a great extent to understand their responsibility to the nation . They have failed to make their mark in national politics. Not only that the whole scenorio has been fuelled by the lack of patronage by the government in power and the political leadership. If we look at the history of the more economically and democratically sound countries worldwide we can see their leaders were always keen to create successors within a democratic system. This is a core quality that the leaders of our nation seem to lack. This is the same quality that lacked in Muammar Gaddafi or Hosni Mubarak which eventually led to their fall.
    Politics today seems to have become something of a taboo to the new generation . The educated youth with the boy next door image and a good family background do not want to join politics considering it to be dirty .Where such a powerful platform could have been easily used to empower oneself people are in fact turning their back on this. The current policymakers and the civil society must ensure that the table is turned. Atmosphere should be created where new leaders can be nourished who will in fact take hold of the next generation leadership when the proper time comes.

Cautious optimism

      Depending upon the lens through which one analyses Bangladesh's current economic development , anyone will arrive at different conclusions.This is similar to the parable of four blindfolded humans who touch different parts of an elephant and conclude that it is a rope (tail), snake (trunk), pillar (legs), and wall (body). We miss the big picture if we fail to recognise the different lenses and conclusions. At one extreme are the optimists who embrace free trade, free markets, liberalisation, and privatisation.
      Bangladesh needs leaders and policymakers who can see different parts of the elephant at the same time without deeply entangling with ideologies.They need to be thoughtful about their actions in a complex socio-economic pluralism and alleviate the fears of pessimists. They need to address the concerns of doubters and temper the irrational exuberance of optimists. They have to be cautious optimists.
     Some would say this approach might satisfy no one. But extremism has made things worse.Extreme optimism has led to an intense backlash which can put economic development on hold . Extreme pessimistic view has maintained the status quo of poverty and desperation. Cautious optimists recognise that inclusive economic development, managed liberalisation. and global trade are necessary steps to have sustainable progress. Foreign capital and technology are necessary to create jobs, become efficient , and complete effectively. Cautious optimists recognise that meaningful development cannot be achieved without broad-based investments in infrastructure , education, and healthcare. They understand the knowns and delliberate actions that are equitable and sustainable.
     However, the rich need to be sensitive to the surrounding and to be compassionate. They have a greater opportunity to make a difference to society than any government. Sadly , the actions of pessimists to protect the underprivileged may prolong poverty and desperation, while those of optimists may exacerbate these actions. We must engage different viewpoints and temper extreme views for a meaningful development.We need cautious optimists to move Bangladesh ahead.

Parlamentary misconduct

     In Bangladesh , parliamentary misconduct has become routine ; it might appear a waste of effort even to discuss its whys and wherefores. Forget the daily adjournments and walkout; at times disrupters have spared no occasion, not even the once-sacrosanct presidential address. However, when confrontation reaches a point where the very existence of parliament is questioned, then it is distress time as much for democracy as for the institution itself.
      Parliament -watchers are wont to recalling the dignity and style of legislative conduct in the faraway days when such great parliamentarians gently sparred on the floor of the House. It is futile , and perhaps not even necessary, to expect the same levels of courtesy and grace from a parliament that has long been transformed in character Today's parliament is arguably more representative of society at large than at any time in the past. It is only fair then that rather then stick to the classical format, a lawmaker or lawbreaker be allowed to bring their own distinctive styles to parliamentary debate. The same goes for disruptions.
     The opposition cannot be expected to observe the niceties of parliamentary conduct in the face of grave misdemeanours by a government. The opposition was required to play the role of rigorous investigator in such cases as the Padma Bridge construction and share market scandals. However, that is a far cry. If all debates were to be settled on the street, as one lawmaker has so casually advocated, we would soon have no use for elections.In a democracy, it is the responsibility of the ruling dispensation to act with dignity even in the face of criticism and provocation, not the other way round . The disruption of parliament is more the creation of the ruling coalition. Looking at the recent happenings out of parliament , I am reminded of Shakespeare's words: 'But man, proud man/dressed in a little brief authority, .. Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven/As make the angels weep.' Our lawmakers must be certainly making all the angels in heaven weep.

Death of negligence

      A few days back, I was in Motijheel for an official work. I was waiting for the chief executive of the company where I have been working . As he was late, I was looking for him. I saw two men were clinging on the side of a high-rise building .When I looked closely I realised that they were cleaning the building glass. I was admirably looking at there daredevil work and wondering about their courage. Both of the workers were hanging on a rope which would protect them in case they lost their balance.
   I often read about workers dying after falling from under-construction high-rise building when they were working without taking proper protection . Lately, such accidents have become more frequent, contruction companies have the responsibility to make sure that their workers are taking enough precaution to avoid such unwanted and regretful incident.I have seen in construction sites workers working without safety helmet and other necessary safety gears. According to an NGO report , at least 388 workers died in 2011 in workplace-related accident across Bangladesh. I don't know how many workers become disabled due to not taking proper precaution. It is high time the authorities took the matter into serious consideration and implement the necessary 'safety first' rule . We always remember and remind others that 'Better a thousands times careful than once dead' and 'Know safety , no injury. No safety, know injury.'

Article 70 no more welcome

    If one provision of law had to be singled out for its contribution towards holding back our otherwise promising parliamentary democracy , it would most certainly be Article 70 of the constitution. In line with the culture of our political parties, no party in power or in opposition has ever properly addressed the issue of MPs not being allowed to vote against their own party, as Article 70 stipulates. Consequently, this provision has haunted our parliamentary practice for four decades and promises to continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
    Article 70 bars a member of parliament from voting against the decision of his/her party. Originally designed to prevent MPs from engaging in what is known as 'floor-crossing ', the barrier is not absolute , in the sense that an MP can still vote against his/her party.But she can only do so at the high cost of losing his parliament membership and therefore at the same time, ceasing to be a representative of his people . It is, therefore, hardly surprising that an MP has gone against a party decision in parliament and sacrificed his membership only once in our 40-year-old democracy . In a vibrant democracy, democratic practice or power of the people should not end with the casting of a ballot. But unfortunately for us, as soon as we have elected our representative lawmaker, she is out of our hands and into the power clutches of the party that nominated him or her. No matter how much a particular party decision might affect the interests of his or her constituents or push the boundaries of his or her conscience, a 'lawmaker' has no real power to vote against it.
    With this arrangement in place , sadly since the very inception of our country, our parliament seems to have become a rubberstamp to be used at the whim of the party in power. Not only does the opposition never stands a practical chance of winning a vote against the government , no critic inside the ruling party holds any bargaining power against an unreasonable or harmful decision of the government. He is free to speak his mind on the parliament floor but the freedom ends once the Speaker calls for votes. From that moment onwards , a Member of Parliament , the representative of the people , must only blindly follow his herd.

Academic collaboration

     Academic collaboration with the best of universities could help improve quality , unlike direct intervention by foreign educational providers. While such collaborations have always existed, we need to increase their scope and extent in the future. As a matter of fact, efforts are being made in different parts of the country to promote collaborative learning . A large number of scholar's including some Nobel laureates have visited the universities in Bangladesh during the last two decades. Testimonies of the teachers and the visiting scholars show that the benefits have mutual. The essence of such mutually beneficial academic collaboration is partnership based on equality . It cannot be based on a relationship of superiority and inferiority . It has to recognise the kaleidoscopic character of quality in higher education and the value of mutually enriching collaborative learning processes.
     One has to look at the larger countrywide picture before alleging that the universities and colleges contribute little to the improvement of Bangladesh' s higher education what goal has been set and achieved by any of our public universities what study of basic discipline research and extension in real terms how does our rich per hectare production compare with that of other developing countries are we able to design even a passable engine for our main battle tank after spending huge money ? It is  true that quality can be ensure only through  an internal process. But in the teaching profession there is no standard means to assess this internal process and its success wholly depends on the ability of teachers. Even if we spend exorbitant sums on faculty improvement , there is no objective means of assessment to ensure that the process works. So, what is the harm in inviting foreign universities and relying on competition for quality improvement?        

29 December2011

     1.Fuel oil prices go up again:- Staff Correspondent The government increased for the fourth time this year prices of all fuel oils. including diesel , by Tk 5 a liter.
     2. No leaving streets until trial ends:-AL,allies pledge, to hold rallies in dist towns on Jan 7, in upazilas Jan 11 Mohiuddin Alamgir Leader of the Awami League led alliance.
     3.Police break up oil-gas body procession:- Staff Correspondent At least 35 leaders and activists of the National committee to protect oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports were injured as police charged.
     4.Keraniganj AL MP sued for extortion:- Bdnews24.com.Dhaka Awami League MP form Dhaka-3 constituency (Keraniganj) Nasrul Hamid Bipu and eight others have been sued on charges of extortion and atte.
     5.Khaleda to name expanded alliance:- Staff Correspondent Leaders of the Bangladesh National Party -led alliance on Thursday night entrusted Khaleda Zia to pick a name for the opposition alliance after its planned.
    6.IFB suggests 12 names for choosing new ECs:- Samyabadi Dal wants search committee Moloy Saha Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal, a component of the Awami League-led ruling coalition, on Thursday requested president Zillur Rahman to appoint...
     7.War crimes victim narrates torture in ICT :- Staff Correspondent A victim of torture during the war of independence on Thursday gave his deposition Tribunal saying that the Pakistani occupation...
     8.Govt to set up wildlife crime control unit:- Shakhawat Hossain Bangladesh will set up a wildlife crime control unit to protect endangered species such as the Royal Bengal Tiger, the chief forest conservator....
     9.India's PM faces parliament test:- Agence France-Presse New Delhi India's government and ruling Congress party faced a tough battle to pass its proposed flagship anticorruption law on Thursday as the ...
     10.Latest China food safety scandal widens to oil:- Agence France-presse Shanghai Chinese authorities have recalled cooking oil products made by three companies after finding they contained the same type of cancer-causing toxin recently.. 

Chrestmas day :25-12-2011

1.Depreciation of taka makes new record in 2011:-Shakhawat Hossain The tala has depreciated by Tk 11 against the US Dollar in the current year, the highest depreciation the Bangladesh currency has suffered.
 2.Chill weather to countinue:-Tapos Kanti Das A mild to moderate cold wave sweeping across the northern and the south western districts of the country was likely to continue .
3.Cold -related diseases spread :- Sajia Afrin The number of people infected with different cold -related diseases was on the rise as the country continued shivering in cold with a significant fall.
 4.Police disperse BNP processions in city:- Staff Correspondent The police on Saturday dispersed processions of different thana units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in Dhaka protesting against obstruction to its program.
5.61 killed in Nigeria unrest:-Associated Press Maiduguri, Nigeria Fighting berween a radical Muslim sect and paramilitary force in Nigeria has killed at least 61 people over several days.
6.Razzak's body arrives today:- Al announces mourning programme Staff Correspondent The body of Awami League advisory council member Abdur Razzak, who died in King's College Hospital in London on Friday aft
7.Christmas today :- United News of Bangladesh Dhaka the Christian community in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world will celebrate the Christmas commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.
8.Help make Bangladesh liveable land PM :-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Dhaka the Prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has urged all to continue their support to make Bangladesh as a livable land where people.
 9.FFs want Collaborators Act ' 72 restored:- Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Dhaka Presidium member of the Bangladesh Sector Commanders form Shafiullah has demanded restoration of the Collaborators Act 1972  for speedy trial of.
 10. Ghulam Azam arrest after court order' Shahara :- Bd news 24.com Kishoreganj Former Jammat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam will be arrested soon after the court issues the warrant for his arrest, the home minister, Shahara Khatun.
 11.Indian courts challenge Facebook Google content:- Reuters New Delhi US companies Facebook , Google and Yahoo, and other internet firms, have been ordered by two Indian courts to remove material considered religiously.
12. Acquire science-based knowledge:- PM urges children Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Dhaka prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged children and adolescents to be inquisitive and acquire more knoqledger of science.