Bangladesh, 'Basket Case' No More- WSJ

[TopCat]

It is just unfortunate the economic gains made between 2001-2008 are now being taken apart by the corrupt and arrogant AL.

Perhaps you did not update yourself with the current economic indicators.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

No I am very much up-to-date on economic indicators and things are pretty flat and a lot is sliding. Since you are not in BD you do not know what is going on here.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

The AL is antagonizing other Muslim countries and look at the consequence -

Govt diplomatic efforts yield little result : Manpower export dips

Staff Reporter

The country's manpower export witnessed a significant fall by 17 per cent during the first quarter (Q1) of ongoing fiscal compared with the corresponding period of previous fiscal following manpower import ban from the potential job destinations abroad, official sources said.

Some 107211 Bangladeshi fortune seekers secured overseas jobs during the July-September period of the current fiscal (2010-11) while about 890, 80 local nationals secured overseas jobs during the same period of previous fiscal (2009-10), according to the statistics of Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET).

The BMET data show that a total of 28,347 Bangladeshi fortune seekers secured their employment in various countries in July 2010, 31785 in August 2010 and 28,948 in September 2010.

However, a total of 38,025 local nationals secured overseas jobs in July 2009, 384,34 in August 2009 and 308,12 in September 2009, the monthly manpower export figure of BMET shows.

"The country's manpower export continued to decline significantly from the previous fiscal year due to global recession and ban imposed by major manpower importing countries," said a senior official of the Ministry.

Ban imposed by Malaysia, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia has contributed to the decline in the manpower export in the recent months as it has reduced fresh recruitment opportunity for the local nationals to the Gulf nations and Malaysia, he added.

Responding to a question about manpower export ban by Malaysia he said, "We are continuously communicating with the Malaysian government in this regard and we hope that manpower export to the country resume soon."

He also said the government has taken a number of measures to overcome the present situation that prevailing in the country's manpower export sector and has initiated hectic diplomatic efforts to its counterparts in order to crate job opportunities for the local nationals abroad.

Echoing with the official the country's manpower recruiting agencies said manpower export plunged significantly in the recent times as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Malaysia have almost stopped hiring workers from Bangladesh.

"The present scenario of manpower export would not improve soon as the government's diplomatic efforts are yet to obtain any positive result," they blamed.

Moreover, the government's diplomatic efforts are failing to bring fruitful results in most of the cases due to unwillingness from the officials in Bangladesh missions abroad, they added.

They also said that Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Malaysia have already started hiring migrant workers but they are reluctant to recruit Bangladeshi's due to negative media reports published in their newspapers.

"The Saudi and Malaysian governments have been not only ignoring Bangladeshi workers but they are also favouring recruitment from Nepal and Philippines," they added. Meanwhile, a high powered government delegation led by Zafar Ahmed Khan, secretary for the Ministry of Overseas Employment and Expatriate Welfare, left for Malaysia on a five days official visits to discuss various issues relating to manpower export.

"During the visit the team will meet high officials of different ministries of the Malaysian government including ministry of home, international commerce and industry, agriculture, forest and human resources development," ministry sources said.

It will also discuss about the mode of 6000 fishermen recruitment from Bangladesh, extension of visas and will visit some worker camps of Bangladeshi fortune seekers in the South-East Asian country, he added.

The country's manpower export also witnessed a sharp fall by 34.28 per cent in the immediate past fiscal compared with the corresponding period of previous fiscal.

Some 427,202 Bangladeshi fortune seekers secured overseas jobs in the 2009-10 fiscal while about 650,059 lakh local nationals secured overseas jobs in 2008-09 fiscal, according to BMET.

The New Nation - Internet Edition

 

[akash57]

WASHINGTON DIARY: Basket case: Pakistan or Bangladesh? —Dr Manzur Ejaz

An article titled ‘Bangladesh, “Basket case” no more: Pakistan could learn about economic growth and confronting terrorism from its former eastern province’ appeared in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) (September 29, 2010). During the same period, President Barack Obama specially congratulated Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed when she came to receive the prestigious United Nations (UN) award. Bangladesh was one of the six countries from Asia and Africa who were honoured for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Why have the US media and President Obama started pampering Bangladesh? Has Bangladesh bypassed Pakistan in economic development or is it about to do so in the near future?

Many insiders believe that besides the ground economic reality, the US is pampering Bangladesh because it wants its army in Afghanistan. The US administration has requested the participation of the Bangladesh Army in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. It is highly unlikely that Bangladesh will dispatch its army to Afghanistan because of the geopolitics and lack of fighting skills. Many observers believe that the Bangladesh Army is a police force rather than a war-making machine.

Besides the US motivation, the WSJ article provides some useful insights into the development of Pakistan and its former province East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. To start with, Bangladesh had more population than Pakistan but after breaking away, due to successful programmes, it has checked its population growth. Now Pakistan is more populous than Bangladesh. If the trend continues, as expected, Pakistan will be left behind even if its annual growth rates are a bit higher than Bangladesh — a doubtful presumption.

Bangladesh’s garment industry is genuinely touted as a success story. Last year, the country exported $ 12.3 billion worth of garments and is considered fourth in the world behind China, the EU and Turkey. It is amazing how a non-cotton producing country can achieve such a status. However, the article acknowledges that other than the garment industry the Bangladeshi economy is shallow.

Most importantly, the ideological direction taken by the present Awami League government will help the country to industrialise fast. A few months back, the Bangladesh Supreme Court struck down a 31-year-old constitutional amendment and restored the country to its founding status as a secular republic. Furthermore, the government has banned Abul Ala Maududi’s writings. A long-awaited war crimes tribunal will try senior Jamaat-e-Islami figures for mass murders during Bangladesh’s war of independence.

The Awami League government could take these bold constitutional initiatives because of public support for such actions. No government in Pakistan can dare to undo the constitutional provisions that make the country a religious state. As a matter of fact, democratic and military governments compete with each other to make it more religious. It is hard to envision how long it will take to halt the theocratic onslaught on society. Presently, no political force or institution exists that can usher in modernity and enlightenment in Pakistan. Therefore, Pakistan will remain mired in the web of religious ideology while Bangladesh has a chance to modernise itself. Nonetheless, given the fickle politics of Bangladesh, its future direction is not assured.

Bangladesh can be optimistic about its future because of a multi-religious society and absence of feudalism as an economic order. Luckily or otherwise, Bangladeshi Muslims were mostly peasants while the Hindus constituted the landed aristocracy. The movement for creating Pakistan originated and strengthened in East Bengal because of the Hindu feudal domination. Ironically, the feudals of West Pakistan went along with the Muslim League due to an opposite reason: to save themselves from land reforms that the All India Congress had vowed to enforce. And the Nehru government fulfilled its promise of land reforms very early on.

In the united Pakistan, the eastern wing, led by middle class politicians, had a basic contradiction with the western part, which was largely dominated by the feudals. Punjabi and Sindhi feudals were always scared of Bengali Muslim rule because they could have abolished feudalism. Muslim League was routed in the first election held after independence and the liberal-progressive alliance called Jugto Front was expected to win the 1959 elections. One of the main reasons for Ayub Khan’s martial law was to pre-empt the Jugto Front’s possible government at the Centre. Ayub Khan just delayed the process, because in 1970 the Awami League, a middle class party, swept the elections that led to the independence of Bangladesh.

Like the movement of Pakistan, Bengali Muslims led most of the democratic movements in Pakistan. The separation of East Pakistan took away the most democratic and enlightened force from the country. This is one of the reasons that no significant democratic movement has penetrated in Pakistan after East Bengal broke away in 1971.

In this historical backdrop, one can comprehend how Bangladesh can become a modern, secular state, unencumbered by the landed aristocracy. At present, Pakistan’s per capita of $ 2,600 is much higher than that of Bangladesh’s $ 1,500. However, given the socio-historical trends, Bangladesh may have far better future prospects than Pakistan.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Kinetic]

You are parsing hasina even more than hard core Awami supporter. Mr Munshi's theory come alive since Hasina selling the country to Bharati.

How much it is?? Each district?? I will buy Chittagong and Cox's bazar.

Bharati will not praise no one expect it's dalal out there.

Than whom should we praise???

 

[Skies]

Bring some changes in Pakistan too because "Change is the demand of time".

 

[eastwatch]

WASHINGTON DIARY: Basket case: Pakistan or Bangladesh? —Dr Manzur Ejaz

No government in Pakistan can dare to undo the constitutional provisions that make the country a religious state. As a matter of fact, democratic and military governments compete with each other to make it more religious. Presently, no political force or institution exists that can usher in modernity and enlightenment in Pakistan

An article titled ‘Bangladesh, “Basket case” no more: Pakistan could learn about economic growth and confronting terrorism from its former eastern province’ appeared in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) (September 29, 2010). During the same period, President Barack Obama specially congratulated Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed when she came to receive the prestigious United Nations (UN) award. Bangladesh was one of the six countries from Asia and Africa who were honoured for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Why have the US media and President Obama started pampering Bangladesh? Has Bangladesh bypassed Pakistan in economic development or is it about to do so in the near future?

Many insiders believe that besides the ground economic reality, the US is pampering Bangladesh because it wants its army in Afghanistan. The US administration has requested the participation of the Bangladesh Army in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. It is highly unlikely that Bangladesh will dispatch its army to Afghanistan because of the geopolitics and lack of fighting skills. Many observers believe that the Bangladesh Army is a police force rather than a war-making machine.

Besides the US motivation, the WSJ article provides some useful insights into the development of Pakistan and its former province East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. To start with, Bangladesh had more population than Pakistan but after breaking away, due to successful programmes, it has checked its population growth. Now Pakistan is more populous than Bangladesh. If the trend continues, as expected, Pakistan will be left behind even if its annual growth rates are a bit higher than Bangladesh — a doubtful presumption.

Bangladesh’s garment industry is genuinely touted as a success story. Last year, the country exported $ 12.3 billion worth of garments and is considered fourth in the world behind China, the EU and Turkey. It is amazing how a non-cotton producing country can achieve such a status. However, the article acknowledges that other than the garment industry the Bangladeshi economy is shallow.

Most importantly, the ideological direction taken by the present Awami League government will help the country to industrialise fast. A few months back, the Bangladesh Supreme Court struck down a 31-year-old constitutional amendment and restored the country to its founding status as a secular republic. Furthermore, the government has banned Abul Ala Maududi’s writings. A long-awaited war crimes tribunal will try senior Jamaat-e-Islami figures for mass murders during Bangladesh’s war of independence.

The Awami League government could take these bold constitutional initiatives because of public support for such actions. No government in Pakistan can dare to undo the constitutional provisions that make the country a religious state. As a matter of fact, democratic and military governments compete with each other to make it more religious. It is hard to envision how long it will take to halt the theocratic onslaught on society. Presently, no political force or institution exists that can usher in modernity and enlightenment in Pakistan. Therefore, Pakistan will remain mired in the web of religious ideology while Bangladesh has a chance to modernise itself. Nonetheless, given the fickle politics of Bangladesh, its future direction is not assured.

Bangladesh can be optimistic about its future because of a multi-religious society and absence of feudalism as an economic order. Luckily or otherwise, Bangladeshi Muslims were mostly peasants while the Hindus constituted the landed aristocracy. The movement for creating Pakistan originated and strengthened in East Bengal because of the Hindu feudal domination. Ironically, the feudals of West Pakistan went along with the Muslim League due to an opposite reason: to save themselves from land reforms that the All India Congress had vowed to enforce. And the Nehru government fulfilled its promise of land reforms very early on.

In the united Pakistan, the eastern wing, led by middle class politicians, had a basic contradiction with the western part, which was largely dominated by the feudals. Punjabi and Sindhi feudals were always scared of Bengali Muslim rule because they could have abolished feudalism. Muslim League was routed in the first election held after independence and the liberal-progressive alliance called Jugto Front was expected to win the 1959 elections. One of the main reasons for Ayub Khan’s martial law was to pre-empt the Jugto Front’s possible government at the Centre. Ayub Khan just delayed the process, because in 1970 the Awami League, a middle class party, swept the elections that led to the independence of Bangladesh.

Like the movement of Pakistan, Bengali Muslims led most of the democratic movements in Pakistan. The separation of East Pakistan took away the most democratic and enlightened force from the country. This is one of the reasons that no significant democratic movement has penetrated in Pakistan after East Bengal broke away in 1971.

In this historical backdrop, one can comprehend how Bangladesh can become a modern, secular state, unencumbered by the landed aristocracy. At present, Pakistan’s per capita of $ 2,600 is much higher than that of Bangladesh’s $ 1,500. However, given the socio-historical trends, Bangladesh may have far better future prospects than Pakistan.

 

[Al-zakir]

WASHINGTON DIARY: Basket case: Pakistan or Bangladesh? —Dr Manzur Ejaz
At present, Pakistan’s per capita of $ 2,600 is much higher than that of Bangladesh’s $ 1,500. However, given the socio-historical trends, Bangladesh may have far better future prospects than Pakistan.

What am I missing here? This is defiantly not true.

 

[DukeOfDefense]

I'm glad BD is secular again, I've learned that secularism is an important factor in a country's ability to prosper people-to-people wise.

Perhaps in 2050, BD may finally accomplish that Switzerland of the East dream

Though as much as our Bangladeshi/Pakistani/Chinese members may not like it, close relations with India are pretty critical. For military, financial, political, geographic, and cultural reasons.

 

[somebozo]

Good to see BD progress!

 

[TopCat]

What am I missing here? This is defiantly not true.

He was referring to PPP. We revised PPP factoring in 2005 which was same as other south asian nation since 1947. PK or India never revised that.

 

[EjazR]

Bangladesh: The better case : HindustanTimes (Blog)

Henry Kissinger, in 1971, dismissed Bangladesh as a nation blighted at its very birth by calling it an “international basket case”.

Kissinger’s “basket case” is now eyeing 8% growth (from 5.8% in the year ended June 30); has pioneered a unique loan model for the poor; is one of the few Muslim-majority nations to pocket the Nobel Prize and last year picked up an award for work on the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. Oops! Sorry about the long sentence. I’d rather blame the long list of laurels instead.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh need not heave a sigh at 25% of Bangladeshis being opposed to India, if the rest 75% offers hope.

Turkey is often the Muslim country the world cites as a possible model for others. Bangladesh is an unsung hero we have much to learn from.

There are many upsides that looked impossible 40 years ago. Bangladesh’s population is rising less slowly than it did; it has achieved almost universal gender parity in primary education and reduced under-5 mortality impressively, according to the UN.

Bangladesh was in 2005 named among 11 developing countries that Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said had the greatest potential for long-term economic success. In an April 2007 report, JP Morgan Chase & Co. named Bangladesh one of the “Frontier Five” markets.

Bangladesh’s garments export totalled $12.3 billion last year, making it fourth in the world. Gerry Weber International AG, Germany’s second-largest maker of women’s clothing, moved production from China to Bangladesh. In March, Florida-based women’s clothier Chico’s FAS Inc. permanently moved some of its sourcing to Bangladesh.

According to The Economist Intelligence Unit, inflows of remittances from Bangladeshis working overseas stood at US$4.5bn in the second half of 2008, representing an increase of 31.1% compared with the year-earlier period.

Bangladesh also ranked 130 among 139 countries for its network of roads, power and ports, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2010.

It’s unfortunate when the West lampoons Bangladesh as “bang-the-dish” and we in India think Bangladesh owes its existence to us.

There was a time when Bangladesh fed eastern India, with its fish and food. It was once the Golden Bengal, where Tagore and poet laureate Kazi Nazrul Islam were born. Then, people from undivided India would migrate to the more fertile and prosperous east Bengal.

The odds are stacked still. Bangladesh, which has seen three major coups and two-dozen violent uprisings since its birth, has had underpinnings by vendetta politics and radical Islam. But few countries have shown the resolve to confront terror and embrace plurality.

Last July, the Supreme Court overturned a 31-year-old constitutional amendment and restored Bangladesh’s founding status as a secular republic. This June, Bangladesh High Court demanded an explanation from the government the legal grounds of keeping Islam as the country’s state religion, amid demands to restore the secular character of 1972 constitution. The two-member bench from which the notice came was symbolic in its composition; it comprised judges Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Gobinda Chandra Tagore, a minority Hindu.

Overall, Bangladesh is a place where remarkable progress has been made. But it is also a country where much progress remains to be made. This needs our appreciation and recognition. Far from being the basket case Kissinger made it out to be, Bangladesh is earnestly trying to emerge as the better case.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Bangladesh has immense potential.

However, given their suicidal instinct for self destruct it is difficult to for them to exploit their potential.

It is happening now and it has happened before when the current Opposition was in Govt.