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To the Editor...
Letters will only be considered if they carry the writer's full name, address and telephone number (if any). The identity of the writers will be protected. Letters must be limited to 300 words. All letters will be subject to editing.
German Ambassador's message
It's interesting indeed that the outgoing German Ambassador, Dietrich Audmas , had to speak out (DS July 15) very frankly with open mind that "it is not up to the foreign ambassadors, rather it's up to the Bangladesh people and the political parties to reach a consensus on the caretaker government issue".
And all these the Ambassador had to volley without hesitation because presumably he was pursued (as not unprecedented) by the Opposition Leader on whom he made a farewell call.
It was reported in the news item that the AL had apprised the German Ambassador of AL's view on country's law and order, human rights situation and proposed reforms of the caretaker government -- as if he is our mentor and guide! I want to ask the hon'ble Opposition Leader that does she don't know that the Ambassador wasn't sleeping grass in Dhaka during his years of diplomatic assignment, he has been fully conversant with our conditions and knows the situation of our country fully well and definitely
can conceive an angel's face with devil's mind. Why defame unnecessarily by posing a self-styled leader!
A F Rahman On e-mail
Distinction between Accounting and Finance
There is a fundamental confusion amongst the business community in Bangladesh that the discipline of accounting accountancy renders all the knowledge required for solving the financial challenges and problems faced by the business community. There is no clear separation between accounting and finance and often the two are equated to be the same discipline. I have wondered why this is the case -- probably the society at large values real asset even at historical costs, something they can touch and feel, something concrete. This preoccupation is understandable given we don't have the ethics, the governance, the knowledge in place to value a corporation based on its future cash flow.
The mechanics are already
developing for the separation of accounting and finance as discipline. Over the last several years the banking sector in Bangladesh is growing rapidly and is familiarising the general public with financial instruments. The central bank is making concerted efforts towards bond market development. As these financial incidences take place, the business society at large will start practising finance in real life and it will not remain a discipline confined to university classrooms.
Having a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation, I probably have too staunch a demarcation of accounting and finance in my mind. There are a dozen or slightly more CFAs currently residing in Bangladesh. I am going to organise a series of information session to increase awareness about the CFA programme and would like to encourage a public debate on this topic. As a side comment, I have the utmost respect for the knowledgeable accountants of this country so please don't ostracise me.
Naureen Khan, CFA
Banani, Dhaka
Indian visas
I am from India and am a regular
reader of "The Daily Star" . I find it to be one of the best and non-biased papers in South Asia. One interesting letter by SN Mamoon caught my eyes. He is absolutely correct that if we permit free travel as in Europe it would be economically very viable and spurt development activities in the region. I have been a constant traveller to Europe, Far East and US and feel miserable standing in the "Passport Control" for long hours and answering questions which I am sure many other South Asians would have also experienced whereas in most of the places, European/US and other passport holders walk through as we do at our bus or train stations.
Although passport and visa are a pain but it has more to do with geopolitical situation. In case of India, citizens of India and Nepal do not require visas, but is it not exploited by troublemakers? India as always wanted to have a South Asian union like Europe but then all other issues like Kashmir, terrorism, water sharing etc block the progress. Until faith and trust is established how can one have a visa-free environment?
Agreed the Indian borders are porous, but does that mean that all law-abiding citizens follow that route. Also Bangladesh does not allow India to fence the border for
whatever reasons. Bangladesh also does not allow transit of Indian goods to Northeast which would have been a money spinner for Bangladesh. Bangladesh has hesitation in allowing a road link from Thailand to India or a rail link. Bangladesh complains of Indian river water sharing, India about terrorist camps in Bangladesh and illegal Bangladeshis in India.
In such a situation how can one have a visa-free regime? First trust, faith, CBMs, appreciating each other's problems, understanding the geopolitical realities, and then addressing issues should happen, the visa-free regime would automatically follow.
Hope I was able to address the issue from an Indian perspective. We in India also want a very warm and friendly relation with Bangladesh and be happy to see a visa-free regime materialise after all these issues are taken care of.
Biswajeet
On e-mail
The inconsistency
Our honourable Finance and Planing Minister told the press on July 18, 2005 that the price of fuel would not increase immediately in line with
high price in international market. But on the very next day the price of the petrol and octane increased by Tk. 1 to 36 and by Tk. 3 to 38, respectively. The international price of oil is now around US$ 57 per barrel which is more than double since the invasion of Iraq by the US and alliance.
In this context Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation incurred a loss of Tk 2700 crore due to the fuel subsidy in the previous fiscal year and the lose for the outgoing fiscal is about TK 3000 crore.
The adviser to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Mahmudur Rahman disclosed on the fuel price readjusting day that 'in India the price per litre of octane is equal to Tk 68 while that of per litre petrol is equal to Tk 64.' Due to the huge fuel price gap and encompassing long zigzag border with India Bangladesh must suffer reasonable amount of imported fuel leakage that ultimately is loss of valuable foreign currency. On the other hand, the agricultural and industrial production cost has to be remained same or lower by the reasonable fuel price and other applicable subsidy as well as the price of kerosene has to be kept within the purchase capacity of the
rural people.
In this scenario we the general citizens of Bangladesh want cautious, prudent and consistent action from the government.
Saifuddin Ahmad
North Badda, Dhaka
Whither the European union
The European Union (EU) is no longer working as a union. Now EU stands for Europe un-united. The influx of new smaller members from Eastern Europe has created more problems (the philosophy of economic adjustment) than it has solved (sabotaging the draft EU constitution, and un-workable EU budget).
When big powers decline, the zaminderi pride lingers, and the tendency to act unilaterally creates system losses in the flow chart. France and Germany are in this predicament; and UK (across the English Channel, and former lord of the mighty British Empire, and now president of EU in turn) has a different angle of vision (Blair pointed out where was European unity when 22 million Europeans faced unemployment).
The latest attack on London [7/7]
has confused the situation further; with a British think tank pointing out that Blair pillion riding [on motor bike] with Bush in Iraq is an indication of perdition ahead.
The third world (South) should be mentally prepared for a reversemigration backlash. The doubling of the oil (energy) price is going to adversely affect both the North and the South. The industrialised countries are facing two separate problems: unemployment and shortage for manpower (workers); while the cost of living, services, and products (in the factories) would go up in the developing countries. [What is Bangladesh doing for greater utilisation of her vast energy reserves (gas and coal), for reducing the import of fuel oil? Add lack of political consensus at the national level.
In a changing global situation, one problem is dovetailing into another, and the head of governments have no respite to tackle the accumulative historical mess created since industrialisation created economic barriers, followed by communication gaps between the haves and the have-nots.
Where are the global leaders with telescopic vision?
A Mahasen,
Dhaka