The Dally Star organised a Media Round Table (MRT) on 19 November. The present state of our economy and future options for our development were debated. Emphasis was laid on achieving national consensus being the most effective Instrument to resolve issues having far reaching consequences.

Those who participated in the • MRT Included the Planning Minister, the Industries Minister, an ex-Flnance Minister. Chief Whip of Jatiya Sangsad. two leading opposition MPs. named. Tofael Ahmed and Rashed Khan Menon. Secretary. ERD. some of our leading economists. Presidents of DCCI and MCCI. Executive Secretary ESCAP. Resident Representative of World Bank. Resident Representative of UNDP etc.. Secretary to the Prime Minister's secretariat was also present. Prof Rehman Sobhan performed the responsibilities of Moderator of the MRT.

The MRT from the viewpoints of representation and deliberations, has assumed the shape of an important reference.

Assuming a national daily's resource and other constraints, we consider The Daily Star has responded to an urgent national task before it was too late.

In the MRT. however, the absence of a representative from our labour front/trade unions was quite strongly felt. Inter-action of Ideas on this account, has remained incomplete.

What is Immediately required. is a systematic followup action as under : 1) Bengali rendering of the deliberations and its mass circulation; 2) Setting out priorities; 3) Preparation of a paper for our Jatiya Sangsad for discussions of the Issues by the people's elected representatives towards attaining a consensus within the Sangsad first; 4) Inclusion of responsible labour leaders in the panel for future debate/discussions.

What is very crucial is the statement of our Planning Minister to which no objections were tabled except for mild, defensive observations of Prof. Rehman Sobhan. In point of fact, his statement at one part or the other, was corroborated by the Opposition MPs present. Some important points of the statement are reproduced below In the words of the Planning Minister, himself: 1) Upto 1965. Pakistan's industrial development was a model (for developing countries). It was taught in Harvard. Korea took the ■ TFYP of Pakistan. 2) In the then East Pakistan, the private sector was more vigorous than the public sector 3) We (the then

East Pakistan) were exporting US 8 50 million more than South Korea. 4) We (the then East Pakistan) were head and shoulder above these nations like — Thailand. Korea, Indonesia. In textiles. 5) But the change in Industrial Policy came tn 1971. What happened is the nationalisation programme which demoralised the whole industrial sector; Today you are getting the snow-ball effect — today the whole Industrial sector is vitiated. 6) Industrial Policy started from 1982.

Now to quote the participants on pur present situation In their own words which deserves very serious attention and examination in Juxta-posl-tlon with our political landscape :

"When we go out of this country and find that other countries which were poorer than us like Thailand or Korea, we feel the pang in our heart that we could not do it"

— Rashed Khan Menon “We were better off as Mr.

Kibrla and the Planning Minister pointed out. than Korea tn 50's and 60's."

— Tofael Ahmed

"Now if we look at the domestic investment of the last decade. Bangladesh's investment declined from 16% to 11 -12%. In Pakistan, it is close to 18%. India 24%. Sri Lanka 21%. Thailand 31%. Turkey 22%. China 36%. Korea 35%. Hong Kong and Singapore around 30.35%.

"Per capita income of Indla/Paklstan is roughly US $ 400. Sri Lanka US 8 450. and we have around US $ 180.

"During the last decade, real wages of the workers went up by 33% and productivity of workers went down by 18%."

— M. Syeduzzaman

"In 1962. the Koreans used to eat the bark of trees as in 1991, we are doing."

— Tofael Ahmed

"Bangladesh today Is quite literally a backwater of Asia. Even Nepal Is doing better than us."

— Rehman Sohban "I think, there is a consensus about development of the private sector but of course, there Is a difference about the privatisation policy.

"These defaulters who have taken so much money from the Banks, why have they not invested in this period of time, where have they invested?

"Does private sector mean private loot?"

— Rashed Khan Menon "National consensus Is not Just between the Government and the Opposition My concept to a bit deeper and wider. Consensus must pervade the society as a whole.

'I assure you that this to

the best place where Siberian ducks are coming and finding waterways where there are small fish. I tell you that this is the place for foreign investors. And good foreign businessman who finds that a labour per day is something around one dollar. they are bound to come rushing as the Siberian ducks.*

— SAMS Kibria

At this stage, we have to look back and forth, of course deeper Indeed, into the causes of our becoming the "Backwater of Asia"' in their historical perspective. Following are the important contemporary political events : 1) In the then East Pakistan, a fierce political movement culminating into the war of liberation war going on (1948-1971). 2) Sheikh Mujlbur Rahman master-minded Bangladesh with people's support. as an Independent state, with specific political and economic systems (1972-1975) 3) Ziaur Rahman reversed those systems and re-defined Bangladesh by omitting Secularism. In the process of reversal, a strong group of vested interests developed (1976-1981). 4) Ershad repre'-sented the vested Interests; his require being the longest in the Bangladesh history came to be Identified as Autocracy with all its evils (1981-1990). 5) Political consensus, the first of its kind, was achieved at all levels of the society and Ershad was replaced by a caretaker Government of Justice Shahabuddln who supervised free and fair elections, acknowledged as such unanimously. both at house and abroad and assumption of office as Prime Minister by Begum Khaleda Zia took place. 6) Again by political consensus. Hie form of government was changed making ft accountable to the Jatiya Sangsad (1990-1991).

The MRT has provoked us into a serious re-thinking over what has been happening to us at different periods of time briefly summarised above. Our past Is very rich, full of lessons learnt at heavy costs already. We have to re gain our sense of direction lost for reasons known to us the sooner, the better. The most effective instrumentality for this purpose, is said to be the national consensus

( The MRT which examined the national issues, has recommended a national consensus on economic issues so that the policy continuity notwithstanding the change of Government, can be ensured, priorities clearly defined and sensitivities exactly identified. This would be a really painful process. But our response should nonetheless. be prompt and positive