Flintlock
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Nope, its 400 lakh tonnes. And unless you can prove to me that India intends to use cyclone aid as a bargaining chip, please don't come up with insane theories.
Two BDR troops martyred; 2 Indian BSF killed, several BSF injured..........
- Thread starter BanglaBhoot
- Start date
Nope, its 400 lakh tonnes. And unless you can prove to me that India intends to use cyclone aid as a bargaining chip, please don't come up with insane theories.
BanglaBhoot
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It is impossible for Bangladesh to produce 400 lakhs tons of rice. There is enough proof in the next edition of The India Doctrine out in September.
Flintlock
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Raquib
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Two BDR troops martyred; 2 Indian BSF killed, several BSF injured, BSF speedboat, wireless sets and ammo recovered.
www.bdmilitary.com
www.bdmilitary.com
Raquib
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Two Bangladesh border guards shot dead by India: military
6 hours ago
DHAKA (AFP) — Indian security forces shot dead two Bangladeshi border guards while they were patrolling along the country's northwestern frontier, an official said Friday.
Bangladesh Rifles chief Major General Shakil Ahmed told AFP the two guards suddenly came under attack by the Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) at Thursday midnight.
"They were patrolling along the Bangladesh side of the border in the Chapainawabganj district when the BSF men fired at them. Two of our troops died at the spot," Ahmed said
"We've protested the firing. It's serious border violation by the BSF," he said.
India helped Bangladesh win independence from Pakistan in 1971 but relations in recent years have often been soured by border skirmishes for which both sides blame the other.
They share a 4,095-kilometre (2,539-mile) border which is largely unfenced and their frontier guards often exchange gunfire.
Bangladesh says Indian forces regularly shoot its traders and farmers in the border area, with around 100 being killed in 2007. India says most of those killed were smugglers who intruded into its territory.
India frequently accuses Bangladesh of pushing illegal migrants through the border and harbouring militants fighting Indian rule in its northeast. Dhaka says New Delhi allows Bangladeshi criminals to take refuge on its soil.
In 2001, 16 Indian and three Bangladeshi soldiers were killed in the deadliest border clash between the two sides.
Last October the border forces' chiefs of the two countries met in Dhaka and agreed to scale down the violence.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOYGBl...d-NdDIGR7tmBbCw
6 hours ago
DHAKA (AFP) — Indian security forces shot dead two Bangladeshi border guards while they were patrolling along the country's northwestern frontier, an official said Friday.
Bangladesh Rifles chief Major General Shakil Ahmed told AFP the two guards suddenly came under attack by the Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) at Thursday midnight.
"They were patrolling along the Bangladesh side of the border in the Chapainawabganj district when the BSF men fired at them. Two of our troops died at the spot," Ahmed said
"We've protested the firing. It's serious border violation by the BSF," he said.
India helped Bangladesh win independence from Pakistan in 1971 but relations in recent years have often been soured by border skirmishes for which both sides blame the other.
They share a 4,095-kilometre (2,539-mile) border which is largely unfenced and their frontier guards often exchange gunfire.
Bangladesh says Indian forces regularly shoot its traders and farmers in the border area, with around 100 being killed in 2007. India says most of those killed were smugglers who intruded into its territory.
India frequently accuses Bangladesh of pushing illegal migrants through the border and harbouring militants fighting Indian rule in its northeast. Dhaka says New Delhi allows Bangladeshi criminals to take refuge on its soil.
In 2001, 16 Indian and three Bangladeshi soldiers were killed in the deadliest border clash between the two sides.
Last October the border forces' chiefs of the two countries met in Dhaka and agreed to scale down the violence.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOYGBl...d-NdDIGR7tmBbCw
Last edited:
Raquib
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Indians 'shoot Bangladesh guards'
Bangladeshi border forces say two of their guards have been shot dead by Indian troops near a frontier post.
The incident took place in the north-western district of Chapainawabganj on Thursday night, officials say.
Bangladesh Rifles chief Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed said Indian troops fired without any provocation near the border. He said they had lodged a protest.
India has not commmented. The incident comes a day after the countries foreign secretaries met in Delhi.
India and Bangladesh share a border more than 4,000km long and contentious frontier issues have triggered occasional clashes between.
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Indians 'kill Bangladesh guards'
Bangladeshi border forces say two of their guards have been shot dead by Indian troops near a frontier post.
The incident took place in the north-western district of Chapainawabganj on Thursday night, officials say.
Bangladesh Rifles chief Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed said Indian troops fired without any provocation near the border. He said they had lodged a protest.
India has not commmented. The incident comes a day after the countries foreign secretaries met in Delhi.
India and Bangladesh share a border more than 4,000km long and contentious frontier issues have triggered occasional clashes between.
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Indians 'kill Bangladesh guards'
Raquib
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Indian border guards shoot dead two Bangladeshi border guards Thursday midnight
English_Xinhua 2008-07-18 14:40:01
DHAKA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi authorities alerted the country's northern border after two soldiers of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) were reportedly shot dead by Indian BorderS ecurity Force (BSF) in northern Chapai Nawabganj frontier Thursday midnight.
An official at the BDR Headquarters here confirmed the incident Friday, saying "this is true ... the northern border with India was put on alert."
The senior official who asked not to be named said the Indian BSF entered the Bangladesh territorial water last night while chasing some smugglers by speed boats in the Padma river, one of the three biggest rivers in Bangladesh.
As a BDR patrol team challenged, the Indian BSF opened fire killing two Bangladeshi border guards on the spot. BDR made counter fire forcing the Indian BSF to retreat.
The gun fight between the border guards of the two South Asian neighbors took place as the foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and India are holding meeting in New Delhi to resolve various bilateral issues including the border demarcation and prevent cross-border smuggling.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/...ent_8568434.htm
English_Xinhua 2008-07-18 14:40:01
DHAKA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi authorities alerted the country's northern border after two soldiers of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) were reportedly shot dead by Indian BorderS ecurity Force (BSF) in northern Chapai Nawabganj frontier Thursday midnight.
An official at the BDR Headquarters here confirmed the incident Friday, saying "this is true ... the northern border with India was put on alert."
The senior official who asked not to be named said the Indian BSF entered the Bangladesh territorial water last night while chasing some smugglers by speed boats in the Padma river, one of the three biggest rivers in Bangladesh.
As a BDR patrol team challenged, the Indian BSF opened fire killing two Bangladeshi border guards on the spot. BDR made counter fire forcing the Indian BSF to retreat.
The gun fight between the border guards of the two South Asian neighbors took place as the foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and India are holding meeting in New Delhi to resolve various bilateral issues including the border demarcation and prevent cross-border smuggling.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/...ent_8568434.htm
Raquib
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2 BDR guards gunned down by BSF
Border security put on high alert
Star Report
The Border Security Force of India (BSF) shot dead two Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) soldiers at Raghunathpur border under Shibganj upazila in Chainawabganj early yesterday intruding into Bangladesh territory, sparking off tension at all frontiers around the country.
The killings coincided with foreign-secretary level talks between the two neighboring countries in New Delhi, and took place just hours after both sides on Thursday pledged more cooperation in enhancing cross-border trade and security.
BDR officials said BSF guards opened fired on their personnel when they challenged the latter for illegally entering about 1,300 yards into Bangladesh territory shortly after Thursday midnight.
A group of BSF guards from Neemtita camp under Murshidabad district entered Bangladesh crossing the River Padma on a speedboat and walked over a risen shoal to Raghunathpur village of Durlobhpur union under Shibganj upazila near pillar No 110.
Being informed, a patrol team of BDR from Raghunathpur border post led by Habilder Abdul Hannan Sarker rushed to the village and challenged the intruding BSF men for violating the line of control, reported our Chapainawabganj correspondent.
Two BSF bullets hit Hannan while six hit Lance Nayek Krishnopodo Saha as BSF men suddenly opened fire on them, killing them instantly.
Forces from the 39th rifles battalion later recovered the body of Hannan, 55 of Kritunia Durgahat village under Gabtoli in Bogra, and of Saha, 28, of Kholabari Shimakhali village under Shalikha upazila in Magura.
The bodies of the slain BDR soldiers were sent to their homes after post-mortem in Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital.
Our staff correspondent from Rajshahi reported quoting a villager Atul Gani that the bodies were recovered from a pool of blood. "Blood marks were also on the trail of BSF men's escape path," said the villager.
Immediately after the killings, BDR retaliated with full force trading over 200 rounds of shots with BSF for about an hour.
"BSF intruded illegally and opened fire without any provocation," Director (Operation and Training) of BDR Col Abdul Halim told a hurriedly arranged news briefing at BDR Headquarters in Dhaka.
"In the face of BDR's counter attack, the BSF men fled leaving their speedboat behind," Halim said adding that they also arrested an Indian national from the spot.
"We've been informed that a BSF member also died in the gunfight," he told reporters. "The incident could have been prevented had the BSF not opened fire."
BDR strongly protested the incident. "It's a serious border violation by BSF," Lt Col Golam Kibria Md Neyamatullah, commanding officer (CO) of the 39th battalion, told The Daily Star.
BDR members seized the speedboat left by intruding BSF personnel, a walkie-talkie, a BSF cap, and bullet casings from the scene.
Terming the killings of BDR personnel by BSF a serious incident, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said Dhaka will protest to Delhi after getting a full probe report.
"We consider the murders a serious incident," Iftekhar told The Daily Star yesterday afternoon.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement condemned the killings.
BDR high officials including Commander of Rajshahi Sector Col Mohammad Iqbal, and the CO of the 39th battalion visited the spot yesterday morning.
The killings stirred tensions at other frontiers also where BDR deployed reinforcements ordering them to remain on high alert.
Our correspondents from bordering districts said reinforcements were made at the borders and were kept alert since the morning. Residents of border areas were also seen on guard shoulder to shoulder with BDR personnel.
BDR also warned villagers and farmers of border areas to refrain from going to zero point areas for cultivation. An uneasy calm has been prevailing at the frontiers.
BDR said BSF continues to fire on Bangladesh border guards and unarmed civilians despite repeated commitments in different forums for showing restraint and maintaining peace and harmony at the border.
source: BSF murders BDR Men
Border security put on high alert
Star Report
The Border Security Force of India (BSF) shot dead two Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) soldiers at Raghunathpur border under Shibganj upazila in Chainawabganj early yesterday intruding into Bangladesh territory, sparking off tension at all frontiers around the country.
The killings coincided with foreign-secretary level talks between the two neighboring countries in New Delhi, and took place just hours after both sides on Thursday pledged more cooperation in enhancing cross-border trade and security.
BDR officials said BSF guards opened fired on their personnel when they challenged the latter for illegally entering about 1,300 yards into Bangladesh territory shortly after Thursday midnight.
A group of BSF guards from Neemtita camp under Murshidabad district entered Bangladesh crossing the River Padma on a speedboat and walked over a risen shoal to Raghunathpur village of Durlobhpur union under Shibganj upazila near pillar No 110.
Being informed, a patrol team of BDR from Raghunathpur border post led by Habilder Abdul Hannan Sarker rushed to the village and challenged the intruding BSF men for violating the line of control, reported our Chapainawabganj correspondent.
Two BSF bullets hit Hannan while six hit Lance Nayek Krishnopodo Saha as BSF men suddenly opened fire on them, killing them instantly.
Forces from the 39th rifles battalion later recovered the body of Hannan, 55 of Kritunia Durgahat village under Gabtoli in Bogra, and of Saha, 28, of Kholabari Shimakhali village under Shalikha upazila in Magura.
The bodies of the slain BDR soldiers were sent to their homes after post-mortem in Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital.
Our staff correspondent from Rajshahi reported quoting a villager Atul Gani that the bodies were recovered from a pool of blood. "Blood marks were also on the trail of BSF men's escape path," said the villager.
Immediately after the killings, BDR retaliated with full force trading over 200 rounds of shots with BSF for about an hour.
"BSF intruded illegally and opened fire without any provocation," Director (Operation and Training) of BDR Col Abdul Halim told a hurriedly arranged news briefing at BDR Headquarters in Dhaka.
"In the face of BDR's counter attack, the BSF men fled leaving their speedboat behind," Halim said adding that they also arrested an Indian national from the spot.
"We've been informed that a BSF member also died in the gunfight," he told reporters. "The incident could have been prevented had the BSF not opened fire."
BDR strongly protested the incident. "It's a serious border violation by BSF," Lt Col Golam Kibria Md Neyamatullah, commanding officer (CO) of the 39th battalion, told The Daily Star.
BDR members seized the speedboat left by intruding BSF personnel, a walkie-talkie, a BSF cap, and bullet casings from the scene.
Terming the killings of BDR personnel by BSF a serious incident, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said Dhaka will protest to Delhi after getting a full probe report.
"We consider the murders a serious incident," Iftekhar told The Daily Star yesterday afternoon.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement condemned the killings.
BDR high officials including Commander of Rajshahi Sector Col Mohammad Iqbal, and the CO of the 39th battalion visited the spot yesterday morning.
The killings stirred tensions at other frontiers also where BDR deployed reinforcements ordering them to remain on high alert.
Our correspondents from bordering districts said reinforcements were made at the borders and were kept alert since the morning. Residents of border areas were also seen on guard shoulder to shoulder with BDR personnel.
BDR also warned villagers and farmers of border areas to refrain from going to zero point areas for cultivation. An uneasy calm has been prevailing at the frontiers.
BDR said BSF continues to fire on Bangladesh border guards and unarmed civilians despite repeated commitments in different forums for showing restraint and maintaining peace and harmony at the border.
source: BSF murders BDR Men
Goodperson
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India had put ban on rice export due to spiralling prices at home. However it lifted ban for bangladesh becuase of promise made by Pranav Mukherjee.
India resumes rice export to Bangladesh- Foreign Trade-Economy-News-The Economic Times
15 Jul, 2008, 1239 hrs IST, PTI
Now please do not twist the facts and say India did this for arm twisting Bangladesh.
Bangladesh still has rights to say No Thanks !!!
India resumes rice export to Bangladesh- Foreign Trade-Economy-News-The Economic Times
15 Jul, 2008, 1239 hrs IST, PTI
Now please do not twist the facts and say India did this for arm twisting Bangladesh.
Bangladesh still has rights to say No Thanks !!!
Raquib
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Dhaka condemns killings, terms the incident most serious
Staff Correspondent
The foreign ministry condemned the killings of two Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Chapainawabganj frontier early yesterday.
"We consider the incident as most serious and condemn the killings of the two BDR personnel," a foreign ministry statement issued last night said, referring to a spokesman of the ministry.
It said the BDR authorities will take up the matter with their Indian counterparts. "At present, we are waiting for the detail report of the situation."
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury earlier told The Daily Star that Dhaka was waiting for a full report and will react more appropriately after getting the details of the incident.
"Now we are praying for the salvation of the departed souls of the two brave Bangladeshi soldiers," the adviser said, condoling members of the bereaved families.
Iftekhar said the home ministry will carry out an investigation and submit a report to the foreign ministry, but he did not give any timeframe for that.
A group of BSF soldiers intruded into Bangladesh territory and shot dead two BDR personnel when they challenged the Indian border guards for illegal trespassing.
The killings took place soon after Bangladesh and India following a foreign-secretary level bilateral talk in New Delhi on Thursday gave highest importance to extending more cooperation in enhancing trade between the two neighbouring countries and in fighting terrorism.
:The Daily Star: Internet Edition
Staff Correspondent
The foreign ministry condemned the killings of two Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Chapainawabganj frontier early yesterday.
"We consider the incident as most serious and condemn the killings of the two BDR personnel," a foreign ministry statement issued last night said, referring to a spokesman of the ministry.
It said the BDR authorities will take up the matter with their Indian counterparts. "At present, we are waiting for the detail report of the situation."
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury earlier told The Daily Star that Dhaka was waiting for a full report and will react more appropriately after getting the details of the incident.
"Now we are praying for the salvation of the departed souls of the two brave Bangladeshi soldiers," the adviser said, condoling members of the bereaved families.
Iftekhar said the home ministry will carry out an investigation and submit a report to the foreign ministry, but he did not give any timeframe for that.
A group of BSF soldiers intruded into Bangladesh territory and shot dead two BDR personnel when they challenged the Indian border guards for illegal trespassing.
The killings took place soon after Bangladesh and India following a foreign-secretary level bilateral talk in New Delhi on Thursday gave highest importance to extending more cooperation in enhancing trade between the two neighbouring countries and in fighting terrorism.
:The Daily Star: Internet Edition
Raquib
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India, Bangladesh ties tested by border shootouts
Dhaka-Bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh suffered a low after the border forces of the two neighbours traded gunfire killing at least six people at the weekend, diplomatic sources said Sunday. A spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Dhaka said the government lodged a strong protest with India over the border skirmish in the Chapai-Nawabganj sector in north-western Bangladesh.
The shootout resulted in the death of two soldiers of the Bangladesh Rifles paramilitary frontier brigade, and one member of the Indian Border Security Force.
A Bangladeshi farmer living close to the border was also killed in the crossfire Saturday, the spokesman said.
The Foreign Ministry blamed Indian border authorities for provoking the incident.
Two Bangladeshi nationals were also killed by Indian forces in another border flare-up in western Jessore sector, local BDR commander Mosharraf Hossain said.
India and Bangladesh share more 4,000 kilometres of porous border, plagued by crime including human trafficking and smuggling of illegal arms.
Cocoa Tofu Smoothie. Bodybuilding, bodyshaping and Fitness : Health
Dhaka-Bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh suffered a low after the border forces of the two neighbours traded gunfire killing at least six people at the weekend, diplomatic sources said Sunday. A spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Dhaka said the government lodged a strong protest with India over the border skirmish in the Chapai-Nawabganj sector in north-western Bangladesh.
The shootout resulted in the death of two soldiers of the Bangladesh Rifles paramilitary frontier brigade, and one member of the Indian Border Security Force.
A Bangladeshi farmer living close to the border was also killed in the crossfire Saturday, the spokesman said.
The Foreign Ministry blamed Indian border authorities for provoking the incident.
Two Bangladeshi nationals were also killed by Indian forces in another border flare-up in western Jessore sector, local BDR commander Mosharraf Hossain said.
India and Bangladesh share more 4,000 kilometres of porous border, plagued by crime including human trafficking and smuggling of illegal arms.
Cocoa Tofu Smoothie. Bodybuilding, bodyshaping and Fitness : Health
BanglaBhoot
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India resumed and then stopped rice export to Bangladesh almost 15 times since November 2007. The July 15, 2008 report is merely the most recent resumption. I would suggest that you stop twisting the facts. The on-off rice export clearly demonstrates India's arm twisting. 
As for figures the following report should show that Bangladesh cannot produce 400 lakh tons of rice.
Yes Shiekh Mujib was wrong about the numbers who were killed in the 1971 war but why would an Indian highlight the fact.
By The Numbers
Spectre of global hunger
A.N.M. Nurul Haque
SOARING food prices have emerged as a problem of grave concern not only for Bangladesh alone, but also for many other countries. The World Food Program (WFP), the UN agency in charge of alleviating global hunger, may soon be forced to consider rationing food aid because of rising prices.
Josette Sheeran, the executive director of WFP, while speaking recently to the Financial Times in London said that if WFP donors did not contribute more money, the agency would have to look at "cutting the food rations or even the number of people reached." She told the business daily that the WFP was seeing a new face of hunger affecting a wide range of countries, pointing to Indonesia, Yemen and Mexico in particular.
According to a UN source, 20 African countries are facing severe food crisis. Most of these countries have already spent up to 80% of their national income for importing foodstuff. The WFP launched an extraordinary emergency appeal to donor countries recently for at least $500 million by the end of April to meet global shortfalls of food grains, which includes a $15 million shortage in emergency food aid to Bangladesh.
Ban Ki-moon, the UNSG, in a recent article titled "The new face of global hunger," says, "The price of basic staples -- wheat, corn, rice -- are at record heights, up 50 percent or more in the last six months. Global food stocks are at historic lows The effects are widely seen. Food riots have erupted in countries from West Africa to South Asia."
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN has put Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan on the list of 37 countries facing food crisis and requiring external assistance. In the list released recently, the FAO urged the governments and the international community to take immediate measures to help the poor countries hit hard by food price increases.
The Global Index of Hunger has given Bangladesh 28.27, India 25.73, Nepal 24.25, Pakistan 21.77 and Sri Lanka 16.63 points. Bangladesh has been placed at 97th position among 119 countries in the index. This reveals that Bangladesh is in the worst position in respect of food security among the Asian countries.
The statistics released by the Bangladesh Bank on March 12 says that rice import has increased by 600% in quantity and 1000% in price in the first eight months of the fiscal year. 1,795 million tons of rice was imported between July and the first week of March, which was 613% more than that of the same period last year. The country had to spend $ 642 million only for rice import during the time, as against $55.57 million in the same period in the last fiscal year.
The finance adviser said on Mach 20 that the present foreign currency reserve that rose to over $6 billion, was not too big in view of the increased bills for rice import. Until March 15 of the current fiscal year, total rice import stood at 30 lakh tons, which is six lakh tons higher than the total import of 24 lakh tons in the last fiscal year.
The price spiral of rice has triggered a supply and demand crunch that is hurting some of the Asia's most needy countries including Bangladesh, forcing them to spend more on rice import. The Philippines produced 6.44 million tons of rice in 2007, and is expected to import two million tons in 2008. Production of rice in Indonesia was 57 million tons in 2007, and it imported 1.5 million tons.
Bangladesh imports rice from India, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, but that is becoming increasingly restricted. India finds rich buyers in the Middle East for its Basmati rice and avoids the East Asian countries. India, after vigorous persuasion, earmarked five lakh tons of rice for export to Bangladesh. But it increased the price to $505 from $425 per ton.
Vietnam has set the rice price at $460 per ton, which is a rise of more than 50% from a year ago. Much of the exportable rice of Vietnam is destined for the Philippines, and President Gloria Arroyo asked Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung last month to guarantee stable supply. Thailand is now selling its rice for more than $500 a ton, which was only $325 a year ago.
Bangladesh produced 100.46 lakh tons of both rice and wheat in 1971-72. It attained self-sufficiency in food in 1999-2000, when the country's gross production in rice and wheat reached 249 lakh tons. Rice, the main staple food, provides 93 percent of the country's total cereal intake, while only 7% comes from other cereals.
According to a government calculation, the country needs 255 lakh tons in 2007-08 for the population of 140 million, taking 495.04 grams per capita and per day intake of food grains. The government has set the food production target at 254 lakh tons for this fiscal year. The country will need to import nearly 3.5 million tons food grains in 2008, following a big output shortfall due to floods and cyclone.
Food grain production reached nearly 268 lakh tons in 2000-2001, which was the country's highest food production since independence. But the increasing trend of food production could not be sustained, and it decreased to 259 lakh tons in 2001-02.
The spectre of global hunger is affecting a wide range of countries in Asia and Africa. Bangladesh is likely to join the band soon. Global food stocks are at historic lows. China, Japan and South Korea, which are largely self-sufficient, are protecting their rice sectors by imposing steep import tariff or providing heavy subsidies.
Countries like India, Myanmar, Brazil, Egypt and Ukraine have chosen to desist from exporting food grains in order to meet their own growing demands. The Indian agriculture minister has said that his country would become one of the largest importers of food grains by 2011.
Bangladesh has no other way but to go all-out for increasing food production at optimum level to evade the threat of global hunger. The farmers must be motivated enough to keep themselves fully engaged in food production, and the government agencies must be sincere in supporting them with stable supplies of seeds, credit, fertiliser, and power for irrigation.
The recently formed core committee, headed by the chief adviser, should also ensure timely availability of all basic inputs to farmers at a fair price to reduce the high cost of production.
:The Daily Star: Internet Edition
As for figures the following report should show that Bangladesh cannot produce 400 lakh tons of rice.
Yes Shiekh Mujib was wrong about the numbers who were killed in the 1971 war but why would an Indian highlight the fact.
By The Numbers
Spectre of global hunger
A.N.M. Nurul Haque
SOARING food prices have emerged as a problem of grave concern not only for Bangladesh alone, but also for many other countries. The World Food Program (WFP), the UN agency in charge of alleviating global hunger, may soon be forced to consider rationing food aid because of rising prices.
Josette Sheeran, the executive director of WFP, while speaking recently to the Financial Times in London said that if WFP donors did not contribute more money, the agency would have to look at "cutting the food rations or even the number of people reached." She told the business daily that the WFP was seeing a new face of hunger affecting a wide range of countries, pointing to Indonesia, Yemen and Mexico in particular.
According to a UN source, 20 African countries are facing severe food crisis. Most of these countries have already spent up to 80% of their national income for importing foodstuff. The WFP launched an extraordinary emergency appeal to donor countries recently for at least $500 million by the end of April to meet global shortfalls of food grains, which includes a $15 million shortage in emergency food aid to Bangladesh.
Ban Ki-moon, the UNSG, in a recent article titled "The new face of global hunger," says, "The price of basic staples -- wheat, corn, rice -- are at record heights, up 50 percent or more in the last six months. Global food stocks are at historic lows The effects are widely seen. Food riots have erupted in countries from West Africa to South Asia."
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN has put Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan on the list of 37 countries facing food crisis and requiring external assistance. In the list released recently, the FAO urged the governments and the international community to take immediate measures to help the poor countries hit hard by food price increases.
The Global Index of Hunger has given Bangladesh 28.27, India 25.73, Nepal 24.25, Pakistan 21.77 and Sri Lanka 16.63 points. Bangladesh has been placed at 97th position among 119 countries in the index. This reveals that Bangladesh is in the worst position in respect of food security among the Asian countries.
The statistics released by the Bangladesh Bank on March 12 says that rice import has increased by 600% in quantity and 1000% in price in the first eight months of the fiscal year. 1,795 million tons of rice was imported between July and the first week of March, which was 613% more than that of the same period last year. The country had to spend $ 642 million only for rice import during the time, as against $55.57 million in the same period in the last fiscal year.
The finance adviser said on Mach 20 that the present foreign currency reserve that rose to over $6 billion, was not too big in view of the increased bills for rice import. Until March 15 of the current fiscal year, total rice import stood at 30 lakh tons, which is six lakh tons higher than the total import of 24 lakh tons in the last fiscal year.
The price spiral of rice has triggered a supply and demand crunch that is hurting some of the Asia's most needy countries including Bangladesh, forcing them to spend more on rice import. The Philippines produced 6.44 million tons of rice in 2007, and is expected to import two million tons in 2008. Production of rice in Indonesia was 57 million tons in 2007, and it imported 1.5 million tons.
Bangladesh imports rice from India, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, but that is becoming increasingly restricted. India finds rich buyers in the Middle East for its Basmati rice and avoids the East Asian countries. India, after vigorous persuasion, earmarked five lakh tons of rice for export to Bangladesh. But it increased the price to $505 from $425 per ton.
Vietnam has set the rice price at $460 per ton, which is a rise of more than 50% from a year ago. Much of the exportable rice of Vietnam is destined for the Philippines, and President Gloria Arroyo asked Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung last month to guarantee stable supply. Thailand is now selling its rice for more than $500 a ton, which was only $325 a year ago.
Bangladesh produced 100.46 lakh tons of both rice and wheat in 1971-72. It attained self-sufficiency in food in 1999-2000, when the country's gross production in rice and wheat reached 249 lakh tons. Rice, the main staple food, provides 93 percent of the country's total cereal intake, while only 7% comes from other cereals.
According to a government calculation, the country needs 255 lakh tons in 2007-08 for the population of 140 million, taking 495.04 grams per capita and per day intake of food grains. The government has set the food production target at 254 lakh tons for this fiscal year. The country will need to import nearly 3.5 million tons food grains in 2008, following a big output shortfall due to floods and cyclone.
Food grain production reached nearly 268 lakh tons in 2000-2001, which was the country's highest food production since independence. But the increasing trend of food production could not be sustained, and it decreased to 259 lakh tons in 2001-02.
The spectre of global hunger is affecting a wide range of countries in Asia and Africa. Bangladesh is likely to join the band soon. Global food stocks are at historic lows. China, Japan and South Korea, which are largely self-sufficient, are protecting their rice sectors by imposing steep import tariff or providing heavy subsidies.
Countries like India, Myanmar, Brazil, Egypt and Ukraine have chosen to desist from exporting food grains in order to meet their own growing demands. The Indian agriculture minister has said that his country would become one of the largest importers of food grains by 2011.
Bangladesh has no other way but to go all-out for increasing food production at optimum level to evade the threat of global hunger. The farmers must be motivated enough to keep themselves fully engaged in food production, and the government agencies must be sincere in supporting them with stable supplies of seeds, credit, fertiliser, and power for irrigation.
The recently formed core committee, headed by the chief adviser, should also ensure timely availability of all basic inputs to farmers at a fair price to reduce the high cost of production.
:The Daily Star: Internet Edition
Goodperson
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India banned the exports to stem domestic prices, Bangladesh got affected because of dependency on Indian rice.
India lifted export restriction only for bangladesh as humanitarian gesture.
I purposefully put dates of article its 15 Jul, 2008, 1239 hrs IST, PTI.
I stopped reading your article as it dates few months back.
Get over pre-notioned hatred.
India lifted export restriction only for bangladesh as humanitarian gesture.
I purposefully put dates of article its 15 Jul, 2008, 1239 hrs IST, PTI.
I stopped reading your article as it dates few months back.
Get over pre-notioned hatred.
Vinod2070
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India resumed and then stopped rice export to Bangladesh almost 15 times since November 2007. The July 15, 2008 report is merely the most recent resumption. I would suggest that you stop twisting the facts. The on-off rice export clearly demonstrates India's arm twisting.
Even if India is arm twisting you as you say, what is there to jump around! We didn't instruct you to do that.
Reminds me of the ancestors of human beings.
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