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TO THE EDITOR
Economic recession: American perspective I as an old retired banker love to avidly go through all economic and financial news that appears daily in your newspaper. Of late, sub prime house loan disaster in the USA is a hot topic of discussion in the financial circle. The sharp downturn of the housing sector along with the .s^vhigli oil4uiccs.and, huge,deficit. . due to the phenomena) increase in war costs in different world theatres have precipitated recession in America's economy. Since the housing sector has a substantial share in GDP growth of the US economy, its downturn triggers a chain effect in other sectors too. Manufacturing activities dwindle down along with consumer confidence. Many industries cut down their capacity. Due to the oil price hike, a good number of airlines grounded hundreds of their carriers, cut down number of routes, a few sought bankruptcy protection etc. Automobile industries shut down some of their facilities. A large number of employees have been given marching orders with a pink slip in hand. Unemployment rate has swelled. Common men's suffering knows no bound. The economic slump in the USA has a simmering ripple effect on world economy in general inasmuch as the US economy is considered to be the growth engine of global economy, other developed European economies are also hard hit by US recession. Developing economies like that of China. India, Brazil, Indonesia etc. are also in the fray. About the least developed economies like that of Bangladesh, the less said, the better.
I understand that the banks lent billions of dollars at sub prime rate to the borrowers with poor credit history. The guy who never dreamt of owning a house got a house overnight with the blessings of a
benevolent bank (!) Eventually when he failed to pay back the loan as per stipulation, the bank went for foreclosure and evicted the poor guy from his long cherished home. This happened on a massive scale all over the USA. Billions of dollars in mortgage loan got stuck up. Several giant banks have to write off billions of dollars as bad debt.
These things put the bank fri^ severe credit crunch. 1 think these banks have, as if, doled away money like a charitable organisation, a disservice to the depositors, equity holders and, above all, throwing a large number of unsuspecting borrowers to a fathomless despair.
I believe in this election year in the USA the lame duck president, with only a few months left of his tenure, would not be able to implement any drastic package to reverse the slide.
However, since a vibrant, booming US economy is in the greatest interest of the entire world populace, I sincerely hope that the US economy will again start shining and beaming.
SA Samad
General Manager (Retd.)
Janata Bank
Pushing people to the provinces...
It is not possible to move in Dhaka city. It is now not possible to predict the travel time for distances of barely two to three kilometres. It is no longer possible not to be hesitant to venture on to the street, on foot or on a vehicle, private or public.
The push factors generating in the jobless rural areas, coupled with the pull dynamics of the glitter and allure of the capital, have ensured that Dhaka be stretched beyond its means in almost any
and every avenue of facility or service (depending on your viewpoint) housing, water, electricity, garbage disposal, you name it.
In today's piece however, Planner Prof ASM Mahbubun Nabi aligns the mega city’s transportation problem and population growth, and tries to knock down the two birds with one stone. Of particular appeal is calculated ,n jtnwa& ^^^ buildings in Dhaka city wifi be forced to go vacant, should his plan of creating the nine provinces materialise. The three-tier administrative system in emulating the practice in monetarily advanced countries is also worth reckoning.
There cannot be any debate about the need to control the urbanisation (i.e. the growth of a city's area and population) of Dhaka City, as that is the root of all its ills. The argument boils down to who should be allowed to stay and why others should leave. The dispute begins and ends with the assumption that T belong in the metropolis.
Whereas round the year it seems there is no place other than Dhaka for one-tenth of the country's population to live, earn, learn, eat, entertain and sleep, beg, borrow and steal; come some long-haul holiday, it becomes apparent that half or more of the city's people have some happier place to go to.
Decentralisation has indeed been toyed with for long in any discussion targeting to solve any given predicament of this 400-year old city, but creating actual provinces have in the past been nipped in the bud for fear of encouraging provinciality. The catch is that we will not know the effect of the changes until they have been caused.
Dr Nizamuddin Ahmed
Professor
Dept, of Architecture
BUET
AI.'s decision
Please appreciate the AL's recent decision to take part In local govt elections. It is also appreciable that the AL has now developed their capability to take decision collectively without depending on just one person (Sheikh Kasina), it is a good sign for our politics.
Our newspapers have the ten dency to highlight faults and undermine achievements. We hope the newspapers will appreciate the AL's current position on decision-making.
It is a good step towards democratic and healthy politics. The BNP and other political parties should also follow it.
Russell
One-mail
Who is saying this?
Begum Khaleda Zia has claimed that the upcoming local government polls had been planned by the CTG to place it chosen people in local bodies.
If we take into account the pattern of attempts military rulers like Ayub Khan and Ershad made to establish their rule in the past, as was pointed out in many articles, Khaleda Zia has aptly expressed her suspicion. Notwithstanding, this statement from her sounds like the Bangla phrase, "vut er mukhe raam naam"! Needless to say, it's the BNP-lcd 4 party alliance that planned to stage a farcical election in January 2007, paying little attention to creating a conducive and credible atmosphere for a free and fair election, ignoring the participation of another main opposition party, the Awami League. In order to ensure their victory, they left no stone unturned to place their own chosen people at all levels of the administration during their last regime, keeping in mind the fiasco of 1996.
True words may at times sound irritating!
Ahmad Ferdous Bin Alam Dhaka
Accidents
In our country, road accident is a daily event. Nobody is thinking about it. Newspapers are presenting news and we are reading it. Not only the government but also the NGOs should come forward to address the issue.
A little caution and enforcement of traffic rules can save m^ny lives. Molay Kumar Chakraborty Southeast University Banani, Dhaka
Agr. varsity in the city!
I am talking about the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University(SAU) which is just now being located at the heart of a burgeoning capital city. How a farm varsity could be established just at the heart of a very densely populated city? A farm varsity is supposed to be in the countryside or around the farm lands/ farm households.
How impractical was the thinking of the planners that three Agricultural Universities were set up within the range of 30 to 90 kilometres (Bangabandhu Agricultural University, BAU and SAU) in the same agro-ecological zone? To be pragmatic, SAU should be shifted immediately, correcting the mistake in establishing it at the present location, to a different agro-ecological zone, probably to Comilla or Faridpur or may even be merged with Bangabandhu Agricultural University which has currently only 5-6 departments. Prof. SAM
On e-mail
The budget
Not too long ago the budget for 2007-08 fiscal year was announced. No budget is flawless, it comes with its merits and demerits. Unfortunately, we have a bunch of economists who are always highly critical of any budget, irrespective ofwhetheritispreparedbya democratic government or a caretaker government.
As a citizen of Bangladesh, my suggestion to any future government is: create a think tank of economists to produce the country's budget comprising Dr. Abul Barakat, Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman, and Professor Anu Muhammad.
I am sure this think tank will be able to prepare such a budget that will go a long way to solving our economic problems.
Ishtiaque
Banani, Dhaka
Qo they deserve it?
Four hundred doctors signed up for the release of Khaleda Zia and her two sons. Why? Do they deserve it? Did they apologise to this nation for the corruption they did during their tenure? Our doctors are more involved in politics than their professional development. Can DAB give a single example that contributed to the development of medical practices in Bangladesh? Shame on these doctors. Don't mislead this nation any more.
If there is no serious medical ground, then don't make that request on behalf of Tarique Rahman.
Afsana Islam
London, UK
Our police
No doubt, most of the police off! ccrs perform their duties with honesty, sincerity and, above all, love for the country But what happened on 27 June is quite humiliating not only for the police, it is also a great embarrassment for the nation, "A police officer was found guilty ol stealing a mobile phone set ." (The Dally Star, 29.06.20(18)
Wlrile he is supposed to be the protector of others, he is stealing things! We know an ordinary Bangladeshi taxi driver in America sent back the valuables to the owner that he could easily keep for himself But he did not do that. He was honest!
Pallab Kumar 1 lazra
MA in English Dhaka University
A nagging problem
Once my relative took my cell phone and he did something without informing me. Since then, every day I get a message in my cell phone on horoscope coming from the number 022667.1 tried my best to stop it, but failed. At last, I called up 121 (GP Customer Centre) to solve my problem. When I called up 121, the computer based system automatically received my call and I came to hear a voice. She gave me a number, 2667, and told me to write "off” in message option and to send it to that number. I tried my best to send the message but it could not be sent because it was an invalid number. I talked with her but the problem was not solved.
Everyday I have to pay, however small the amount may be, for the horoscope service, though I have tried my best to cancel it.
Will the authorities concerned look into Ute matter?
Md Amzad Hossain
Kanthhaliyakanda, Comilla
Former PM
On June 4,2008 Begum Khaleda Zia was brought to a magistrate's court with many other VIP accused. But when sick Koko was brought in a wheelchair into the room, the former prime minister rushed to her dear son with tears and an emotional scene was created there. Although Begum Zia was the PM. she is a mother as well. So her behaviour was completely natural.
At the same time another incident happened. It might be a petty matter but I thn»k—ib-carwwi- be 4 overlooked.' Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, the long time Secretary General of the BNP, offered 'salam' many times to his party chief but Madam ignored him every time. We know to respond to one's'salam'is 'wazeeb' in Islam. In politics one may have different opinions. But politicians should take and face it politically.
We know Sheikh Hasina and Begum Zia did not talk to each other, people, particularly foreigners, laughed at their rivalry. But we do not want to see such polities any more. It is not natural.
Harun-or-Rashid
Sobhanbag, Dhaka
HKI and children
Helen Keller International (HKI) Bangladesh and Bangladesh Shishu Academy jointly organised a children's painting competition as part of celebrating the 30 years (1978-2008) of HKI in Bangladesh. The art competition held at the Shishu Academy Art Gallery was on the subject: "Field, Food and Family." The purpose of the event was to involve children in unfolding their creativity around some of HKI's core focal points — food production, nutrition and women's empowerment.
Helen Keller International began working in Bangladesh in 1978 with research and evidencebased programmes on nutrition and eye health.
Parvez Babul
Information and Advocacy Officer Helen Keller International Bangladesh
Poorgovernance
We citizens depended on the political regimes and we suffered losses running into billions during the past decades due to nontransparent tender procedures. Next year the elected political regime will come back to power. Have the people regained confidence in political governance? If so, what are the new yardsticks, and the new rules to discourage the backdoor games oT turning politics into private business ?
The ousted politicians are not changing their musical tunes. The old styles of gamesmanship are being parroted once again, without any signs of reform. How to trust them, and what are the deterrents and monitoring mechanisms?
In Dhaka, the public feedback system never works, or allowed to work, thanks to the paternal affection of the heads of the ruling parties. Another alarming tendency is the boycott of parliament by the Opposition, year after year; denying the check and balance effect in public services. Politics has been derailed. How to restart this political rail service? The roles of the engine drivers, guards, and the station masters have to be reviewed.
Today, it is not enough to frame rules incorporating the "benefit of the doubt" formula blindly. Each and every one should be under scrutiny unless proved otherwise.
A citizen
On e-mail
Construction of road-a suggestion
I would like to draw the kind attention of the present government to the decision taken on the construction of the road from the Parjoton Office to Mirpur Road at a cost of Tk 25 crore.
The traffic coming from the
^i^Ul Uw/riJ ix^>>j kjm» 't 11^ » i. .^»1 k
Mohakhali flyover. Mohakhali road, Jahangir Gate is almost all the time congested up to the Rangs building. It became worse when the previous Prime Minister used to go to or come out of her office, and the traffic police used to stop the movement of any vehicle coming from the flyover, Mohakhali road and Jahangir Gate at least half an hour before the PM left her office. Even now a similar type of problem is faced by the users of that road, but to a lesser extent. Therefore, the new road which is to be constructed from Parjoton office to Agargaon will not be able to reduce traffic congestion, rather it will create more congestion.
My humble suggestion to the government is: construct a subway
under the old airport area wnich should be big enough to be used by the traffic coming straight from the Mohakhali flyover, Mohakhali road and Jahangir Gate. In this process, the surface land of the old airpon will not be damaged. Vehicles coming from Uttara, Banani, Baridhara, Gulshan and the Cantonment always use the road in front of the Chief Adviser s office, but if the subway is constructed under the old airport then the traffic will definitely reduce substantially. The only ( thing the government will have to be ready for is investment of Tk 250 to 300 crore, if my suggestion is accepted.
Faisal Karim
WestRampura
Dhaka