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BANGLADESH: ‘Floating farms” new era of Argiculture

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Bangladesh, Constitution, Politics, Religion, policies

Bangladesh court bans religion in politics.

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Bangladesh, policies, study

A happy and Prosperous Bangladesh .

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Bangladesh

Bangladesh hikes wages for garment workers @ Tk 3000

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BANGLADESH: ‘Floating farms” new era of Argiculture

Posted in: Bangladesh, Bangladesh, agriculture | Comments (0)

In face of floods and climate change, Bangladesh is turning to floating farms

As swollen monsoon rivers and rising sea levels threaten to engulf more land across Bangladesh, NGOs are training thousands of farmers in traditional soil-less farming on water.

Agriculture accounts for almost a quarter of Bangladesh,s gross domestic product and provides work for 62 percent of the labour force.

Yet in a country frequently flooded and recognized as one of the most vulnerable to climate change, floating vegetable beds have become a fruitful farming alternative. The process is similar to hydroponics, which uses a non-biological growing material like gravel, whereas floating farms use beds made of water hyacinth, bamboo and other aquatic plants.

The productivity of this farming system is 10 times higher than traditional land-based agricultural production in the southeast of Bangladesh,said Papon Deb, project manager for the Wetland Resource Development Society (WRDS).

WRDS is one of several NGOs – along with CARE, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Practical Action – working around the country to train thousands of farmers.

Bangladesh has had floating farms for hundreds of years, primarily in low-lying areas in the south where land is submerged most of the year.

Soil-less agriculture evolved through people,s initiative for adaptation to an adverse environment,said A.H.M. Rezaul Haq, a WRDS researcher. It has been a part of the indigenous form of cultivation since our forefathers.

Hyacinth and bamboo

Floating farms are 10 times more productive than land-based farms, experts say

The plant bed, built using several layers of water hyacinth and bamboo, is typically 15-50m in length, 1.5-2m wide and 0.6-0.9m thick. Semi-decomposed aquatic plants are then added to the mix and left to sit for several days before it is ready to be seeded. The beds can be prepared in any depth of water. Farmers can stand on some of them or manoeuvre around them in boats.
The floating beds are anchored to prevent them from drifting out into larger bodies of water, and covered in netting to keep out ducks and other fowl that might eat the crops, said Faruk Ul Islam, head of organizational development for Practical Action, which is training farmers in 600 villages in the north on this practice. Some farmers have to swim out to retrieve beds that have strayed into open water.

Many villagers use the previous year,s decomposed bed as organic fertilizer. These new beds are kept intact thanks to bamboo poles on the sides.

Islam says the floating garden set-up is virtually free, with water and water hyacinth widely available in the waters of Bangladesh. The cost of setting up the floating bed for the growing season might be as little as US$3 for seeds and labour, or as much as $9 if a farmer has to also buy bamboo and netting.?

Haq??s team said villagers in Chandra have grown 23 different types of vegetable and five types of spices on floating beds, including okra, cucumbers, bitter gourds, eggplants, beans, tomatoes, cauliflowers, turnips, radishes, carrots, ginger and garlic.?

Several research and development organizations are now working with thousands of farmers across the country to implement floating garden projects. While the practice is common in the south – where huge floating farms look like land masses from the air – development workers are now teaching people in northern areas more recently prone to flooding.?

The southwestern village of Chandra long ago famed for its mango, jackfruit and dates, is one area where water levels rise more than two metres during the monsoon rains and remain high for 2-3 months.?

??We had land very near the river, part of which got affected during floods and so we moved away,?? said Nasima, who belongs to a farming family. ??Most of us staying here have now taken up ??dhap?? [soil-less farming] as an alternative way to earn a living.???

??Around 300-400 villagers had land on the bank of the river, but they were made to shift due to the erosion of the river banks,?? said Deb of WRDS. ??Now, with this project, there are over 1,000 villagers involved and fewer people are migrating to the city

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guru @ July 29, 2010

Bangladesh court bans religion in politics.

Posted in: Bangladesh, Bangladesh, Constitution, Bangladesh, Politics, Bangladesh, Religion, Bangladesh, policies | Comments (0)

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has reinstated a ban on Islamic political parties after striking down a key constitutional amendment, law minister Shafiq Ahmed told media on Thursday.

In a detailed verdict released late Wednesday, the Supreme Court scrapped the bulk of the 1979 fifth amendment, including provisions that had allowed religious political parties to flourish and legalised military rule.

“Secularism will again be the cornerstone of our constitution,” Ahmed said.

After independence from Pakistan in 1971, Bangladesh’s first constitution made secularism a key pillar. Following a 1975 coup, the army-led government amended the constitution’s guiding principle to “faith in Allah” in 1979.

Religious parties, which were banned in the original 1971 constitution but legalised by the 1979 amendments, are now banned again as the “faith in Allah” provision has been thrown out, said Ahmed.

“Islamic parties cannot use religion in politics any more,” he said.

In 1988, a second military-led government made Islam the state religion in the Muslim-majority nation and incorporated Koranic verse into the constitution. Neither of those changes are affected by the court verdict.

“But following the scrapping of the fifth amendment, these later amendments can now be challenged in court,” Ahmed said.

In the verdict, the Supreme Court declared the 1975-1990 military rule illegal, and recommended punishing military dictators, Ahmed said.

Since the Awami League’s landslide election win over the Islamist-allied Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 2008, the government has cracked down on Islamic groups and political parties.

The new government outlawed one Islamic party in October last year, accusing it of destabilising the country.

Four other Islamist organisations, including the Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh, were earlier banned after they carried out a series of nationwide bombings that left 28 people dead in 2005.

This week, the four leaders of the country’s largest Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, were arrested by the country’s fledgling war crimes court, set up to try those responsible for atrocities during the 1971 independence war.

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guru @ July 29, 2010

A happy and Prosperous Bangladesh .

Posted in: Bangladesh, Bangladesh, policies, Bangladesh, study | Comments (0)

We can turn Bangladesh into a happy and prosperous country within few years, if we work with patriotism, honesty and sincerity.-President Zillur Rahman

Bangladesh Should reform the Goverment organizations Work out style and goverment have to open More tranning session for Goverment organizations to work out a better Management .the initiative of Digital Bangladesh by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina??is appecited on basis of ?better management, better reporting —gurumia

The main objective of the War of Liberation was to build a happy, prosperous and dignified country. We achieved independence of our country through sacrifices of many lives four decades ago under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

But, he regretted, this goal of the war is yet to be achieved even after four decades.

The main aim of the government is to improve the living standard of the people.

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guru @ July 29, 2010

Bangladesh hikes wages for garment workers @ Tk 3000

Posted in: Bangladesh | Comments (2)

DHAKA ? Bangladesh raised the minimum wage for its millions of garment workers by 80 percent on Tuesday, following months of violent protests over pay and conditions, an official said.

An emergency wage board committee of government officials, garment manufacturers and union leaders announced the minimum monthly wage would rise from 1,662 taka — the lowest industry salary worldwide — to 3,000 taka (43 dollars).

“The wage board has said the minimum wage will be set at 3,000 taka, which will include medical and housing allowances,” Iktedar Ahmed, head of the government minimum wage board, told reporters after the board’s final meeting.

For months, Bangladesh’s workers, who make clothing for leading Western brands, have taken to the streets for protests that have seen factories ransacked and led to clashes with police.

On June 22, hundreds of thousands of workers closed the key Ashulia export area, which produces for brands such as Wal-Mart, H & M and Marks & Spencer, a major blow for an industry aiming to steal contracts from Chinese competitors.

Some workers’ unions have agreed to the wage hike, Habibur Rahman Siraj, a union representative at the wage board, told AFP, while others rejected the deal as insufficient.

“We do not accept this, it is not enough to ensure a decent standard of living for workers and we will organise protests,” said Mosherafa Mishu, head of the Garment Workers Unity Forum.

“This is an 80 percent rise — but the cost of living has gone up more than that since 2006, we want 5,000 taka,” she said.

The previous minimum wage of 1,662 taka was set in 2006 after months of violent street protests.

Garment manufacturers, who have staunchly resisted any significant wage increase, say implementation of the new pay deal should be delayed as it will affect the price of current orders.

The powerful industry, which last year accounted for 80 percent of Bangladesh’s total exports, had not yet signed off on the wage hike — although their approval is not necessary for the proposal to become law.

“We have to sort out a few issues, we have called an emergency meeting of garment manufacturers for Wednesday,” said A.K.Azad, the head of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

After the wage board announced its decision, garment manufacturers rushed to lobby Bangladesh’s Labour Minister, who is expected to make a formal announcement on the hike Thursday.

“The minimum wage will not be reduced below 3,000 taka but we must reach a consensus with the factory owners,” Labour Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told reporters after the wage board meeting.

“We are going to announce the full details of the wage hike on Thursday,” he said.

The garment industry enjoyed record sales last month, with Bangladesh shipping 1.72 billion dollars of goods in June, the highest monthly export in the country’s 40-year history.

Even though the government has guaranteed workers a wage hike, enforcement is likely to be difficult.

A quarter of Bangladesh’s garment factories do not comply with current mandatory standards on pay, working hours and conditions, commerce ministry spokesman Faizul Haque told AFP last week.

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guru @ July 28, 2010

Dhaka inks power deal with New Delhi

Posted in: Bangladesh, India, Bangladesh, energy, Bangladesh, energy security, Bangladesh, power, Bangladesh, power and energy | Comments (0)

Bangladesh on Monday signed an agreement with India for buying power. The accord, valid for 35 years, was signed between the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCI) in the presence of Bangladesh Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Energy Adviser to the Prime Minister Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and other high officials of the two countries.

BPDB secretary Azizul Islam and PGCI executive director Arun Kumar signed the deal.

Under the agreement, Bangladesh would buy 500 MW from Indian power plants and import it through the PGCI’s regional transmission system.

The power will be transmitted through a 400 Kv switching station and a 400 Kv single circuit line. The PGCI will construct a 400 Kv double circuit line stretching from Bahrampur in India to Bheramara in Bangladesh.

Initially, 250 MW will be made available by India. The transmission is expected to start in 2012.

The terms and conditions as well as the tariff will be set by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission of India. The agreement, however, has a provision for amending the tariff from time to time. Bangladesh will have to make the payments within one-and-half month from the date of billing.

Mr. Muhith termed the signing of the deal ??a dream of regional cooperation coming true.?? Mr. Chowdhury said, ??This is a small step for Bangladesh and India, but a giant leap for regional cooperation.??

The agreement is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in January, during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi

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guru @ July 28, 2010

Allah :Aye Khuda

Posted in: Universe, World | Comments (0)

Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Jis Nay Ki Justuju
Mil Gaya Usko Tu
Sab Ka Tu Rehnuma

Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Jis Nay Ki Justuju
Mil Gaya Usko Tu
Sab Ka Tu Rehnuma

Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda

Yeh Zameen
Yeh Falak
In Say Aagay Talak
Jitni Dunyaeen Hain
Sub Main Teri Jhalak

Yeh Zameen
Yeh Falak
In Say Aagay Talak
Jitni Dunyaeen Hain
Sub Main Teri Jhalak

Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Jis Nay Ki Justuju
Mil Gaya Usko Tu
Sab Ka Tu Rehnuma

Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda

Har Sehar Phoot’ti
Hai Naye Rang Say
Sabza-o-Gul Khilay
Seena-e-Sang Say

Har Sehar Phoot’ti
Hai Naye Rang Say
Sabza-o-Gul Khilay
Seena-e-Sang Say

Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Jis Nay Ki Justuju
Mil Gaya Usko Tu
Sab Ka Tu Rehnuma

Aye Khuda

Har Sitaaray Main
Aabaad Hai Ek Jahaan
Chaand Sooraj Teri
Roshni Kay Nishaan

Har Sitaaray Main
Aabaad Hai Ek Jahaan
Chaand Sooraj Teri
Roshni Kay Nishaan

Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Jis Nay Ki Justuju
Mil Gaya Usko Tu
Sab Ka Tu Rehnuma

Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Jis Nay Ki Justuju
Mil Gaya Usko Tu
Sab Ka Tu Rehnuma

Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda
Aye Khuda

Artist: Adnan Sami
Song: Aye Khuda
Album: Kisi Din

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guru @ July 27, 2010

Laylatul Qadr,Shab-e-Barat=Night of Fate/Decree :Show us the straight path

Posted in: Islam, Bangladesh, Religion, Research, Universe, World, explore, gurumia | Comments (2)

Show us the straight path:In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,(1:1)The Beneficent, the Merciful.(1:2)Owner of the Day of Judgement.(1:3)Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help. (1:4)Show us the straight path,(1:5)The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; (1:6)Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray. (1:7)

First of all let’s look at the meaning of Shab-e-Barat. Shab=night?in farsi and barat=fate/decree in Farsi. In short, Shab-e-Barat=Night of Fate/Decree

If you translate Shab-e-Barat to Arabic it translates to Laylatul Qadr(Night of Fate/Decree).

What ppl refer to as Shab-e-Barat, aka the night of the 14th of Sha’ban, it is actually referred to as Nisfu Sha’ban in the hadeeth. However, the ahadeeth regarding Nisfu Sha’ban are da’eef(weak). To be on the safe side, it’s better not to follow da’eef ahadeeth. We always have the option to worship Allah(swt) on any night.

A lot of Bid’ah came out of “Shab-e-Barat,” like people think that their fate for the following year is given to the angels, etc.

However, let’s look at the Quran regarding this matter:

“By the Book that makes things clear;- We sent it down during a Blessed Night(the Night of Fate/Decree): for We (ever) wish to warn (against Evil).
In the (Night) is made distinct every affair of wisdom(Or is “separated” or “apportioned,” from what is inscribed in the Preserved Slate. The Angles record and descend with whatever Allah has decreed for the coming year)
By command, from Our Presence. For We (ever) send (revelations),
As Mercy from thy Lord: for He hears and knows (all things);

Surah Ad-Dukhan Verses: 2-6.

LAILATUL-QADR

Its excellence is great, since in this night the Noble Qur’aan was sent down, which leads one who clings to it, to the path of honour and nobility, and raises him to the summit of distinction and everlasting life. The Muslims who adhere strictly to the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger SAW do not raise flags on this night, nor suspend colourful decorations. Rather they vie in standing during it (Lailatul-Qadr) in Prayer out of sincere faith and hoping for reward. Here, O Muslim, are the Qur’aanic Aayaat and authentic prophetic ahaadeeth referring to this night:

* Its excellence

As regards its excellence it is more than sufficient to mention that Lailatul-Qadr is better than a thousand months, He, the Mighty and Majestic, says:

” Verily! We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Decree (Lailatul-Qadr). And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (i.e. Gabriel) by Allaah’s Permission with all Decrees, Peace! until the appearance of dawn.” (Al-Qadr 97: 1-5)

And in it every decreed matter for the year is conveyed, He, the Most High says:

” We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed Night. Verily, We are ever warning (mankind of Our Torment). Therein (that Night) is decreed every matter of ordainment. Amran (i.e. a command or this Qur’aan or His Decree of every matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messenger). (As) a Mercy from your Lord. Verily! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” (Ad-Dukhaan 44: 3-6)

* When is it?

It is reported from the Prophet SAW that it is within the twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh, twenty-ninth or the last night of Ramadhan.

Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee, rahimahullaah, said: To me it is as the Prophet SAW used to answer according to the question posed, it would be said to him: “Shall I seek it in such and such night?” So he would reply: “Seek it in such and such night.” And Allaah knows best. (Reported from him by al-Baghawee in Sharhus-Sunnah)

The most correct saying is that it occurs in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadhan and this is shown by the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah, RA, who said: “Allaah Messenger SAW used to practice I’tikaaf in the last ten nights and say: ‘Seek out Lailatul-Qadr in the (odd nights) of the last ten days of Ramadhan.” (Bukhari, Muslim )

However if the servant is too weak or unable, then he should at least not let the last seven days pass him by, due to what is reported from ‘Ibn ‘Umar, who said: Allaah’s Messenger SAW said: “Seek it in the last ten, and if one of you is too weak or unable then let him not allow that to make him miss the final seven.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

This explains his, SAW saying: “I see that your dreams are in agreement (that it is in the last seven) so he who wishes to seek it out then let him seek it in the last seven.” (Bukhari)

It is also known from the Sunnah, that knowledge of the exact night upon which Lailatul-Qadr falls was taken up because the people argued, ‘Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit, RA said: The Prophet SAW came out intending to tell us about Lailatul-Qadr, however two men were arguing and he said: “I came out to inform you about Lailatul-Qadr but so and so, and, so and so were arguing, so it was raised up, and perhaps that is better for you, so seek it on the (twenty) ninth and (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth.” (Bukhari)

Some ahaadeeth indicate that Lailatul-Qadr is in the last ten nights, while others indicate that it is in the odd nights of the last ten, so the first are general and the second more particular, and the particular has to be given priority over the general. Other ahaadeeth state that it is in the last seven – and these are restricted by mention of one who is too weak or unable. So there is no confusion, all the ahaadeeth agree and are not contradictory.

In conclusion: The Muslim should seek out Lailatul-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten: the night of the twenty-first (the night before the twenty-first day), the twenty-third, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth. If he is too weak or unable to seek it out in all the odd nights, then let him seek it out in the odd nights of the last seven: the night of the twenty-fifth, the twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth. And Allaah knows best.

* How should a Muslim seek Lailatul-Qadr?

One who misses this blessed night then he has missed much good for no one misses it except one from whom it is withheld. Therefore it is recommended that the Muslim who is eager to be obedient to Allaah should stand in Prayer during this night out of Eemaan and hoping for the great reward, since if he does this, Allaah will forgive his previous sins.

He SAW said: “Whoever stands in (Prayer) in Lailatul-Qadr out of Eemaan and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven.” (Bukhari)

It is recommended to supplicate a great deal in it, it is reported from ‘Aa’ishah, RA that she said: “O Messenger of Allaah! What if I knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?” He said: “Say: Allaahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘annee.” (O Allaah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.) (at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

O brother! You know the importance of this night, so stand in Prayer in the last ten nights, in worship, detaching oneself from the women, ordering your family with this, and increasing in actions of obedience and worship in it.

From ‘Aa’ishah, RA who said: “The Prophet SAW used to tighten his waist-wrapper (izaar) – (meaning detached himself from his wives in order to worship, and exerted himself in seeking Lailatul-Qadr), spend the night in worship, and wake the family in the last ten nights.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

From ‘Aa’ishah, RA: “Allaah’s Messenger SAW used to exert himself in the last ten nights more than he would at other times.” (Muslim)

* Its sign

[Many people believe in all sorts of superstitions about Lailatul-Qadr, and false beliefs from them are that the trees prostrate, and buildings sleep! And these things are clearly futile and baseless.] Allaah’s Messenger SAW described the morning after Lailatul-Qadr, so that the Muslim may know which day it is. From Ubayy, RA who said: that he SAW said: “On the morning following Lailatul-Qadr the sun rises not having any rays, as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up.” (Muslim, Abu Dawood, at-Tarmidhi, Ibn Majah)

From Abu Hurairah, RA who said: “We were discussing Lailatul-Qadr in the presence of Allaah’s Messenger SAW, so he said: ‘Which of you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and was like half a plate?’” (Muslim) [Qaadi 'Iyaad said: "It contains an indication that it was towards the end of the month - since the moon does not appear like that when it arises except towards the end of the month."]

From Ibn ‘Abbaas, RA who said: Allaah’s Messenger SAW said: “Lailatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun arises on its morning being feeble and red.” (at-Tayaalisee, Ibn Khuzaimah, al-Bazzaar with hasan isnaad)

Let us seek abundance rewards from our Creator by performing extra actions in these last few days of the noble month of Ramadhan as it could be our last…

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guru @ July 27, 2010

Nobel laureate Yunus to star in Simpsons

Posted in: Bangladesh | Comments (0)

Bangladesh??s microcredit pioneer and Nobel Peace laureate DMohammed Yunus is set to star in a special episode of hit American TV series The Simpsons, his office said on Monday.
Yunus??s office said in a statement the episode in October would focus on Grameen??s micro-credit work, which has helped lift millions of people out of poverty in Bangladesh and across the globe. ??The recording of Professor Yunus??s voice has already been done and the episode is ready to go on air,?? it said, adding that Yeardley Smith who voices Lisa??s character in the serial was currently Dhaka.

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guru @ July 27, 2010

Bangladesh stocks bounced back

Posted in: Bangladesh, Bangladesh, Budjet, Bangladesh, Business, Bangladesh, Finance, Bangladesh, Investment, Bangladesh, Market, Bangladesh, News, Bangladesh, Stck Exchange, Bangladesh, Trade, Bangladesh, policies | Comments (0)

Bangladesh stocks bounced back on Monday following relaxation market-cooling measures by the regulator, a day after the market suffered the steepest drop in 14 years.

The decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to raise the exposure limit of brokerage houses to individual investors to Tk.100 million helped the market to return to a positive territory, market operators said.On Sunday, the country??s capital market watchdog decided to increase the single-client borrowing limit to BDT 100 million )US$1.44 million) from BDT 50 million (0.72 million) for stockbrokers and extend the deadline for adjusting the margin loan for those clients whose credit exposure is over BDT 100 million ($1.44 million) to September 30 this year from August 31.

Turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), however, continued to slide on Monday, totalling at BDT 1 2.86 billion ($186.3 million), down over 11 percent over the previous working day.

On the other hand, the benchmark DSE General Index (DGEN) shot up by 125.56 points or 2.02 per cent to end at 6325.76, recovering from previous session when it plunged 3.19 per cent or 204.75 points — its highest single-day drop since November 6, 1996.

On Sunday, Bangladesh??s stocks nosedived with the DSE suffering the highest single-day fall since the 1996 crash because of the regulators’ market-cooling tightening of credit.

Chittagong stocks marked a sharp rise on the day with the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index increasing 1.91 percent to 12,13

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guru @ July 27, 2010

FDI :Bureaucracy is the major problem for investment

Posted in: Bangladesh, Diplomat, Diplomatic, Bangladesh, International Relation, Bangladesh, Investment, explore, Bangladesh, industry, Bangladesh, infrustucture | Comments (0)

Bangladesh is loose attraction and service standard for foreign Investor .(sources)As Unctad released its World Investment Report for this year, a few curious things emerged.

The first — Bangladesh scored quite low as a foreign direct investment catcher in South Asia, even much lower than Pakistan. And the second, the comments of the Board of Investment executive chairman who found not energy but red tape as a determining factor for investment decisions.

It was a shock that foreign investors still prefer Pakistan as their destination rather than Bangladesh. In Pakistan, suicide bombings no more elicit any shocked look from observers, as it does not for Afghanistan or Iraq either. Pakistan is today torn by sectarian strife. Whether it will be run over by the Taliban any time soon is a current speculation, and world leaders are rather more concerned with what will happen to its nuclear arms –whether those will fall into the hands of militants.

Bangladesh, in comparison, offers a far greater safe place for investment. It did not suffer from a terrible anti-insurgency fight like Sri Lanka did, and for which Sri Lanka’s FDI flow also dipped sharply. The remnants of the militant bands in Bangladesh are on the run and the government is firmly committed to fight extremism. Bangladesh’s economic health is also quite stable in the region, and it has made reasonably commendable advancement in social index. And yet we scored low — we need to think hard about it.

Why countries like Pakistan and Nigeria — you would find it hard to book a ticket to Lagos because of passenger pressure — are still preferred by investors, needs to be looked into carefully. It is the policies, opportunity to make money, and image that matter most.

When Bangladesh passed a new telco law that threatens stringent punishments such as Tk 300 crore fines (which is much higher than the capital of many telcos), and arrest without bail for delinquency — it sends the wrong signal to investors across the board. And a country’s image is built up on such signals put together.

Then there are the Board of Investment chief’s comments. Since he took over as the board’s boss, Dr SA Samad has been repeatedly denying the fact that energy crisis is a big deterring factor for investment. It may be a conscious denial from him, since he once sat at the energy ministry, and knows very well what a crucial role energy — both electricity and gas — plays in investment. He also must have realised that the Awami League-led government in fact wasted its first one and a half years regarding the energy front, and that energy will emerge as a crucial issue for Awami League in the next election about three and a half years away.

Any entrepreneurs’ gathering, be it formal or informal, is replete with talks of how their businesses are suffering due to load shedding and gas crisis. An investor, who runs a big dyeing factory in Gazipur, was recounting only last night how judicious he was to have his factory shut down because of gas crisis.

“I am lucky. I paid off my bank liabilities earlier, and so it was an easy decision to shut,” he said.

The person sitting next to him claimed he is even luckier. His factory’s gas supply came through the same line as that of a BNP leader’s. The BNP man’s connection was snapped as he defaulted on bills. That boosted gas pressure for his sari factory which is now running at full steam. Others around him are not that lucky, he said.

So, downplaying a problem would not help the situation, as the BoI chief is trying to do. Rather it might send wrong signals to policymakers, and the government’s efforts in solving the energy crisis might slacken.

The second comment the BoI chief made is even more curious. He said bureaucracy is the major problem for investment. True. But then the question comes, what the government has done to reduce red tape? The Regulatory Reforms Commission has been let to die only because it was conceptualised and formed during the caretaker government. And so is the fate of the Better Business Forum. The recommendations these two platforms made remain largely unimplemented. Finance Minister AMA Muhith, in his first budget, after the Awami League-led government came to power, promised that a new body would be formed to push through regulatory reforms.

That promise is forgotten today.

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guru @ July 26, 2010