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Book Review

What is the Way-out from the Poverty Trap for Bangladesh?

Reviewed By Nancy Wong
*** From Crisis To Development
Coping with Disasters in Bangladesh
Editors : Hameeda Hossain, Cote P Dodge, FH Abed Published by The University Press Limited, 114 Mot^heel C/A, Dhaka ***
few year ago while tra-ZA veiling in China. I met AV an English woman in Beijing who. after some preliminary exchanges of background information, asked me »olnt-blank: 'Why is
Bangladesh so poor?" A bit startled by the directness of the question from a total stranger whom I had n>et just a few minutes ago during a conducted tour. T responded with another query; Why do you pose such a question? Do you have personal knowledge of the country?"
It transpired that the curious woman had a daughter who. upon graduation from a course In Tropical Medicine from the London University, had gone to Bangladesh to pursue her area of specialisation. But the young graduates intentions were unfulfilled as she had to spend so much time lending to the common Illnesses afflicting huge numbers of patients under her care that she had little time nor energy Jeft for her original goal. Thus, she left for home frustrated and overwhelmed by the magnitude of problems caused by the grinding poverty which she had been exposed to for the first time in her life. With this explanation, it was easy enough to understand the feelings which prompted the forthright question.
For the fortunate citizens of developed countries who would like to know the under-Kng causes which propel ngladesh on the worlds conscience by TV Images of ravaged landscapes after a fierce cyclone and its consequent grim pictures of the traumatized victims, fighting against horrendous odds for survival. "From Crisis to Development" contains detailed facts and figures.
For all Involved In the never-ending scene of development. the book gives keen analytical Information ns to. the whys and wherefores the country continues to wage a tough battle against a chronic imbalance of payments, a high illiteracy nite, low per capital Income and an explosive popu-Jation grdwth with Its chain of Related headaches. And for the bomewhat disheartened war-Weary champion of luckless Jiumanity, the book offers some rays of hope, that the si Ration, though _stH grave, 'does show promises of improvement. For after all, this brave young country has stag gered through the devastation of Its war of Independence when Its Intellectual and physical assets were stripped to the bone, followed soon after by a stark famine, then 4wo huge floods In the 80s and » catastrophic cyclone last year — all In the short space of 20 years
"From Crisis to Development" is a collection of articles on the manifold aspects of de velopment and disaster man agement written by the country's distinguished practitioners and scholars on these sub-Kts; such as Atiur Rahman.
ihammad Yunus and Jow-shan A Rahman. They also include representatives of donor countries (without whose un-stlnting help Bangladesh would have found Its fight for survival as a nation infinitely hampered) such as the Canadian High Commissioner, Emile Gauvreau and UNICEF’s former country representative, Cole P
1991 cyclone In exhaustively analysed with chapters ranging from survivors graphic description of the
horrifying event to the problems of relief distribution to the role of the gallant marines of Operation Sea Angel. The cyclone with Its accompanying tidal surge of 29 April '91 was the severest since that of November '70 which claimed 500,000 lives. Comparatively fewer Ilves were lost In last year's disaster although the cyclone's fury was of similar In tensity — which shows that the capacity to cope with natural disasters had Improved con slderably over the past 20 years. It was also a test of the newly elected government which, to its credit, responded with speed and efficiency on the whole : The government placed ministers in charge of the affected areas. In the worst-hit upazilas, state ministers were requested to oversee relief operations. This was an unprecedented step which Indicated that the government was willing to hold Itself politically accountable."
All sections of the popula tion from students to ordinary people to truck drivers answered the clarion call to help their affected countrymen, and was augmented by professional aid from NGOs and- Interna tiorud relief orgaftfoations. This tdl-out effort was certainly re sponsible In preventing the disaster from claiming more lives than it actually did. Analysts pointed out however, that the suffering and human losses could have been further diminished if the cyclone warnings were issued In a manner more comprehensible to the ordinary people. As matters stand, they were worded tn maritime language and related more to port safety than human lives.
An excellent suggestion Is made that the anniversaries of killer cyclones 1970 and 1991 be commemorated — to mourn the dead and more urgently to educate the public as to the exact meaning of the various cyclonic signals as well as disaster preparedness.
Undoubtedly, the Insufficiency of cyclone shelters, some of which were miles away from habitation played a large role In the death count. Scepticism and ignorance of the grave nature of the warn Ings compounded' the situation. Other shortcomings Included lack of co-ordination In relief distribution, the army's
"go it alone" style in handling the crisis and sheer negligence on the part of certain elements which resulted in the loss of expensive equipment in the Chittagong port and airport are detailed.
After an exhaustive analysis of the cyclone of 1991, the book proceeds to a thorough examination of the country's 20 years of development. This section gives a sympathetic as well as an In-dcpth account of the multt-facctcd challenges of Bangladesh s survival as a nation. There are many enlightening chapters on how the different government tackled the development policy, growth process and coping with recurring natural disasters. ^Thesc are extremely well researched and detailed statistics and facts support their findings: all Involved in such areas will find them stimulating and informative. There arc figures and graphs to explain breakdowns on minimum human requirements of the poverty-ridden masses (how many are aware of the fact that millions have only two pieces of clothing to warp around themselves?).
For those not familiar with the historical beginnings of the two premier development institutions — BRAC and Grameen Bank, these arc given tn perspective. The role of women (often relegated to the background in this male chauvinistic society) both In nation building and crisis coping receives due emphasis — in its plus and minus sides.
There is a wealth of information regarding the multifarious aspects of the economy: such as efforts to industrialize, their challenges and pitfalls; the garment Industry, labour — a prime ingredient in all ventures. The agricultural sector with a scholarly chapter on "Rich Environment and Extreme Poverty" will be of interest particularly to economists, with its painstakingly researched tables of statistics.
With the government committing itself to primary education for all by 2000. this important area is analysed Incisively. Compared with its neighbours, Bangladesh, alas, shows up as a dismal performer Gustavson's 1991 review of primary education
notes that "80 per cent of all rural households have not one member In the family with a complete primary education The extremely poor families (more than a third of the population) hardly send any of their children to school." The chapter on education is an eye opener tn many ways and all involved will find It beneficial.
After all. if one has a pool of educated labour force, this can work miracles for the economy as a whole. A great deal more needs to be done Io improve not only the availability but quality of primary education This chapter shows clearly ex Isttng shortcomings and viable changes.
Bangladesh Is hardly a country blessed with rich nat ural resources. As Ra blndranath Tagore so poignantly points out: "Fate al lowed humanity such pitifully meagre coverlet, that In pulling it over one part of the world, another has to be left bare. "Yet. its people's capacity for survival under brutally harsh conditions (especially In the rural areas) is awesome The world being a "global village.' numerous countries have come to lend a helping hand.
In wldilion. hundreds of NGOs — both local and International, are in the forefront of development projects and they have played a crucial role In disaster management and Its recovery process. Some pertinent questions arc fielded: Have the powers that be made maxi mum use of donors' aid and how effective has aid been tn making the lot of the poverty stricken a better one over the years? These and many cogent queries are asked and tackled in an illuminating chapter: Dilemma and Challenge by Emile Gauvreau and John B Mendes. It Is up to those holding the political reins to harness the people s considerable will not only to survive but to proper in making the most of the abundance of goodwill. For. like the mythological king of Corinth who was condemned to push a heavy rock up a steep hill in Hades, only to have it pushed down when nearly at the top, Bangladesh has to do the same each time disaster strikes. On the other hand, ft is within the country's power to rise like a phoenix out of the ashes of ruin.