Eroding Trust,Diminishing Sympathy

From Thai jungles to the Mediterranean sea,
Govt plays deaf to fortune seekers plea.
As inaction causes trouble on foreign shore,
Sympathy for the country is no more.

According to a news report European Union is going to introduce harshest visa policy temporarily for Bangladesh as it failed to deal with illegal Bangladeshis stranded across European countries.Back in 2017,Bangladesh signed an agreement with EU to bring back the illegal Bangladeshi emigrants. As the country failed to live up to its pledges, EU is considering to make harder obtaining the Schengen visa,curbing multiple visa facility, prolong the procedure of getting visa and impose tariff on visas for Bangladeshi diplomats.¹

In the past I wrote a number of pieces---”Need For A William “,”Governance Crisis: From Local Alleys To Foreign Shores”,”Perilous Plight Of Modern Day Vikings”,”A Loosing Scheme”---on human trafficking from Bangladesh and conditions of trapped Bangladeshis abroad. I share some of the nuggets of old pieces here.

In recent years, Bangladeshis topped the list of boat-riding asylum seekers. According to European Union, 93435 Bangladeshis are staying illegally in European countries. Bangladesh strongly contested the figure. According to Ministry of Interior, Italy, 8131 Bangladeshis entered illegally in 2016 and in the first six months of 2017, 8436 Bangladeshis were identified as illegal emigrant^{2 & 3}.

A survey by IOM reveals that on average illegal Bangladeshis paid more than $5,000 to human traffickers to reach Italy taking a perilous boat ride. Dubai-Istanbul-Tripoli turned out to be their preferred route to reach Libya.Traffickers locked them in Libya for one year and forced them to work in homes and restaurants.³

More recently, Tunisian coast guard rescued 443 Bangladeshis from the Mediterranean sea between May 18 and June 10 of this year⁴.

Back in 2018,in USA, Texas news papers were carrying reports how everyday Texas border patrol nabbed illegal Bangladeshis while crossing the Rio Grande river. Casting serious doubts over Bangladesh’s trumpeting of its economic achievements.⁵

Recent addition to human trafficking incident was a Bangladeshi MP who was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment by a Kuwaiti court for human trafficking and money laundering. Not only that many high ranking Kuwaiti officials were also found guilty in such incidents. This insinuates how far and wide such trafficking racket is stretched⁶.

But such mass human trafficking through sea all started in 2014. UNHCR in a report revealed that 25000 Bangladeshis embarked on illegal and risky boat ride to reach Malaysia in the first quarter of 2015. And 5400 illegal fortune seekers were detained in various prisons of the countries bin Asia and Pacific region⁷.

Discovery of mass graves of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Thai-Malaysian jungles and sentence of a Thai General did little to beef-up Bangladeshi efforts to curb the incidence of trafficking.

Sending people abroad is a lucrative trade and government recognizes the industry as “man power business”. There is even a ministry to look after the well beings of the expatriates .

Since it is an industry, all sorts of practices, fair and unfair, are going on here no holds barred. People are so desperate to go to their dream destinations , they are even ready to pay more than the required cost. They are poised to work under harsh conditions and to embrace any situation to make their fortune abroad.

A parasitic class was born out of their desire and desperation. This class exploits the vulnerabilities of would-be foreign workers and share the rents with the corrupt politicians and officials.

Inhumane sufferings of the migrant workers are often ignored as long as remittances are kept coming. Unlike the workers from other countries, the Bangladeshi workers do not find their govt on their sides when they are in trouble in foreign soils.

When a govt evades its responsibility about its own citizens, other countries are less interested to take their responsibility, particularly when the country is not paralyzed by problems.

Govt of Bangladesh is guilty of two counts: first, it allows a modern day slave trade in its soil ; second, it disowns its own citizens when they are in distress³.

As tragedy after tragedy strikes on foreign shore,govt, being guardian and protector of the have-nots, has failed to stop human trafficking.Turning a blind eye to such crime only unfolds bigger catastrophe. Other responsible govts will not sit idle when sheer size of the problem causes unease at their countries. Bilateral relations may survive the twists and turns but sympathy towards Bangladesh may diminish. Suggestion for tougher EU visa policy for Bangladeshis is an indication to that direction.

Notes And References:

1 “Bangladeshider Visae Korakorir Suparish(Harsher Visa Restrictions Suggested On Bangladesh) “,Raheed Ejaj,Daily Prothom Alo,August 27,2021.

2 “Bangladesh Under Threat On EU Visa Restrictions “,Dhaka Tribune,June 25,2017.Link here

3 “Need For A William “,Rezaul Hoque,https://rezaulhoque.wordpress.com,July 31,2021Link here

4 “La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux(11 juin --- 18 juin)”,Rezaul Hoque,https://hoquestake.blogspot.com/

5 “Governance Crisis: From Local Alleys To Foreign Shores”,Rezaul Hoque,https://rezaulhoque.wordpress.com,January 16,2019,Link here

6 “Kuwait: Bangladeshi MP Gets 4 Years In Jail,Fined KD1.9 M For Human Trafficking”,Ramadan Al Sherbini,Gulf News, January 19,2021.Link here

7 “Cries In The Wood”,Rezaul Hoque,https://rezaulhoque.wordpnress.com/,May 14,2015.Link here

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(20 août --- 27 août)

Selon un reportage, coup de tonnerre a tué 9 personnes à Dinajpur et à Sunamganj.

Selon un reportage, la retour de 15 Bangladais depuis Afghanistan n'est pas encore fixée. Attentat suicide a reporté leur vol.

Selon un reportage, un vol de Biman Bangladesh Airlines a fait atterrissage urgence à Nagpur en Inde après un pilote est tombé malade. Il y a été hospitalisé.

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(13 août --- 20 août)

Selon un reportage, des consommateurs ont porté plainte contre une société de cybermarché pour avoir escroqué TK 11 milliards.

Selon un reportage une querelle entre police et fidèles du maire de Borishal ont laissé 110 personnes blessée dont 60 ont été blessées par balles.

Selon un reportage, 3 personnes dont 2 chinois ont été tuées quand un camion a quitté sa voie et basculé dans le fossé à Borguna.

Selon un reportage, Human Rights Watch dans un rapport s’est dit que presque 86 personnes restaient encore disparues au Bangladesh.

Selon un reportage, un naufrage de bateau a laissé 27 Rohingyas disparus au large de Bhachan Tchar.

E-commerce Industry Under Scanner

Another e-commerce company in trouble,
Image of the industry is reduced into rubble.
No honor for gentleman’s agreement,
Hardly brings any foreign investment.

Bangladesh’s e-commerce once again is marred by scam. Another e-commerce platform eorange is on the brink of bankruptcy after consumers filed complaints of Tk 11 billion embezzlement.The owners and officials of the platform had appeared before the court for bail but the court sent them to jail.Angry and deceived clients formed human chain in front of the press club and even blamed an inspector of Banani Police station as he is brother of the owner of eorange¹.

Authorities are already dealing with the complaints of evaly,which does not have enough resources to meet the orders of its clients and clear the bills of its vendors. Its Ponzi-like business model is even rebuked by association of e-commerce platforms.The association disclosed to an online news platform that it would revoke membership of 8/9 platforms out of 19 platforms operating in the country at this moment². This captures the anarchy going on in this sector.The head of Department of Consumer Rights Protection admitted to the online news platform that highest number of complaints was lodged against evaly(4932),followed by eorange².Unlike the two,complaints against other platforms are resolved quickly.

According to Statista,size of Bangladesh’s e-commerce market will become $1.95 billion by the end of this year³.

Evaly scam already shook the industry and eroded consumer trust on such platforms. Bangladesh Bank did a probe and unearthed that evaly had taken advance payments of Tk 213.94 crore from consumers and failed to meet the orders and it owed Tk 189.85 crore from vendors as of March 14,2021⁴.

Following an instruction from Ministry of Commerce,evaly disclosed its total equity and liability is Tk 5.44 billion, of which current plus tangible asset is Tk 1.05 billion and total liability is Tk 4.38 billion⁴.

Many Mobile Financial Services(MFS) stopped providing services to evaly,eorange and others alarmed by too many complaints and due bills⁵. Most of the troubled e-commerce platforms took money in advance from the clients,gave eye-dazzling discounts and then just shrank in the face of overwhelming demands.

It turns out from the online news portal's report that many clients opened multiple accounts to take advantage of huge cash discounts². Back in last year, I wrote a piece titled “Ponzi or E-commerce”  on https://rezaulhoque.WordPress.com to discuss true motive of such platforms.Many compared their operations with multilevel marketing company or running a Ponzi scheme. In the past,such companies ruined millions of people and owners of the companies are serving prison terms or fled abroad.

In our country, surveillance on the misuse of public fund is not adequate. Even automation at public enterprise is delayed to let continue such misuse. Back in September 2019, I wrote a piece where I highlighted the repercussions for holding long such money from public system by citing a news report on delay in launching the planned automated payment system of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation(BPC). BPC is country’s biggest company with annual turnover of TK 500 billion. The planned automation is supposed to cut the payment time to 4 days from 10 months. BPC faced stiff resistance from a certain quarter that does not want to see BPC receives revenues from its oil sales from state-run petroleum products marketing and distribution companies in such a short span of time^{7 8}.

If payments take as long as 10 months to reach BPC coffer, then it is pretty understandable that those who benefited from this delay will leave no stone unturned to strew the road to automation with all kinds of hurdles. Holding BPC’s payments for 10 months , they can invest it to somewhere else and make lots of money. Frankly speaking, they can open 3-month or 6-month-long deposits at banks and earn huge interests. Or they can erect a whole new multi-storey building at any part of Bangladesh. In addition, such time lag also raises the possibility of leakages in the system. A news report revealed that a local company already developed the payment software, but it could not proceed with the scheduled launching due to the resistance from this vested quarter.

By the same token it will not be an exaggeration to insinuate that clients’ money of this upstart company may be misused as it is shy to disclose its details and to advertise widely its services⁶.

It is indeed interesting and puzzling the meteoric growth of these e-commerce platforms.Over the past few years, unemployment rate, cost of living increased and salary in real terms decreased. Pandemic brought to fore a great deal of uncertainty about the future.Meanwhile, there has been few ads of consumer loans offered by the banks.All the sectors except real estate are battered by Corona. Provision of legalizing black money tremendously helped the real estate sector.While consumers hold back their expenses,why is there a buying spree on online e-commerce platforms? There may be something fishy going on here. Government also opened the IT sector as a possible destination of melting the black money. Except evaly,which managed to bag an investment offer of Tk 2 billion from Jamuna Group,no other companies attract such investment. Consumer online commands and outstanding liabilities also raised the suspicion as this money managed to get into the balance sheet.No matter which side of the balance sheet it stays,this money is pretty much in the mainstream now. One knows evaly has to pay Tk 438 crore. It is like valuation of damaged goods in the burning warehouse, a sum like say Tk300 crore(this was exactly what happened in the case of destroyed lighting equipments of a construction company ,renovating the Intercontinental Hotel,in a fire accident in Jessore few years ago).Fate of Tk 300 crore or Tk 438 crore is sealed.

Another thing I noticed that such platforms and covered van service providers do not keep track the weight of goods they are carrying.But the courier companies and postal service record the weight of consignment. Most of the platforms have their own delivery services,may be that’s why they do not keep track of weights. I think regulator authority should make it mandatory for delivery providers to keep records of identity of the good and its weight.

Our financial sector is in limbo partly because of the weird regulations authority introduced and nepotism in the management board. Now we are witnessing it in the e-commerce sector.Clandestine wealth has corrosive effect. It should not be allowed to melt in IT sector. Rumor has it that many platforms expect foreign investment in this sector. In a country where gentleman’s agreement is violated on every occasion and one is judged by his ability to do harm such foreign investment may remain out of reach. Who will come to “Anarchistan”?

Notes And References:

1 “1100 Koti Atmasater Obhijog(Complaint Of Tk 11 Billion Embezzlement)”, Daily Prothom Alo,August 18,2021.

2 “E-Commerce: Ponno Kenar Hiriker Por Ekhon Obhijoger Pahar(E-commerce: Complaint Deluges After Buying Spree)”,Faisal Atik,bdnews24.com,August 19,2021.Link here

3 “E-commerce: Bochhor Sheshe Akar Darabe 16000 Koti Take(E-commerce: A Tk160 Billion Market By The End Of This Year)”,Daily Prothom All,August 08,2021.

4 “Evaly’s Actual Debt Higher Than BB’s Findings”,Abul Kashem,Business Standard,August 19,2021.Link here

5 “Evaly,AleshaMart shoho 10 E-commerce e Lenden Bondho Bikshe(bKash Stops Transaction With evaly,aleshamart and 10 Other e-commerce Platforms) “,bdnews24.com,July 17,2021Link here

6 “Ponzi Or E-commerce?”,Rezaul Hoque,September 09,2020.https://rezaulhoque.WordPress.com.Link here

7 “A Campaign Far From Complete Success”,Rezaul Hoque,September 26,2019 Link here

8 “BPC's ‘Payment Automation' Launch Hits Snag”,Financial Express, June 24,2019.Link here

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(06 août--- 13 août)

Selon un reportage, encore une fois un ferry a percuté un pilier du pont de Padma.

Selon un reportage, la marque de vêtements Global Grands Group,basé au HongKong,s'est mis en faillite dans une cour américaine à New York.

Selon un reportage, la force élite a appréhendé deux enseignants dans un lycée pour avoir tué le directeur.

Selon un reportage, une policière a porté plainte de viol contre son supérieur dans une cour spéciale à Dacca. Son supérieur l'a violée quand ils stationnaient au Soudan dans une mission de casque bleue.

What's In A Name?

Will is there,
Commitment is there,
What’s in a name?
Misadventure doesn’t sound fair,
Even if a crisis no one doesn’t really care.
Stick to the plan even when you get the blame.

A recent initiative by World Bank on helping the stateless Rohingyas has started fresh debate in Bangladesh about the international stand on Rohingya crisis. What is worrying hawkish ideas have reemerged in this debate. World Bank has recently chalked a policy framework to assist management of refugees in 16 countries. The “Refugee Policy Review Framework” drew a lot of criticism as many perceived it a framework to integrate the Rohingyas into Bangladesh in the long run. I have not read yet the framework ,so I abstain from making any comments on it. But Minister of Foreign Affairs strongly objected dubbing the Rohingyas as “refugees” and stressed on their “displaced population or Myanmar nationals” status.¹Too much reliance on multilateral bodies and failure to meet pledges in assisting the Rohingyas are the origins of these grievances. World Bank's country director clarified Bank’s position by saying that the framework aims to assist the “displaced Rohingya population “ until their return to their home,Myanmar¹ The criticism inundates despite the World Bank has clarified its position on the policy framework.

More recently ,Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent its own assessment report to the parliamentary standing committee on foreign relations. The report underscores that Rohingya assistance programs run by UN and Occidental countries could play a catalystic role to integrate the Rohingya in the country and hamper repatriation process². Instead of focusing on repatriation process, donor and UN agencies’ continuous stress on improving the livelihoods at the camps angers the authority. And proposals like land purchase, setting up businesses, job and access to education are deemed as means to rehabilitate the Rohingyas into Bangladeshi society that local policymakers and authority strongly oppose.

But the harshest criticism came from a former foreign secretary who in his opinion column for a daily, run by former editor of communist party paper, condemned the intentions of UN agencies and Occidental donors. In addition, he expressed his dissatisfaction for lack of leadership among the Rohingyas in the camps. He wrote:

”We have to acknowledge that this population needs leadership. There is some kind of leadership in the camps,unfortunately miscreants control it in connivance with local criminals. Foreign organizations and NGOs also put up an alternate leadership but it is loyal to them…Besides,a Pakistan-influenced leadership also exists and it may turn towards a dangerous course of action. Resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan brings it again to the fore. Extreme ideologies are very popular among the Rohingya youth.Success of Taliban may stoke the fire of misadventure.

One of the failures of Bangladesh is not able to create a leadership that reflects Bangladesh’s desires in the camps.Time is not running out,urgent attention is required.

Lastly, what have the 1 million camp-dwelling Rohingyas done to go back to their homelands? They have to fight their own struggles and others can only assist them. No sign is there among them. Are they waiting for angels to send them back to their homeland? No such thing happened to ethnic groups who had been displaced for many reasons.

Following the assumption of power by Myanmar military, NLD and other small parties formed a coalition government. Many ethnic guerrilla groups joined them. But no one recognizes it, even Bangladesh does not recognize it. Bangladesh should not recognize it. But no recognition does not bar one to have contact with such government. Indirect contact could be set up and an understanding should be reached in a bid to resolve the Rohingya crisis. … this government pledged to resolve the Rohingya crisis, no matter how fragile that pledge is,Rohingyas should step forward. Not that every Rohingya will play an armed role,but could play the role of close confident.For the sake of long term interest,Bangladesh needs to play a role to make a close contact between Rohingya and NLD-led coalition government. Small investment could yield better harvest. Nothing guarantees resolving the crisis,but useless it is to miss the chances,be it big or small.”³

Earlier former military bureaucrats saw would-be suicide bombers lurking in the corners of Rohingya camps and drew a grim future for the region if Rohingya crisis remained unresolved. Even some drew parallel between independence struggle of Bangladesh and the Rohingya crisis,but there is a big difference between the two. Former foreign secretary’s concluding remarks slightly echoed that possibility of armed struggles by the Rohingyas. It is worrying that hawkish proposition is gradually gaining support.

I think Bangladesh should abstain from entertaining any armed misadventure to put an end to Rohingya crisis. It will not only harm images of Bangladesh,but will also engender our relationship with our neighbors. Pitfalls lie in such ideas could unsettle and undo any short term gains.Look at Pakistan. Despite being one of the victims of terrorism, its built-in image makes it a less trustworthy partner in international community.Its democratic institutions are in tatters as domestic and foreign policies were decided by others ignoring people’s representatives and the Parliament.

Bangladesh should not tread on that path as such steps may hurt our image and may ostracize us in international community. Moreover,we inked a bilateral deal with Myanmar regarding repatriation of the Rohingyas. Any misadventure may put on hold that process and cost us losing the Myanmar Army that has been in charge of running the country for the last six decades and may do so for the next six decades or so. They are the only powerful institution in that country and has considerable leverages on the country and people. Myanmar as a country is a delicate case in the region. China,Thailand and India all house thousands of ethnic Myanmar groups. But never support directly any armed struggles against the Tatmadaw. And the countries maintain good relations and help it militarily.

Back in April 19,2019, I wrote a piece titled “Stick To The Bilateral Agreement “, here on this site delineating fallout of growing insurgency inside Myanmar. Any chaos or multiple insurgencies in Myanmar is against the interest of Bangladesh. If the insurgency reaches its worst, ethnic groups may engage in fights for dominance. And soon Bangladesh may host another round of refugees.In the unruly Myanmar where Tatmadaw is severely weakened,its waters will become treacherous.

Incidents of piracy may spiral up in the waters through which Bangladesh does maritime trade with the rest of the world(Now risk has increased as couple of Bangladeshi companies’ container carriers transport goods between Chittagong and Malaysian and Singaporean ports).Our export and import may take a hit and inflationary pressure may make lives more difficult here. Clearly, our policy makers and strategic thinkers are not ready for this kind of reality⁴.

There has been a lot of developments in the Rakhine State. Relations between Arakan Army and Tatmadaw thawed and the former may join the government after the next election as promised by the Army-led interim govt. Bangladesh should not back any armed misadventure of Rohingya groups and NLD-led coalition govt. For humanitarian grounds Bangladesh may allow NLD activists to take refuge in the country and let them use it as a transit country to go abroad. This is what Bangladesh is doing for the Rohingyas.There is no wrong in helping another group of displaced Myanmar nationals. But Bangladesh should stay away from lending support to any fratricidal clashes inside Myanmar.

The prolonged nature of the Rohingya crisis makes WB's suggestion for access to education, setting up business, land purchase and access to credit more tenable. The measures will make them less vulnerable to the lures of evil quarters, will empower them and thereby will reduce the risks coming from the camp-dwelling Rohingyas.

Without any mainstream education and livelihood opportunities, there is a risk that they may fall victims of regimented groups by subscribing to non-mainstream education. It will make the Rohingya management much more difficult. No matter which sides of the border the Rohingyas reside in, educated Rohingyas will be true asset for both the countries.

I think the best way to mitigate the Rohingya crisis is to reach out all levels of civilian and military leadership in Myanmar and allow them to reap the benefits of Bangladesh economy. We have several special economic zones under construction and we can easily invite Myanmar investors to invest in these zones. Bangladesh can also modify its banking laws and allow FDI in setting up overseas banks so that Chinese community in Singapore or in Malaysia invest in those banks where Myanmar nationals can do banking with us. As the utility of our deep sea port,special economic zones and economy will grow over time,growing trade relations will play a conducive role in diffusing tensions and existing problems. We should not buy at face value the negative depiction of Tatmadaw in the western media. Despite the western embargoes on them,Bangladesh should allow them to invest in Bangladesh via proxies. Same hold true for other political stakeholders including NLD-led coalition govt. Economic leverage of Bangladesh will help to curb the incidence of drug and to speed up the process of repatriation of the Rohingyas. Container transport, IT and RMG are the areas where the joint ventures of both the countries can take shape. A joint container transport service between Chattogram and Singapore or other Asian ports will benefit both the countries. As the country faces ban, RMG exporters of Myanmar can relocate their factories in Bangladesh. In addition, Myanmar can join Bangladesh’s upcoming very own social media initiative and share its experience of operating a social media with VKontakte in Myanmar.There will be differences in opinions, different threat perceptions but this should not bar the countries to engage in trade and economic activities. Focusing on trade and development instead of cultivating ideas of misadventure holds the key to break the current impasse.

At the moment, it appears that new feud between political stakeholders may further delay the repatriation process. Bangladesh strongly opposes dubbing the Rovingyas “refugee” and insists on that they be called “displaced people”. Suggestions made by WB,which reiterates its commitment towards repatriation, pretty much reflects the reality in the ground. As long as will is there,as long as commitment is there, it is less important how you would like to call a problem. Instead of entertaining conspiracy theories and treading on wrong path towards misadventure, ordinary citizens expect Bangladesh will reaffirm its commitment towards an amicable solution to Rohingya crisis in this testing time.

Notes And References:

1 “Bangladesh Says World Bank's Refugee Framework Does Not Apply To ‘Displaced Rohingya'”,bdnews24.com,August 02,2021.Link here

2 “Rohingyader Sujog Subidha Simito Rakhar Prostab”,Daily Prothom Alo,August 13,2021.

3.”Rohingyader Jatigoto Shodhoner Pokkhe Bishwa Bank?(World Bank For Ethnic Cleansing Of The Rohingyas?)”,Towhid Hossain,Daily Prothom Alo,August 12,2021.

4 “Stick To The Bilateral Agreement “,Rezaul Hoque,April 19,2021. https://hoquestake.blogspot.com/2019/04/stick-to-bilateral-agreement.html?m=1

Flawed Incentive Programs

Corruption in social allowance
Lays bare government incompetence.
Public money in wrong hand
Poses risk and danger for the land.

In recent weeks, series of reports laid bare flaws and inefficiencies attached to social security programs and incentive packages designed to assuage Corona-battered business community. Built-in corruption in management and disbursement of funds of the programs, as exposed by the news reports, once again undermines people’s trust on government at a moment when it badly needed their support to mobilize resources on measures to restore COVID-hit economy.

A news report divulged that Ministry of Social Welfare detected some 87,000 fake beneficiaries who swallowed benefits under social security programs¹. The matter surfaced when the ministry is implementing digitization of accounts of beneficiaries. So far 7.6 million accounts have been digitized and 2 millions await to join the list.

Another program designed to augment income-earning opportunities for the poor has come under criticism after a government report found irregularities. The 12-year-long "Amar Bari ,Amar Khamar( My Home,My Farm)" benefited 5.7 million people,but 1 million beneficiaries were identified as affluent, not eligible for such program². Department of implement ation,monitoring and evaluation of Ministry of Planning in its report found that 1 million ,17% of the total beneficiaries, fake beneficiaries took interest-free credit reserved for the poor under the “Amar Bari,Amar Khamar” Project(2009-2021) ,costing TK 78.85 billion of taxpayer’s money. Some swindled the credit for 12 years.

Not only social security programs, irregularities can be traced even in Corona incentive packages for businessmen. Government allotted credit of Tk 300 billion for big businesses and credit of Tk 150 billion for SMEs at subsidized rate of interest. According to a news report, many businessmen misused the credit by repaying old debts,investing in share market and purchasing flat ³. It derailed the objectives,propelling economic activities, the credit package initially conceived of. Instead of bringing the pace in manufacturing, retail and SME activities, misuse of the fund makes it unlikely to avail more soft credit in the future. So cash-strapped SMEs will face further problems to manage working capitals for their businesses.

Earlier 22000 fake freedom fighters had been detected in freedom fighter allowance program. Facing a barrage of criticism, government hardened the procedures for identifying the true freedom fighters and discarded the fake ones from the list.

Even corruption mars "home for the homeless" project,which is being implemented by Prime Minister’s Office. Use of substandard materials, project site on flood-prone land and bribery called into question the objective of the whole project.Even PM' s office has started probe in 36 upazilas⁴.

My own survey on rickshawpullers for my site reveals that only a minority of the true target population receives the social security programs. I interviewed 43 rickshawpullers and only three subscribed to any of these programs. And all of them were relatives of local representatives who are responsible for running the operations of social security programs at grass root level. ⁵

The revelations expose inefficient management of public funds and waste of taxpayer’s money. This will further hold back widening of social security programs and implementation of post-COVID efforts.

One thing is apparent that most of the scams in social security programs got exposed while digitizing the database. If mobile operators and mobile financial service providers can able to sell SIM and open accounts with biometric verification why can the government not go for this step to identify the beneficiary population?Bangladesh runs an array of social security programs from allowance for senior citizens to allowance for freedom fighters.These programs cost Tk 641.76 billion in 2018-19(Source: Bangladesh Economic Review 2019) and in 2021 rose to Tk 955.74 billion¹. Even tiny scam could wipe out thousands of crores of taxpayer’s money. Seldom heard or reported in the press about the fact that other government agencies had given prior information about murky affairs or shoddy dealings in various programs run by ministries. This fund may fall in wrong hands and may be used to stir trouble at home or abroad or weaken democracy and democratic institutions. So there is no reason to take wasting of taxpayer’s money slightly.

Ensuring accountability of all government organizations is the key to plug the holes in leakages of management of public fund and resources. If this continues without any checks, people’s trust on government and government institutions will erode and their support on undemocratic forces may rise. Just throwing the money in gutters in the name of ineffective social security and corona incentives only swollen the pockets of a certain quarter who excel the art of misappropriating public funds and those who have evil intentions to cause trouble at home and abroad. Amending the laws to hold all the quarters accountable to constitutional bodies is the first step to stem corrupt practices.

Notes And References:

1.”87000 Bhatabhogir Khonj Nei(No Trace of 87000 Beneficiaries)”, Najnin Akhter,Daily Prothom Alo, July 26,2021.

2. “Gorib Sajlen 10 Lakh Sochchhol(1 Million Affluent People Played Poor)”,Arifur Rahman,Daily Prothom Alo,August 02,2021.

3. “Pronodonar Taka Noy Chhoy(Misuse of Incentive Money)”, Daily Prothom Alo,July 26,2021.

4 “ Ashrayan-2 Project Scam: 36 Upazilas Under Scanner”,Ali Asif Shawon, Dhaka Tribune,July 06,2021.Link here

5 “Live Stock”,Rezaul Hoque,https://hoquestake.blogspot.com/2020/01/live-stock.html?m=1,January 11,2020.

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(30 juillet --- 06 août)

Selon un reportage, coup de tonnerre a tué 17 personnes dont 5 femmes à Chapainawabganj,12 personnes ont été aussi blessées.

Selon un reportage, crédit visé pour les pauvres afin d’augmenter leurs ressources a été escroqué. 17% de bénéficiaires n’étaient pas pauvres, constate une enquête gouvernementale.

Selon un reportage, il y a une série d’arrestation des actrices, des mannequins et de patron de la télévision sur internet. La force élite les a accusées d’avoir gardé vin,drogue et chantage. Une vedette de cinéma bangladais a appelé pour l'aide dans facebook pendant l’arrestation.

Selon un reportage, Bangladesh est classé 12ème parmi les pays où beaucoup de gens sont morts à cause de covid-19. Le vendredi, Bangladesh a enregistré 264 morts,le maximum dans un jour. Pendant la semaine dernière ,100.000 patients de covid-19 ont été identifiés.