BanglaNews.com

The Middle East Syndrome: Come tomorrow!

Editor — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 14:03:06 +0000

By Syed Neaz Ahmad The writer has spent many years teaching in the Middle East. Here he takes a look back at the practice of ’don’t do anything today if you can delay it until tomorrow’! EVERY week my cluttered desk, my bursting-at-seams shoulder bag and my over worked laptop presents a sad state – a reflection perhaps of the time of the year. The sheer volume of committee meetings, preparation of reports, checking term papers, planning for the next semesterr and a thousand other things leave you little to think of an interesting topic to write about. Then came the biggest of all surprises – construction of a new flyover where we live. Every construction brings in some destruction and dust. I miss my favorite shwarmah joint, the bakery, the baqalah, the pharmacy and not forgetting the friendly neighborhood bank. But before the bulldozers hit the bank I had rushed to pay some utility bills and leave some instruction for the autumn break. Through a strange coincidence it was not only the last working day at this branch but also the last ‘working day’ of the month so you can imagine the rush. Most of us know that Wednesday is [...]

The post The Middle East Syndrome: Come tomorrow! appeared first on BanglaNews.com.

Burmese Muslims Stateless at home and no refuge elsewhere!

Editor — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:24:22 +0000

By Syed Neaz Ahmad Dhaka: THEY are thought to be the world’s most persecuted refugees. It is also argued that they are one of the most forgotten too. In Jeddah prison I saw and met hundreds of inmates from Burma. Thousands of Burmese Muslims from Arakan – often called Rohingyas – were offered a safe haven in Saudi Arabia by King Faisal but with the change in rulers in Saudi Arabia the rules underwent a change too. A permanent abode of peace that was offered to these uprooted Arakanese is now nothing less than a chamber of horrors. There are some three thousand families of Burmese Muslims in Makkah and Jeddah prisons awaiting their deportation. Women and children are held in separate prisons nearby. The only contact the men have with their wives and children is through mobile phones.But the interesting question is: Where will they be sent? Burma (Myanmar) doesn’t want them. Bangladesh with a large population, porous border and poor economy doesn’t have the inclination or the ability to handle a refugee population of this size. The Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are having a rough time as it is. Pakistan’s offer to accept part of the Rohingyas – [...]

The post Burmese Muslims Stateless at home and no refuge elsewhere! appeared first on BanglaNews.com.

Bangladesh in a cul de sac?

Editor — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:51:26 +0000

The young South Asian democracy is a good example of how people wishing to progress towards achieving ‘a government of the people’ can at least claim we are on the road to democracy. But for democracy to function properly in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh one thing that must be realised, upheld and practised is the concern for human life, writes Syed Neaz Ahmad. BANGLADESH is one of the world’s poorest, least developed and most densely populated countries. Political chaos, rampant corruption, strikes, inadequate power supplies and a high unemployment rate — some 35 per cent — make it hard for the economy to prosper. The economy, which cannot absorb the rising labour population, is largely agricultural and depends heavily on the cultivation of rice. Tea and jute are the main cash crops. Bangladesh supplies about 90 per cent of the world’s raw jute but production of both jute and tea has dipped in recent years, largely due to weather. The gross domestic product is comprised of agriculture (30%), industry (18%), and services (52%).At best of times the masses suffer water pollution, waterborne diseases, water shortages, monsoon flooding, soil degradation and erosion, deforestation, overpopulation and severe pollution are the largest environmental [...]

The post Bangladesh in a cul de sac? appeared first on BanglaNews.com.

Delicious Hilsa fish, Bangladeshi Politician and World Bank vs Padma Bridge

Editor — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 10:56:59 +0000

Delicious Hilsa fish, Bangladeshi Politician and World Bank vs Padma Bridge The Hilsa of the Padma river is known by the locals to be the most delicious in the world, Padma also a symbol of faith, hope, substance and sanity for some. The recent scams highlight the government’s struggle to contain subornment, once a mighty river the Padma river is now without flowing water since World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank cancelled US $ 1.2 Billion Loan to construct the Padma bridge, putting a big question mark on the future of the bridge. Padma Bridge is a multipurpose road-rail bridge across the Padma River to be constructed in Bangladesh. When completed it will be the largest bridge in Bangladesh and the first fixed river crossing for road traffic. It will connect the south-west of the country, to northern and eastern regions. The total area of land to be acquired and required for its components is 918 hectares. The requisition of land for the construction yard will be for six years on a rental basis. As per the new design, an additional 144.04 ha has been identified for acquisition, bringing the total to 1062.14 hectares. This additional land [...]

The post Delicious Hilsa fish, Bangladeshi Politician and World Bank vs Padma Bridge appeared first on BanglaNews.com.

Human Trafficking: High profit – low risk business or homicide of Humanity

Editor — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 09:36:40 +0000

A group of Bangladeshi women who were illegally taken into India was forced into prostitution in the Indian cities of Mumbai and Pune, BBC revealed. All of these people were transported away from the communities in which they lived and forcing them to work against their will using violence, deception or coercion. People are trafficked both between countries and within the borders of a state for the purpose of labour or sexual exploitation. This begins when they arrive at the destination and always involves violence, deception or coercion.The vast majority or people who are trafficked are migrant workers. They are seeking to escape poverty and discrimination, improve their lives and send money back to their families. They hear about well-paying jobs abroad through family, friends or “recruitment agencies”. But when they arrive in the country of destination they find that the work they were promised does not exist and they are forced instead to work in jobs or conditions to which they did not agree. Poverty, gender-based discrimination and a history of sexual and physical violence are all factors that can make women and children vulnerable to traffickers. Some are abducted and sold, some are deceived into consenting by the promise of a better life or [...]

The post Human Trafficking: High profit – low risk business or homicide of Humanity appeared first on BanglaNews.com.

Lionel Messi’s Magical Mania For Goals – By Talal Zaber

Editor — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 09:11:13 +0000

Bleacher report which is an American sports website has recently published a report on a footballer who has been grabbing all the headlines. So maybe you’ve heard of this guy Lionel Messi. Not a bad footballer, that one. And not a bad 2012 for the 25-year-old from Rosario, Argentina. During the calendar year, Leo scored a record 91 goals combined in all competitions for Barcelona and the Argentina national side, shattering the mark of 85 tallied by GerdMuller for Bayern Munich and Germany in 1972. Denis Doyle/Getty Images Though he had already bested Muller’s mark (and many others) early in December, young Leo finished his 2012 this past Saturday with a brilliant goal in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory at Valladolid, a delightful build up and finish best summed up by Ray Hudson’s “magisterial” call on beIN Sport. Now, Messi’s club side may have had a relatively underwhelming end to the 2011-12 campaign, finishing a disappointing second to Real Madrid in La Liga and falling to Chelsea in the semifinals of the Champions League. Many people believe that the goals he has scored over 2012 has not come to any meaning or worth as it has not won him or his club and country any major competitions. Messi being in contention for the Ballon Do’r for the fourth [...]

The post Lionel Messi’s Magical Mania For Goals – By Talal Zaber appeared first on BanglaNews.com.

Has the War-Crime Tribunal in Bangladesh Lost it’s credibility?

Editor — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:45:20 +0000

The Wall street Journal European edition published an article yesterday 20th of December on Bangladesh War-Crime Tribunal. The article mentioned that Bangladesh’s government is facing mounting pressure from opposition parties and human-rights groups over alleged political interference at a war-crimes tribunal intended to heal four-decade-old rifts. However, Government Under Fire for Alleged Interference in Process Intended to Heal War-Crime Rifts. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government set up the International Crimes Tribunal two years ago to investigate human-rights abuses committed during a civil war that led to Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. During last election it was one of the agenda in their election manifesto. The government promised that the tribunal, which has the power to hand down death sentences, would adhere to international standards. But Bangladesh’s opposition parties claim the government has politicised the process. Eight top leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami and two senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders are facing the trial over charges of crimes against humanity. The controversy around the tribunal has sown doubt around the credibility of the process, threatening to derail it and deepen political rifts rather than provide the intended closure to the civil-war turmoil in which hundreds of thousands died, many killed by Islamist militia who opposed Bangladesh, then [...]

The post Has the War-Crime Tribunal in Bangladesh Lost it’s credibility? appeared first on BanglaNews.com.

FINALLY 31 DIRECTORS FOR STATE OWNED BANKS

Editor — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 22:25:30 +0000

By: Hasan Akon: After many talks and criticism the government of Bangladesh has appointed 31 members of the Board of Directors for state run commercial banks and four specialised banks for three years period. On Thursday night at 8 pm, Banks and financial institutions division of the Ministry of Finance issued more than one notification to appoint at least 31 appointed directors for Sonali Bank Ltd, Janata Bank Ltd, Agrani Bank Ltd, BASIC Bank, Bangladesh Development Bank Ltd, Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) and Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB). The new members are former government officials, politicians, economists and business leaders, as well as the former student leaders of Awami league’s student front. After the Sonali Bank’s Hallmark Scandal, there was widespread criticism of the government to appoint the Directors for their political alliance. The new appointments can be seen as before, we don’t want to learn from past. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also insisted on complying with ‘Fit and Proper Test’ before appointing the directors. As soon we realise and act, it would be better for our nation. Poor fate for Bangladeshi people!

The post FINALLY 31 DIRECTORS FOR STATE OWNED BANKS appeared first on BanglaNews.com.

Bangladesh gets $200 Million in development assistance from USAID

Editor — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 11:37:59 +0000

US ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena and USAID Bangladesh Mission director Richard Greene announced the commitment of $200 Million in development assistance for fiscal 2012 at a press conference in Dhaka this week. Dan W Mozena said: “This increase in development assistance emphasises the US’ long-term commitment to co-operate with Bangladesh to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development,” “I’m here to announce America’s commitment to partner with the people of Bangladesh, government of Bangladesh, civil society of Bangladesh to build a new Bangladesh, Sonar Bangladesh, middle-income Bangladesh, where citizens have good livelihoods and the means to live in good, safe housing and to provide their families ample, nutritious food, good healthcare and quality education for their children,” said Dan Mozena. He said America’s partnership in Bangladesh was the largest in Asia outside of Afghanistan and Pakistan. “Our partnership in Bangladesh is growing…our support this year is a nearly 10% increase over the last year.” The US ambassador said the partnership would supports Bangladesh’s emerging democratic institutions by engaging with parliament, improving public awareness of the judicial sector, promote local government, support citizens’ right to information, and protect Bangladeshi men, women and children from predators who seek traffic them into labour [...]

The post Bangladesh gets $200 Million in development assistance from USAID appeared first on BanglaNews.com.

“How to Rob a Government Controlled Bank” – A Hall Mark Group Story

Editor — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 09:16:56 +0000

The law in every land states “innocent until proven guilty”. The case against Hall Mark group (based in Bangladesh and should not be confused with other similar names) is of course one of forgery because the money obtained as a loan was obtained with fake documents and accounts which the company could never return because it does does not have that kind of asset in value to be able to return the borrowed sum. A bank usually will investigate the assets used as guarantors before releasing a loan. This involves senior management if the loan is for large amount. In fact, the large sum borrowed would require approval of the Board or at least their knowledge, anyone who knows a little bit about borrowing from a bank in Bangladesh will confirm this, yet we see the blame being passed onto junior level staff – managers and assistant managers. Are they escape goats ? All these questions are disclosed slowly and gradually by the man (leader) charged for this incident. He is slowly starting to point his fingers to the Banks involvement as he discloses who was paid what to get his loan. Of course we should not automatically assume that [...]

The post “How to Rob a Government Controlled Bank” – A Hall Mark Group Story appeared first on BanglaNews.com.