Bastobota without reality chara

Three IBA students won the "Best of the Best" Award at the Regional Finals of HSBC's Young Entrepreneur Awards in Hong Kong. In the process they beat the winning teams from Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong to win the overall prize. They got an HSBC Business Development Fund 0.9 million taka; additional to the prize money they had won for the local Bangladesh competition.

Congratulations guys. Keep up the good work.

Hundreds of Bangladeshi textile factory owners failed to meet a government deadline to pay the workers even the minimum wage of 25 US dollars a month. Out of 2400 garment factories, 400 were still ignoring the rule as of June 30 - according to the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association. In some factories, workers earn as little as 13 dollars a month. The minimum wage was fixed in 2006 after several deadly protests by the workers, who torched 16 factories and ransacked more than 300 others.

In Bangladesh, judges throw cases for money, bureaucrats sell jobs without hesitations, journalists blackmail general people, businessmen run strong-arm cartels, yet they all blame only the politicians for turning the country into a failed state!

Garments Sector -May 2006 write-up.

Thakte chai ke majha majhi?
Bertho hote raji / tobu uttor chai aj-e -
Bhobitshoth neye shopno dekhbo ki?

Desh jure cholche saja,
Ashami holo raja / bhanglo tar maja
Agami te keu raja hote chaibe ki?

        Chaibe / oboshoi chaibe
        Chor na shone dhormer kotha,
        poshu der to nei manusher matha
        Shono ni? Jei jai lonkai, she e hoi Rabon
        Jei ashuk noukai;ashbe abar plabon
                    (Porun -Durniti ebong shontrash)

Jara hoben bhobishot raja
Hon jodi tara baja / hobe bhaloi moja
Uttar-a-dhikar er din shesh hobe ki?

        Hobe na / mote o hobe na
        Chore na shone dhormer kotha,
        poshu der to nei manusher matha
        Shono ni? nikha kore ek ek neta / netri
        Drivar / shoshokari ebong gorosthan er Sentri
                                                    (Porun - Falu)

Shonskar neye baji,
Netri jodi-o na raji / ekta jobab chai aj-e -
Alo 'r poth tara dekhate parbe ki?

        parbe na / ek dom e parbe na
        Shob chatukar hothat holo shadhu;
        dekhabe na - jani kon jadu
        Shono ni? pipilikar pakha hoi moribar tore
        E shob kit potongo khotom hobe agamir jhore
                                            (Porun- Nirbachon)

Shobar mukhe shuni ek e kotha – shera topic ekhon eta

Every body is having a political talk. Everywhere I go, every news channels I roam, every news paper I read – all mediums tell me, political talks are everywhere.

AL is upfront with their agendas, BNP is upfront with various statements, JP is upfront claiming, they have two leaders or no leader at all; the new kids in the block are having ceremonies in city hotels; even unknown people talk politics in the public buses without any hesitations.

What is the point than of having a ban on politics? The government seems too liberal with the ban. Why?

All political parties are holding regular meetings now ; business tycoons are sharing political views during business discussions, journalists are only busy in discussing politics – yet there is a ban!

It is just like the TV commercial of Parachute hair oil. There, all the women come outside of their home to sing for their beloved product. In the process, the say “Parachute aj ghore ghore”. They remain outside to tell everyone else that the product is within!

The Bangladesh Observer and The Daily Star showed aggressiveness by headlining terms like ‘shows door to Khaleda’ and ‘aims at excluding Khaleda’. The New Age did not show any excitements; just mentioned that Bhuiyan unfolds BNP’s reform plans; it also included Khaleda’s comments as did The Bangladesh Today. The New Nation went one step further and mentioned ‘Khaleda dropped’. The news today included the one point they thought is the most significant one.  

The Bangladesh Observer
Mannan unveils 15-pt recipe in first go - BNP reform plan shows door to Khaleda
-Signaling a formal rift in BNP, party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan Monday spelt out reform proposals that shows Khaleda Zia exit from the post of Chairperson for holding the chair for over six years, reports UNB. 

The Daily Star
BNP reformists' proposal aims at excluding Khaleda
-The pro-reform BNP leaders yesterday unveiled a 15-point proposal including the one aiming to dislodge Khaleda Zia from the post of chairperson. ………….He said absolute powers of the party chief must be curbed for the BNP to graduate to a democratic organisation. And the [BNP] constitution will have to be amended to make that happen. 

The New Age
Bhuiyan unfolds BNP reform plan - Councillors to make final decision, says Khaleda
-The BNP secretary general, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, on Monday announced his plan for reforms in the party proposing drastic cut in the authority of the party chairperson. 

The Bangladesh Today
Reformists place proposals to bar Khaleda's re-election as BNP chief - Final decision must be taken by the council: Khaleda
-The reformists in BNP in the severest ever political blow on the party chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia on Monday placed a 15-point reform proposal that bars her reelection as BNP chairperson in future. 

The New Nation
Bhuiyan unveils BNP reform proposal: Khaleda dropped
-BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday released a 15-point reform proposal sealing off the fate of Khaleda Zia to become the party Chairperson and Prime Minister forever from the next term.

The News Today
Bhuiyan signals BNP rift - Reform recipe aims at Khaleda’s exit: None will remain chairperson more than twice
-The reformists in BNP, led by its secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, on Monday spelt out reform proposals aiming at removing the incumbent party chairperson Khaleda Zia from her position and disqualifying her for being reelected as the Prime Minister.

International headlines:

Bangladesh's Zia hit by party rebellion

Party leaders sideline Bangladesh ex-PM Khaleda Zia

Former Bangladesh premier loses control over party

Bangladesh reformists curb power of party chief

BNP reformists shows the door Zia to quit post of Chairperson

In the past three / four days, there were some news on - the World Bank providing this-and-that to Bangladesh. May be this is the usual flow. But an organization that always upholds western civilization’s agenda may not be a true friend to Bangladesh. 

World Bank Provides $100 Million Credit To Improve Bangladesh's Education Sector. 

Bangladesh has sought $150 million worth of fund from the World Bank to finance exploration of gas. 

Bangladesh gets $377 million power, water loans from the World Bank.

Amounts mentioned in these deals are not that much to worry about, but any assistance from World Bank tends to back fire in long run. Being a former World Bank official, Dr. Fakruddin knows the ‘ins-and-outs, so I hope every deal with this gigantic organization gets in-depth thoughts and analysis from the government.  

In general, World Bank advocates for pushing the accelerator of free market economy, which can eventually bring sorrow for Bangladesh in long term. Members of the World Bank, the vast majority of whom are actually from wealthy industrialized countries, pushes its own standards and methods in the developing countries without realizing that each country has its own characteristics.

The World Bank's credibility has been shattered recently after its support projects around the world violated its own codes and evidently failed in many cases. World Bank and IMF together ruined some Latin American nations including Argentina, Peru, Brazil and Bolivia with their one eyed policies that were implemented blindfolded. Argentina is still suffering from that. World Bank was also behind the famous Asian financial crisis in the mid 90’s. But the fact is no matter how many times they fail, the IMF and World Bank get chances to push their agenda and policies in poor nations because they are the only players in town for countries those cannot get credit elsewhere.

I wish Bangladesh break away from this chain.

There was an intensely loyal Awami League supporter teaching in a small town in Rajshahi. He was in charge of a grade one class. One day, he asks his class how many of them are ‘Hasina fans’.

Not really knowing what a Hasina fan is, but wanting to be liked by the teacher, all the kids raise their hands except one boy - Momin.
The teacher asks Momin why he has decided to be different. Momin says, "I'm not a Hasina fan."

The teacher says, "why aren't you a Hasina fan?"

Momin says, "I'm a Dr. Younus fan."

The teacher asks why he's a Younus fan. The boy says, "well, my mother's a Younus fan, and my father is also a Younus fan, so I'm a Younus fan!"

The teacher is kind of angry, so he says, "what if your mother was a brain less creature, and your father was an idiot and had a head above those of elephants, what would that make you?"

Momin says, "That would definitely make me a Hasina fan".

The recent edition of Probe hints, Sajib Wazed Joy does have the qualification to be his mother’s successor. He is well trained in breaking the law. 

On June 14 1998, Joy was arrested in Tarrant County, Texas. He was charged on two counts of carrying an unlicensed handgun and one count of driving while intoxicated. He was convicted for drunken driving and was imprisoned for 120 days, sentenced to 24 months of probation and fined $500.

On March 19, 2000, he was arrested and charged with reckless driving in Fairfax County, Virginia. He was found guilty and given a suspended 30-day jail sentence and 12 months probation along with a $400 fine.

15 /16 years from now, when Joy will be sent to Dhaka Kendrio Karagar by another bunch of caretaker advisors of that time, he can easily compare the treatment with his current ones. Plus he can make a better use of the facilities of the jail due to his previous experiences, unlike Tareq Zia this time.

Encounter or not to encounter the corrupt !!

Over 36 years have gone past. We have not yet managed a stable political system. It has always been formless, it still is. I hear, for last 15 years or so - we had democracy, which gives power to the mass people. Well, the mass people of Bangladesh now seem to have very little idea of what to expect in a month's time, let alone having a safe & sound vison for 3 / 4 years. A group of 18/20 people are running the show without any democratic process. Buy hey, who am I kidding? Democracy for sure has been long gone; if only it ever existed. The jumbo sized ego and ‘extra large’ power-greed of top leaders of so called democratic Awami League and BNP has turned the whole nation into a trash * and all in the name of democracy and people’s right*. Every time Khaleda Zia and Sheik Hasina, the two housewives-turned-autocratic rulers use the term democracy; they mean dynasty and looting at heart. They still continue to do the same even after a kick in the face. Democracy to other BAL and BNP politicians is a tool and term to achieve the goons’ support at a level, where they can bring the nation to a complete standstill. Democracy to BAL and BNP backed businessmen is to create a syndicate that will lay egg every day so that their bank balance maintains an upward trend. Democracy to the commercial bank owners means looting deposited money of the mass people and using a portion of it in elections to buy the mass people’s support. Of the people, for the people.  

Democracy in Bangladesh very easily becomes a dictatorship of the majority. After every hartal called by BAL; BNP claimed that the majority rejected it. BAL claimed majority observed it. Both play with the people; claims to have the people besides them. They get away by massive destructions only because the majority remains with them.  

Both madam Khaleda Zia and Shiekh Hasina apa claim - they are ‘Raj-pother- netri’.  Yeap, true - but only by using the sentiment formed by the death of their family heads. Having a similar type tragedy, one can expect a good relationship between them; but the truth is, rivalry between the apa and the madam are on a high stake. Newspapers for years showed gallantly that the madam celebrates her birthday on the anniversary of the assassination of Apa's father. What a great attitude by the popular ‘Raj-pother- netri’. Shiekh hasina’s rabble rousing past on the other hand surely proves her best capability of being Raj-pother-netri by creating unrest in the country for personal desire of becoming the Prime Minister. She successfully creates illusion between BAL and her personnel image. BAL is definitely a political party of the mass but that does not make her a political leader of the mass. She is vulnerable enough to add "I am the daughter of the father of the nation" in every possible occasion; may it be exploiting the people's sentiment, may it be convincing foreign politicians, lobbyists or may it be an interview with BBC. Shiekh Hasina still does not possess an identity; she is just a representative of a dead man. Khaleda Zia, being another dead man’s representative still has the guts to say, there is no poribar tantro in BNP. I wonder what it will take to make her believe the reality. The low moral politicians of BNP do not even have the guts to protest their leader’s corruption and love for dynasty.

This is for sure that Bangladesh will never find social and political stability under the leadership of Shiek and Zia families. To bring freedom is one thing, to administer the country is another. They lack seriously at the later. What these two families have given the country is social unrest, emotional blackmailing and an extended version of corruption. But the reality remains, as long as the last living person of these two families will walk on this planet, they will lead BAL and BNP yet be top two choices of emotional Bangladeshis as their national leaders. Caretaker governments will come just like merry-go-round; sometimes for 3 / 4 months, sometimes for 40 days; and if they are smart and cleverer than BAL and BNP, they can stay for a year or so.

The cancellation of January 2007’s general election was possible through the democratic power of the mass and that of course through violent street protests and through killing rival supporters, *By the people, killing the people, for the people*. A new set of caretaker advisors took oath under most hazardous circumstances. Watching Shiek Hasina and all major political leaders along with Dynamite prize winner Dr. Younus in the ceremony created the vibe that the country is heading for peace and stability.  Newly formed government made it absolutely clear from the day 1 that it wants to purge the nation out of corruption by any means. That seemed its first agenda. The second agenda came clear when they tried to change the leadership of the two major political parties. Fools learn from their own mistakes, where-else cleaver ones learn from other's mistakes. Experience shows that any unwanted deportation of national leaders eventually popularizes them dramatically. This has happened in the case of Ayatullah Khomeni of Iran Thaksin of Thailand, Laisenia Qarase of Fiji. Caretaker government learnt that by ruining its credibility. Khaleda Zia and Hasina’s popularity perhaps reached on an ‘all time low’ but this wrong move gave them a plot to stand again.

Uncertainty existed in the last months of BNP regime, so does it exists now. Some miscalculation of the government, threats of new militant groups only worsen the situation. Additionally, lying of the two advisors (Maj Gen. Matin and Mainul Hassan) tells me, nothing has changed. BNP tried all sorts of gimmicks till the end of its era; BAL did it through out its history, now the caretaker government is doing it. Fearfully, a new group of businessmen are coming in action just as previous rent seekers did after major political shifts. If square group is selling influenza vaccine and providing medicine to the government without any bidding in the name of controlling bird flu, the government has to draw a line between corruption of that year and this year.

Hussain Muhammad Ershad is only efficient in making controversy over his fatherhood. Dr. Younus already realized, spreading micro credit around the world and receiving a Nobel price is easier than doing politics in Bangladesh. So, where do we go now? Whom to sought peace and certainty in our social and political life from?

A lame and ineffectual person like me does not see a bright future. I feel, BAL or BNP in deferent colors will eventually come in power and start ruining the country with support of the mass and will create a new class of elite in the process for their own good. More representatives of the two dead men will join the mainstream politics in the sake of keeping mass people’s democratic rights and will store country’s wealth in foreign banks *wealth of the people, for the sake of the people, to the paribar tantro people*. It may start in late 2008 or early 2009. My advance congratulations.

With all our past glories and legendary men like Sheik Mujib and Zia-ur Rahman and numerous others, to whom we have given proper respect and acknowledgement in all forms, be it in history books, bridges, universities, buildings, monument - anything and everything. They are gone and we are left, let’s look ahead and claim what we want for our motherland and our government. All I have seen in the past 36 years is what was left behind by these great men-their weakest representatives and their false love for Bangladesh in form of daughters, wives and sons (ie our two royal family/dynasties). Let’s shut them out from any government role.

They are just common thieves! Since the inception days of Bangladesh to present, we have categorized one another, be it PRO US, PRO INDIA, PRO CHINA, PRO RUSSIA, PRO COMMUNIST, PRO PAKISTAN and the list goes on.........WHERE IN THE HELL IS ‘PRO BANGLADESH’. Today, I see the Caretaker government doing an enormous task of riding us all of this cancerous sore we call political leaders. Corrupt, ruthless and shameless people who are representing our tiny country both onshore and offshores. A country that has topped the most corrupt list consecutively because of their commitment for personal gains.

I request, for the good of all Bangladeshis’, where the law is for protection and safe guard, to support a longer tenor of the CG, we need to put aside our personal benefit for a country that identifies our heritage and culture. JOIN ME TO BE ONE, ALL UNITED - PRO BANGLADESH !