Japanese Assistance on

SMEs

Sir. We are thankful to the Government of Japan for showing interest to assist in the planned and scientific development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh (DS, Feb 13). This sector has vast potentiality in this country, enjoying a large population of human resources, both male and female, and a modest technical education base.

Even a cursory reference to the history of SMEs in Japan will reveal that this sector played a vital role in establishing and strengthening the industrial development of Japan during the post-War-II decades, eventually leading to the establishment of giant industrial conglomerates and groups known world-wide as Hitachi. Mitsubishi. NEC. Toshiba. Sony, National/Technlc and others. Thousands of small firms supplied the components to the giant factories, to push Japan into the forefront of the global markets.

Better late than never. Our SMEs and the cottage industries in the informal sector need the setting up of basic technical foundation and sound O&M (operation and maintenance) and management practices, to ensure standard products through QC (Quality Control). The long years of Japanese experience and expertise will be of immense benefit to our young entrepreneurs, once adapted to the local working conditions. Bangladesh has one of the densest NGO networks in the world, penetrating to some depth in the rural areas. How this net could be utilised may be worth a survey while setting the Infrastructure for the cottage industries.

In fact, we feel sad that Japan took a pretty long time to make up her mind to show some interest in Bangladesh. Since the early '90s, the private sector has been showing an urge for stimulated growth, initiated with the government's keenness for the right reforms in the right direction, as evident from the accelerated growth of exportable products year after

Now the energy sector is due for a take-off. with the forthcoming US technical assistance

in management techniques (the US delegation just left). In a deltaic region, transport and communication pose problems, with redundancy reinforcements embedded in the projects, and heavier capital investment.

It Is hoped, the time is not far away when some of the smaller labour-intensive industrial operations could be relocated from Japan to Bangladesh, as the cost of doing business of Japan goes on increasing (as it is doing in Singapore), ironically facing a strong Yen.

AMM Aabad Dhaka.

The royal campaign

Sir, The AFP reported from London that Queen Elizabeth II has with drawn her royal warrant from British tobacco firm. This decision was made after the Queen stopped ordering supplies of cigarettes for the royal households because smoking is no longer popular in the Royal family.

The press report stated that the Queen's eldest son and heir to the throne. Prince Charles, a fervent anti-smoker had been instrumental in the withdrawal of the warrant. Mentionable that the Queen's father, grandfather and great grandfather all died of smoking-related illnesses.

It is encouraging to learn that smoking is no more popular in the British Royal family and I heartily appreciate the Queen's above decision as well as Prince Charle’s initiatives.

I sincerely hope that people all over the world including Bangladesh would follow suit in appreciation of the present smoking state of the British Royal family.

M Zahidul Haque

BAI. Sher-e-Bangla Naqar. Dhaka-1207.

Impending crash

Sir. After the financial crash in Asean and other Asian Tiger countries, similar probable minor calamities are being analysed in other regions of the world, in view of the compressed global economy due to closing of the communication gap and extensive use of electronic trading or E-commerce.

South Asia had been rather insulated from the direct fall-

outs due to lower and smaller scale of the market, but this should not encourage complacency. as there are other sources or causes for sudden failures or collapses of a nation's infrastructure.

Pervading corruption (or subjective short-cuts to money, power and influence) in a society has greater potential to initiate sadden damages, and at a deeper and wider level, which cannot be predicted or controlled (like an avalanche), because the whole structure starts cracking up all around, as in a severe earthquake. There is no EWS (early warning system).

Bangladesh has many weaknesses, most of them cumulative. and some brash and brazen, due to weak deterrents practised by the successive regimes (indirectly supporting evil practices — abatement). The nation has to pay the price for such shady collusions. The Law of Compensation will hit back, quietly and suddenly. The noise makers are never successful.

It is time to be mentally prepared, because nature will take its toll, but this time not at the poverty level, as happens during and after the floods and cyclones. Money and power cannot protect from the impending retribution.

Abul M Ahmad Dhaka

No barricade, please!

Sir, Recently it has become a regular feature to, barricade roads and highways to ventilate grievances or to realise demands. These barricades on the highways are raised by the local rnastans, factory workers, students and political parties. It causes immense sufferings to the public. The helpless passengers become pawn to these unscrupulous people. Especially women and children have to undergo untold sufferings for hours together with nowhere to go. Even patients in ambulances nave to die for unwanted delay of medical care.

It has been seen that the government or the law enforcing agencies always turned deaf ear in eradicating unlawful barricades. The government is supposed to act in favour of the people, not against them.

GMF Abdur Rob DOHS (New). Dhaka.