China on the way to surpassing US in peaceful competition

I am writing with reference to : 'Gunboat diplomacy in offing', by Mohammed Amjad Hossain (Dec 19). In a recent hard -hitting articale, 'How China Can Defeat America', in the New York Times, Yan Xuetong , professor of political science at Beijing's Tsinghua University wrote: 'To shape friendly international environment for its rise, Beijing needs to develop more high -quality deplomatic and military relationships with every country in the world, thus core of competition between China and the United States will be to see who has more high quality friends. And in order to achieve that goal, China has to provide higher-quality moral leadership than the United States.' In fact, China may be winning the competition. While the United States has been losing friends abroad because of its flawed military missions, China is expanding its economic and diplomatic presence around the world. By the end of 2010, China has replaced the United States as Japan's biggest trading partner, it has also replaced the United States  . With the countries belonging to the European Union facing a seemingly insurmountable debt crisis, they are looking towards booming China for support. The United States, facing its own financial crunch, can provide little help. China seems to be well on the way to defeat America peacefully . With the United States facing a financial meltdown and political gridlock at home, it does not have the means and energy left to enter into a new era of gunboat diplomacy against China. With China bankrolling America's budget deficit , the United States is hardly in a position to bite the hand that feeds it.As professor Yan so corrently remarked, ' This will mean competing with the United States politically, economically and technologically. Such competition may cause diplomatic tensions, but there is little danger of military clashes.'

Revitalising our railways

   The induction of a ministry for only the railways should bring some positive results. There is much talk on the subject, along with advises in the audio-visual media; and the press and the dailies have not remained behind. This is another addition to the list; but hopefully it is rational and somewhat factual; though with a teahnical bias. How ever the ideas are pragmatic, and needs to be addressed with urgency.
   Priority-wise, two items top the list. First and foremost , the passenger and goods tariff  needs to be rationalised in line with present day price levels. Hand in hand, secretarial and traffic manpower needs to be improved . Next, or for that matter the first priority should be the proper repair and overhaul of the locomotives ( diesel & diesel-electric) to ensure their reliable operation. These two issues should be the concentrated upon by the minister and once these are  resolved attention needs to be given on improving the existing inter-city railway links; more so because of the situation of city traffic.
   Given the bottlenecks and the frequency of tragic road accidents; there is every scope for rail transport to attract passenger. There is the potential of also cutting down passenger travel time compared to time normally taken by inter-city buses. With improvement in punctuality and improving general cleanliness of the passenger coaches; there is no doubt that railways will regain its lost popularity and position for transporting people. With these two main objectives; I am sure that it will not be long before railways generate surplus for the government . This is quite feasible, and if needed once the advantages are realised; more capital should be provided for the railway; as it becomes the main artery for becomes the main artery for passenger and goods traffic.

Amazing integrity of a street kid

     It was a busy summer day in the city when vehicles were stuck at a traffic signal at Matsha Bhaban Mor, in  Segunbagicha Some hawkers were selling their goods to passengers. At that juncture , a child hawker started selling 'Tasty  Hazmi' holding up his fingerless hand. A passenger offered two takas showing sympathy on him and he provided two pieces of 'Tasty Hazmi' to that passenger. The passenger wanted to return them but the obstinate boy said loudly 'I do not beg. So , please take your money back.' And he left the place quickly after returning the money . Almost every passenger watching was left puzzled and inwardly thanked the child because many people in this city, even those who are physically sound , want to beg instead of doing any kind of work.  

Stop border killing

     The Indian authorities have repeatedly assured us that they will not lethal weapons. However, the Border Security Force keeps killing unarmed Bangladeshi civilians in the border regions. According to Odhikar, a human rights organisation, from January to September 2011, the BSF allegedly killed 21 and injured 51 Bangladeshis, also abducted 12.They have killed about 900 Bangladeshi in the past 10 years. On January 7, 2011, a 15-year-old girl, Felani, was shot and killed by the BSF and her body had been hung on barbed -wire fence for about five hours.
      If anyone illegally crosses the border, then punishment should be meted out according to the laws.According to international laws. shooting unarmed people is a punishable offence, However , the BSF has consistently violated the laws.
    The Bangladesh government should strongly protest against such killings by the BSF, to protect its citizens' right to life. There will be no meaning of friendship with India if the BSF continues killing Bangladeshis,

Bagin New Year with a safety message

    Natural and anthropogenic disasters (e.g. earthquake , cyclone , fire etc.) can occur at any time and cause a national crisis in Bangladesh .In a densely populated country like Bangladesh such disasters could be catastrophic if we are not prepared . We will be better off to deal with such situations and save millions of lives when we have adequate preparations and trained citizens.
   Countrywide mass safety training and mock rehearsals will help people to be aware about the emergency situations during any disaster and take right course of actions. I request the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management to take the initiative of mock safety training countrywide. The training can be held once in a year.
   For example , a country wide training on safety can be held in the first week of New Year, preferably on a weekday. During the mock emergency training period people will stop working for an hour, participate in the training and evacuate workplaces, homes, hospitals, educational institutions and public gathering places. Evacuees can conduct a head count and record . People can resume their works after the mock training.
   The ministry can involve security forces including Bangladesh Police, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Defence force and other private security forces to coordinate the training. I also request the government to make such training mandatory to every government establishment in the country . Such training will be useful to make people aware about emergency situations, adopt right action, save public lives and reduce disaster management costs significantly.

Victory Day

      December 16, a red letter day in the history of our country, has come again. It was on this day we won our independence after a nine-month long bloody liberation war. It was gained at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives.
      After 40 years of our victory when we consider our achievements , question may arise how victorious we really are.The dream of the freedom fighters was such a country where there would be no hunger , poverty and injustice.There will be industrialisation and employment, nobody will remain illiterate, and country will be advanced in education, knowledge and science.
    True victory will be achieved only when we can claim to have eradicated poverty once and for all, removed the last vestiges of hunger, and provided opportunity for all work and earn a decent living. The glory of Victory Day will be meaningless unless we fulfil our martyrs' dream. Today on the occasion of Victory Day, let us promise that we all will come together to build a prosperous Bangladesh and fulfil the dream of our freedom fighters.

Betel leaf export ban

      The European Union has banned the import of betel leaf from Bangladesh, as reported in the dailies on December 13.This matter needs to be followed up for our personal health protection, as the leaf was found to be contaminated with hurmful bacteria.Our health ministry should take it up and find out what it is and how betel leaf can be made safe for chewing.
    It is a general health matter and our authorities should look into it and advise the public on precautions that needs to be taken before betel leaf is chewed, which is a popular delicacy for Bangladeshis.

War crimes trial

       Like many other law abiding citizens of Bangladesh, I am very pleased to know from your esteemed daily that the prosecution of the International crimes Tribunal on Tuesday pressed 52 war crimes charges against former Jamaat-e -Islami amir Ghulam Azam.Considered by many a symbol of war crimes, he was also accused of perpetrating all atrocities committed across the country from March 25 to December 16,1971. The charges include leading the mass murder of intellectuals on December 14, 1971 and the killing of 38 prisoners of his home district jail.According to the charges, under his leadership, the collaborators committed offences like murder, extermination,enslavement ,deportation , imprisonment, abduction, confinement, torture and rape of helpless innocents during the liberation war.He is also accused of being directly and indirectly involved in all crimes against humanity ranging from conspiracy against the independence of Bangladesh to genocide,
     Justice for crimes against humanity must be ensured.And it's time for everyone to get to work.The struggle for democracy and human rights in Bangladesh is a struggle for life and dignity .It is a struggle that economic aspirations.

Hospital risks

      Your staff correspondent's front-paged report on December 13 on our High Court raising the issue of fire hazard at hospitals and clinics of fire hazard at hospitals and clinics deals with important issue. However, along with fire hazard, safe disposal of infected waste materials by hospitals, clinics and pathological laboratories should also be dealt with. Both these matters are important to contain cross infection through carelessness or accidental mistakes. Proper procedures need to be established for fire protection as well as all clinical waste management . Once the procedures are established, health authorities must carry out routine inspections to ensure that these are properly followed. These are serious safety matters related to accidents by fire or accidental infection of innocent people by germs let loose along with hospital or clinic wastes. Our authorities should take up these important issues seriously and resolve it before something undesired happens, putting ordinary people's life at risk.

Defiance of CNG drivers

         It is a very common for the commuter of Dhaka to face all kinds of chaos and disorder when they want to travel from one part to another part of Dhaka. Especially older people, women and school going children go through much ordeal to reach their destination.Apart from mind numbing traffic jam the Dhakaites are victims of the whims and wishes of CNG run auto rickshaw drivers.They charge as they like and will only go to the destination of their convenience.Although there is a meter to calculate fair hardly any drivers use it.It seems to me that the meter is only a decorative part of three wheelers.The authorities have many times tried to bring some order but it seems all has gone in vein.The poor commuters have no way but to accept the situation.I don't think we need foreign experts' advice to bring order in the transport sector.We only need to implement the existing law strictly so that no one dares to violate it. An improved situation will bring some solace to the already overwhelmed Dhakaites.

Persecution of schools

     Today I received a note from our area committee denouncing schools and other 'illegal' educational establishments. This was droll, and lugubrious. I gave up business because I couldn't pay bribes. Instead, i chose to be a humble tutor of English, teaching a limited number of students in my apartment . I earned the scorn of both my family and friends. If i had been a businessman paying generous bribes, I would have been successful and praised by both family and friends.
     Now, I learn from the committee that this activity is illegal: this is a curious moral , and the immoral is the criminal. My heart goes out to the schools that are being asked to vacate Dhanmondi. When I was in London as a child, my school was smack in the middle of a residential area: it had to be so.This was the catchment area.Local children were expected to walk a short distance to their local schools.
     Are the schools expected to move to a specially designated are, such as Tejgaon? 'Tejgaon Industrial Area': are our children to be herded into industry-like compounds? What is galling is that the millionaires who have made dubious fortunes own flats in Dhanmondi, yet these shady businessmen are calling educational establishments ' illegal'. What an irony! They have the money and the time to hire lawyers: I don't . Therefore, one despairs of justice from the highest courts of the land.One can only look towards heaven for justice.

Lost glory of Bangladesh football

      I used to be a huge fan of Bangladesh football in the early 1980s and Dhaka football league had a huge fan following . Fans used to come from every corner of Bangladesh to watch the Dhaka derby. I used to go to Dhaka stadium every other day to watch my favourite team Abahani's game. During the 1980s and 1990 s football was such a craze. But when I see the present feeble state of Bangladesh football feel very sad. The Bangladesh football team, once a respectable football power in South Asia, now fails to reach the semi-finals of SAF football. In South Asia all nations are moving ahead in football and whereas we seem to be moving backward. Once minnows has come far.I still wonder how our football has reached such a potiable stage and who is to blame. We have to seriously ponder to retrieve the lost glory of football.In any game spectator are the souls.We have to bring back the spectators and for that we need to arrange international football tournaments like President Gold Cup, Agha Khan Gold Cup, etc. I believe we have a pool of talent and it won't take much time to bring back the lost glory of our football.

From 'digital' to dissection

    Key finctionaries of the Awami League-led government are doing and saying things that seem to be baring open their deep-seated fear anf their despair.
   They are putting forth one reason after another in defence of the repeal of the provision for election-time caretaker administration.
   Of late , the government has approved a proposal that the Dhaka City Corporation should be divided into two for better service delivery. Eminent citizens, experts and people in general seem to believe such a plan would not work and , in fact , lead to more complications.
    The mayoral election has been kept in abeyance for years now. Maybe , the government has realised that the election cannot remain postponed indefinitely. Mey be , it believes the incumbent mayor could get re-elected. Maybe , the proposal for division of the city corporation is to ensure that, even if  S

Pakistan and India should join hands for Afghan peace

      DR Rashid Ahmad Khan, professor of international relations at Sargodha University in Pakistan, i n an op-ed titled 'Conflict on the west, peace in the east'. wrote in Lahore's Daily Times: 'In This row with the US pushing Pakistan towards reconciliation with India? Is it just a coincidence or a calculated move on the part of Pakistan to drop certain preconditions for forward movement in some of the thorniest differences with India, like bilateral trade? Whatever the reality , the fast, however, remains that escalating tensions on Pakistan's western border due to deteriorating relations in recent months. The most recent , and undoubtedly the most significant, was Pakistan's commerce minister Amin Fahim's journey to New Delhi and his successful talks with Indian counterpart Anand Sharma, resulting in the decision by the two countries to expand bilateral trade and allowing India to use the Wagah land trade route.'
   He also pointed out:'Realising that it cannot afford hostility simultaneously on its western and eastern borders,Pakistan's move for an improved relationship with India is understandable.But in Pakistan, there is an influential lobby, including religious political parties like Jammat-i-Ialami(JI) and Jamiat -ul-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) , that holds that instead of accepting US hegemony to counter the security threat from India, it is better to improve relations with the latter to avoid being a surrogate to the former .In India, as well , there are certain circles that are of the opinion that if Pakistan and India join hands, they can keep the region free of the influence of extra-regional powers. A widening row between Pakistan and the US, therefore, may come as a blessing in disguise for peace and reconciliation between the two archrivals , Pakistan and India.'

Cricket Repoting

          A news item front - paged on October 12 in a leading Dhaka based English language, about Bangladesh's exciting win in the Twenty 20 cricket match against the visiting West Indies on October 11, had a 'no -ball' from the reporter, which should have been hit for a six in cricketing parlance.
          The sentence, call it a bowling over, had a poor grammatical error. It is quoted as follow: 'a memorable chapter"was" in Bangladesh cricket history was written on the lush green carpet of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday right.'
         The 'no -ball' was the 'was' before in Bangladesh'. This should have been hit for a six by the editorial staff doing the proofreading . Unfortunately', he or she missed the 'no-ball' altogether.

Sexual assault on female students

          Sexual harassment , exploitation and assault have increased alarmingly in our society in recent in recent times. But what is most tragic and shocking is that female students in different educational institutions have become more vulnerable to sexual assaults by some of their teachers even. Every now and then the print and electronic media are covering horrifying news of sexual harassment of female students at different schools, colleges and even madrassahs by some teachers.
          According to a study report published in a vernacular daily in July this year, the number of incidents of sexual assault on girl students by teachers in different schools across the country in the first six months of the current year stood at 294 . But this is definitely a partial view of the whole scenario.
          Do these culprit teachers deserve to belong to the noble profession of teaching? They should have played the role of guardians of the female students like their fathers.On the country, they have engaged themselves in the heinous act of destroying the lives of their daughter-like students. No words are enough to express indignation at such criminal acts by a handful of teachers.By doing what they did, they undoubtedly cast a slur on the teachers community. The shameless, impudent teachers who have committed such brutal and inhuman crimes must be brought to book and exemplary punishment meted out to them.
      

A schoolteacher's woes

      I Would advise , based on the 'letter to the editor' published on October 12 in a local English daily, the teacher, who has been subjected to totally illegal and unethical salary deduction for the whole month just for one day's absence to the nearest labour court' against the school authorities for violation of the labour law and the standing orders act of Bangladesh.
      Even domestic helps cannot be treated in such a manner. Further, he will not need any lawyer to represent himself in the labour court . He can do it himself , and he will be given a due hearing.
      All said and done, it was an inhuman and cruel act on the part of the school management; and they should be ashamed of themselves. The matter needs to be investigated but the nearest upazila nirbahi officer should be duly informed by the complainant , to get fair play and justice.
      I hope and pray that the teacher concerned qualifies in the BCS examinations and then hopefully, in good time, he will be able to drive home the ideas of justice and fair-play, to the high handed members of the school committee.
    

The Nobel Peace Prize and the message

      The Nobel committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011 is to be divided in three equal parts between Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman for their non - violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work. The committee has cited in delivering awards through press release that we cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influnce developments at all levels of society.
     If we look at the careers of this year's winners, we find that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female head of state, is known as the 'Iron Lady' by her supporters.She was imprisoned in the 1980s for criticising the military regime of Samual Doe and then backed Charles Taylor's rebellion before falling out with him and being charged with treason after he become president. In 2009, Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended that she be barred from office for 30 years for her role in backing Taylor, who is currently on trial for war crimes in The Hague. Despite the popular appeal of her opponent, analysts say she won because of background as a development economist. Sirleaf, a divorcee whose exhusband died a few years ago, is the mother of four sons and has six grandchildren. 'When the plane hasn't landed yet, don't change the pilots.' her posters say.

Our children , our asset

        A child has the right to be born safely anywhere in the world. He or she will become a human through learning many things for leading a life in the society, community , state finally, the world. According to United Nations Declaration of the Right of the Child, 'Every child, without dis any exception whatsoever, shall be entitled to these rights of the Child,'Every child, without any exception whatsoever, shall be entitled to these right, without distinction or discrimination on account of race,colour,sex,language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, whether of himself or of his family.' Every country should strictly follow this declaration as a member of the United Nations.
       A child has a right to be education, cared for and protected , no matter wherever in the world it lives, as well as the right to have fun , learn and express itself. In reality , we see children in the garment factories, workshop, construction site, hand - made cigarette factories, roadside restaurants and the agricultural sector in our country. Children work as bus or three-wheeler helpers, street vendors, brick field workers, and domestic helps. They work in hazardous conditions. In addition , they are less conscious about health and safety. Thus the children's community will become an orchard for our society.

Our children , our asset

        A CHILD has the right to be born safely anywhere in the world. He or she will become a human through learning many things for leading a life in the society, community, state finally, the world.According to United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child,'Every child, without any exception whatsoever, shall be entitled to these right, without distinction or discrimination on account of race, colour ,sex  

Transit tariff

    I am writing in response to the letter written by your reader, Urmila, on the matter of transit of India cargo through Bangladesh by road or rail , which was published on September 28 . I believe the tariff for transport should be the same as applicable for such cargo from Bangladesh. However, in addition, a charge should be levied for customs inspection and clearance, both at the point of entry and departure from Bangladesh territory.
     This could be levied on a fixed tariff basis for each and train at each of the two points when leaving and entering, or it may be determined on a tonnage basis. Additionally, an additional charge for track maintenance and upkeep may also be added for rail transport, considering the heavy use of the track for the transport of transport of heavily laden goods trains in both directions.
     All this should be sorted out properly so that we do not suffer any financial loss for this interaction, which will be an enormous economic boon for Indian traders, considering the usual overland rail or road transport tariff they now incur.

Work or stay at home ?

This refers to the function of stay-at-home moms.In this day,does it sound easier that it is? Is the family of any significance in today's world, where women often give paramount importance to their career? Why is staying at home treated as a misfortune and domesticity a punishment?
   A women's presence at home during the first few years of a child's life is ideal and desired by most of the families.But in present day  conditions , it may or may not be possible. As to what women can do after the children fly away from the nest is a question for the women to answer.Many turn to writing,social service, higher studies,etc.Children do respect and admire the mother who,after bringing them up,spends her time usefully .It is attitude and necessity that make a women career-oriented or a home maker.The satisfaction a women derives from raising her children, however, cannot be valued in terms of money.

Mistakes in govt supplement

            A government supplement , issued by the press information department of the information ministry,published in English-language dailies on Thursday caught my attention.
            Of the three lead articles,the one written by Syed Abul Hossain and translated by Sahana Akhtar had grammatical mistakes both in the heading and the sub-heading.The heading reads 'the communication infrastructure is being changed.' The definite article 'The' before the collective noun 'communication infrastructure'was completely superfluous.The sub-heading was also very confusing grammar-wise.It says'changes will there be in Bangladesh.'It really takes the cake!What was in the mind of the translator?Did she just substitute 'suitable' English words for Bangla ones as set in the Bangla expression?Did no one oversee or scrutinise the translation?May be they were all too busy enjoying the long weekend,which possibly began for them on Wednesday,or perhaps everyone was in a hurry to leave office.Or, may be,this is a new style of English of which I am ignorant , having left college way back in the 1950s.

Study hard

            Notwithstanding his positive handling of the tight moment,later in the evening his eyes were swollen from the silent shedding of tears.But now,he seemed to have completely weathered the sadness and turned the pain into power.He is now determined to prove that failure is the pillar of success.
            Not envious of other's good fortune,Iwould like to mention that learnt that some of the students with lesser ability got a GPA 5,thanks to malpractice prevalent at the lower-level education system.As the Primary Terminal and JSC examination results will count in a student's future career,the authorities should quickly tie up the loose ends at the early-levels of education system.The corruption-ridden society of ours set me brooding deep into the night when,while browsing the internet,I fortunately came across this saying of Hazrat Ali (RA),which reinvigorated my mind."This world is like serpent-so soft to touch yet so lethal in its bite.Therefore,try to avoid those things of this place which please you or allure you,because this world will be with you for a very short time,and will be of very little use to you.Do not keep your mind fully engrossed in mundane affairs because you know for certain that will shortly leave this world."
             Be the most wary and cautious of this vicious world at times when it allures and pleases you the most,because it is an old trick of this world that when a man is the most happy with pleasure of owning and possessing it, it suddenly deserts him and when a man is most confident of its protection,help and love,it certainly forsakea him.

To the not -so-dear business community

            You have taken the so -called free-market to mean robbery with overt and covert support from the government machinery,politicians and bureaucrats,intelligentsia and media.the so called civil society,etc.Thus,you feel free to raise prices instantly upon receiving info on price rise in the international market,but comfortably refuse to adjust it downward whenever it is in decline in the outside world (for reference see Rouf Chowdhury's comment regarding soybean price during the rule of hermits and saints, 2007-2008).
            Let me give you a comparative.As a kid in a small ,sleepy,remote township,I would stand beside the barbed -wire fence following a wash after playing the whole afternoon.Day-labourers with axe in hand and cutters would be returning home at the twilight with a handful of rice tied at one end of their gamchah (washcolth), some small fish and some sweetmeat in paper wrapping for kids.Now you per capita income too has gone up.But because of the accumulation of that income into a few hands,the poor have gone further down the poverty line.
             Your endless greed might one day land us in bloody revolution leading to innumerable tragedies.It is endless economic deprivation that had compelled us to take up arms against the Pakistanis not long ago.

Ensuring quality medical service

            The main objective of doctor's noble profession is to serve the humanity . Irrespective of colour,caste and creed, the doctor's main duty is to serve the sick people .But at present, the mentality of many doctors has changed.They are now busy with private practice.For earning money,doctors have forgotten their own duty to deliver health service in hospitals.Most of the time ,they remain busy at private practice,leaving the hospital doctor-less.As a result,the poor and distressed people are not getting proper medical service from government hospitals.The condition of our country's health service is very pitiful.Now the dignity of this noble profession has been tarnished.
             It is matter of regret that , many doctor's are not interested in going to the villages for providing medical service.This kind of mentality in a doctor that their prime duty is to repay their debt by giving medical service to the poor.We appreciate the prime minister's call for improving health service.
             The present government has taken initiative to give health service at every upazila and union.Undoubtedly,it is a praiseworthy commitment for the government .But for turning this commitment in to reality,the presence of doctors in the hospitals has to be ensured at first .Besides, the government should supply necessary modern medical equipments to all the government hospitals for improving medical service.
            Our country's standard of health service is not satisfactory .For changing this pitiful state of health service,the government should be more attentive towards modernising health service.

People want positive changes and our economy

          The government should take initiatives which bring only the well-being of the country and as well as of the p well as of the people of  Bangladesh.But we hardly find such initiatives taken by the incumbent government.The government should take pragmatic steps to save immediately.
          1.Dhaka from severe traffic congestion.2.The rural and urban people from extortion.  3.Share market from unexpected rise and fall.   4.Chhatra League from illegal activities.   5.Women and children from stalking,rape, humiliation and smuggling.    6.The poor and middle income people from frequent price rise in the kitchen market.   7. Remove beggars and crowed buildings from Dhaka city.   8.Make load shedding tolerable.  9.Root out bribery from the office sphere.   This list can go on and on.The people would like to see immediate changes.
            With the accession of Sheikh Hasina to power, a vision began to germinate . That vision was that of a Bangladesh which is vibrant with the entrepreneurial energy of the few, with the rest of the population serving with their labour.The argument was that despite 40 years of Independence, most of the Bangladeshis, Remain desperately poor and many barely, Literate Free market advocates backing the present government thought that the energy of the business community could both enrich the rich and, through trickle-down effects,improve the condition of ordinary people.
              The upcoming budget of 2011-12 would be a further step towards the implementation of that vision.Quoting from Margaret Thatcher, you and I come by road or rail, but economists travel on infrastructure.With more than 67 per cent of the nation's freight moving on highways, economists believe that our ability to compete internationally is tied to the quality of our infrastructure, although economists are pre-occupied with wealth, and are criticised for disregarding all consideration of happiness or virtue.
               The present government drastically cut down public investment and expenditure on the social sector.As soon as the global financial crisis hit Bangladesh and the interests of the Bangladesh's rich demanded fiscal stimulus, the government overthrew fiscal orthodoxy and budget deficits soared.The Minto Road-based policymaker can claim that the stimulus worked and the growth rates did not crash.The problem is with the content of that growth.

Don't beg in the street,but to other countries

            'Why would our people beg on the streets?' asked the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, while addressing the inaugural function of National Social Welfare Day 2010 at the Bangubandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka on Sunday . We do appreciate her posing that question.some days ago I went to Bhutan, where I could not find a beggar anywhere, and the country has almost no resources.Everyone there seems to be working their level best.The Bhutanese people love their king, but I could not find anything named after him.In Dhaka,you could see installations with the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman even within less than a kilometre from each other.There are three international airport in our country for a small number of passengers.Yet, the government has decided to build a new one, possibly only for the purpose of naming it after Sheikh Mujib, at the cost of scarce cultivable land and money .To do this, the incumbent government will be begging for loan.Can we ask why the prime minister herself is begging?
       "Carpool in Dhaka"- Recently the finance minister has suggested that one way to reduce traffic congestion is to ban private cars with two or less passengers from plying .This is totally undemocratic and draconian if applied for 24 hours.However,if it is applied for commuter traffic only,then it may be feasible .In such a scheme ,the rush hour should be short and no longer than 90 minutes, and it may stop an empty car from returning home to do duties at the house which is unrelated with commuting to an office or work place to earn a living .

Carpool in Dhaka

            As a writer and a student of biochemistry i have studies several religions as electives of my own choice at McGill University.I belive we have enough religions to make us hate , but not enough to make us love one another.This observation finds ample reflection in the words 'Human will wrangle for religion; write for it , fight for it, die for it, anything but-live for it.'

           To day no effort is spared by unscrupulous and vested interest groups to unsettle people's faith in the religion into which they are born.Benjamin Franklin wondered: ' If humans are so wicked with religion, what would they be without it?' Religion cannot be displaced by intellectual argument, for it provides a primordial identity to many.What is needed is a public policy aimed at creating space to strengthen secondary identities.Education should encourage children to cultivate a scientific temper in all spheres of life. When reason takes centre stage,religion will automatically be relegated.
          While all religions are good and preach peace, their followers seem to have the tendency to become narrow-minded and bigots.More people have been killed in the name of religion than in the name of any other cause.I simply do not understand how people think what they believe in is the only truth and the rest of humanity which thinks otherwise is wrong, even though all religious beliefs remain theories and shall remain so till eternity.