Republic Of Plunderers And Parasites-II

What an spectacle of independence!
Inequality,discrimination bury its essence.
There is growing sign of parasitism.
Citizens see no sign of optimism.
As cruel toddler treats its pet,
Smart elites flee abroad to secure their fate.

Back in December 19,2020,I penned a piece titled “Republic Of Plunderers And Parasites” on this site(https://hoquestake.blogspot.com/2020/12/republic-of-plunderers-parasites.html?m=1).Reproducing it again as Bangladesh celebrates its independence day.

As Bangladesh steps towards celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, dissimilarities, discrimination, injustice and inequality it fought 50 years ago become more shockingly visible. Cheerleading for overpriced infrastructure projects, where contributions of Bangladeshi companies are infinitesimal and whose implementation are dominated by foreign companies, boasts jingoistic attitude that has little impact on vernacular life of common people. Embryonic zeal of self-determination has turned into parasitism. No short of excuses to misappropriate public money. From private companies to individuals,all depend on government money for survival. This trend could be found from social security expenditures to incentives for business. Even parasitism has become endemic in individual life. A rent-seeking class has emerged, exploiting others' hard earned income. Land grabbing, forest grabbing, extortion, squeezing father-in-law (sometimes brother/sister-in-law or in-laws in general) whenever odd situation strikes have become common practice in order to prosper in personal life.(Nowadays stealing someone's creative work, article, plagiarism are also becoming pretty common; another indication of growing sign of parasitism). Four decades ago ,these things could be viewed as taboo and criminal act. Now they become integral part of Bengali's DNA.Even a decade ago , extortion in the name of " Mukh Mithai"(Sweetening Mouth) was seen as serious transgression. Now everyone gets used to it!

No government spokesman, partisan expert, government statistical pocket book will ever publish this unpleasant truth. Unfortunately this is the reality stands before us in 2020.

There has been delay in publication of Household Income Expenditures Report, which has little credibility. I personally found data mismatches in annual report of Bangladesh Bank and on website of Board of Investment. I also found anomalies in PDF versions of statistical pocket books. Why does a successful and confident government want to hide and fidget data?

Today's Bangladesh contravenes breaking up of Pakistani feudal structure. In fact, feudalism is consolidated in Bangladesh. Wealth has amassed into the hands of few people. Bangladesh outperforms other countries in generating super rich. From DTH service to COVID vaccination program, all are being done by powerful cronies. During the lockdown, I took notice of a news item that revealed that family members of a former minister and businessman left Bangladesh for London on a chartered plane. Former opposition party minister turned out to be relative of ruling party crony through the marriage of their son and daughter.Months after months staffs of former minister's cell phone company demonstrated on the streets for their dues after the company had been incapacitated by lack of bank credit and government cooperation. The former minister and his son already laundered huge money in Singapore. In my earlier piece, I elaborated how mismanagement and corruption in the banks contributed to piling up of Non Performing Loans (NPL).

In rural village, poor people sell their meagre land to loan sharks or local elites in order to go abroad to make a fortune. Policy change, deception, international crisis often lead them to lose their land. Rural land, due to presence of erroneous land dispute settlement, are concentrated into the hands of few powerful people.

Five decades ago, when we got liberated from Pakistan, we owe to Pakistan around $ 5 billion. Now more than $ 5 billion , some estimates put the figure somewhere around $15 billion, are laundered from Bangladesh every year. So Bangladeshis outdid the Pakistanis exploiting the local economy and laundering wealth abroad.Sense of insecurity and hopelessness have increased in magnitude in five decades. Where is the progress in independent Bangladesh?

Three or four decades ago Bangladeshi constructors and engineers built roads and utility lines in Middle East and Maghreb.Now Libyan coast is washed away with Bangladeshi migrants who are desperate to take a perilous boat ride to Europe. Just couple of months ago, Reuters carried out a special story on stranded Bangladeshi in Bosnian jungles.Even in Pakistani period, when poverty was so abject, people did not flee the country in drove. Why are so many people fleeing abroad clandestinely from independent and prosperous country?

Business malpractices also reach worrying level. Earlier adulterating milk with water was prevalent. Now no business is without malpractice. Digital weighing scale is deliberately tempered to give less amount of goods to consumers. Mobile data pack and other services often do not yield the promised amount. Since it is hard to fathom the true consumed value, such malpractices often go unnoticed. Bus fare, auto fare are artificially hiked to whiten black money.

During the colonial time our educational institutions produced brightest minds and there was liberty in freedom of expression.Had there been no freedom of expression, Bengali language would not get the status as it is enjoying now and our struggle to independence would not culminate into full blown armed struggle.

There had been skirmishes and assault on teachers. But now students and teachers both lost their lives in campus. Even teachers cannot speak their minds in campus. Prof Ajoy Roy who taught several decades at Dhaka University despite repeated pleas from relatives in Kolkata to settle there had to bear the news of his son's killing at the university premises. Prof Humayun Azad, one of the brilliant linguists both Bengals ever produced, was attacked with machete at the university. His son on several occasions was also assaulted at the university.They were attacked for expressing their views and speaking their minds.

Same kind of incidents were purported in other universities.

In the Pakistani period, even undergraduate of a mofussil town knew three languages--- Urdu, English, Bengali--- and wrote impeccable English. From the autobiography of historian Tapan Raychaudhuri I came to learn that a library in Borishal even ordered French book from foreign publishers because there were readers in that village¹. We do not have that kind of libraries or independent book shop now.

Back then university produced graduates whose ideas and innovation found global platform and audience. Composite material that was used to build F-15 fighter jet, a reliable platform for many Air Forces, was the brain child of a Dhaka University chemistry graduate. Quantum statistics, which revolutionized scientific analysis, was born at the Curzon Hall in Dhaka University.

Now Pakistani universities assemble their own satellite, excel in reverse engineering , build jet prototypes.

Where are we now? Is there really any intellectual advancement in Bangladesh?

I do not understand why in a well functioning economy there is a silent invasion of drugs. Today yaba or methamphetamine market in Bangladesh is worth $5 billion. The autobiography of veteran journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury shed some light on the tobacco related business in the Pakistani period. Back then 1 million people were employed in "Tendu Pata"(tobacco leaf) related business². Now hardly any business or vocation left where drug money is not invested.

The whole real estate sector is thriving on undocumented money. Government does not question origin of the money invested in real estate sector. Buying and selling flat have become popular mode of legalizing black money as less paperwork is required.Politics has become more violent as black money finds safe sanctuary in politics. Back in pre-independence days , this was unthinkable. Seasoned politicians had some principles back then.

Last leg of Pakistani period witnessed a boom in setting up educational institutions across Bangladesh. Now we see a contest to set up religious seminaries across Bangladesh on empty government lands. Such seminaries guarantee steady stream of revenues from devotees and government does not ask for any explanation how the donation money is spent. In addition, setting up such seminaries brings lucrative donations from Middle Eastern countries. So there is a rat race to become member of the management committee of religious seminaries.

Now there is no public service job quota for women. Stipend program for women is slashed. Minimum marriage age for woman is lowered. Literary works by writers of other faiths are taken off from school text books. Where are we heading ten years later?Should there be any reason to remain complacent?

Bangladeshi rulers have proved that they are the worst rulers than the English and the Pakistanis. Compared to the Bengalis, they were farsighted and compassionate. That was why they built institutions. Bengali rulers treat their citizens like a sadistic toddler treats its pet.All their efforts end up making the country a nightmarish hell.Smart ones among the ruling elites purchase foreign identity. And for the commoners, there is no escape from this republic of sadistic plunderers and parasites.

Notes And References:

1 “Bangalnama”,Tapan Raychaudhuri, P-74,Ananda Publishers Limited,May 2007.

2 “Dhirey Bohey Buriganga(Gently Flows The Buriganga -First Part)”, Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury,P-63, Josna Publishers,February 2000.

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(18 mars --- 25 mars)

Selon un reportage, il y a une épidémie de diarrhée au Bangladesh. Dans l' hôpital spécialisé, plus de 1000 patients ont été hôpitalisés chaque jour. Personne n'est morte jusqu’au 25 mars.

Selon un reportage, la société informatique suisse IQAIR est classé Bangladesh le pays le plus pollué dans le monde en 2021. Dhaka est devenu 2ème parmi les villes où l’air est assez polluée.

Selon un reportage, 3 membres de Mogh Liberation Party ont été tués par balles à Rangamati.

BB Detects More Suspicious Transaction

Central bank detects transaction suspicious
Not all indicate act malicious.
Growth of mobile financial service
Hardly brings offer for local ICT office.

Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit(BFIU) of Bangladesh Bank in its annual report claims that it has detected 5280 suspicious transactions in 2020-21. In 2018-19,suspicious transactions were 3675. BFIU notes that the growth in suspicious transactions is mostly due to fraudulent and multilevel marketing activities of e-commerce platforms. Banks have reported 4495 suspicious transactions during this period,financial institutions and exchange houses have reported the rest. However, head of BFIU underscores that reporting of suspicious transactions does not indicate rise in clandestine transactions or criminal activity; rather it indicates increase in awareness about reporting the incident of suspicious transaction¹.

Generally, e-commerce platforms do their transactions online and through mobile financial services, which have registered commendable growth in the last one decade. But every mobile financial operator has to maintain unique bank account,known as trust and settlement account whose role is to convert digital money into actual money,against every mobile financial account opened as per the mobile financial services guidelines laid out by Bangladesh Bank.Despite having 51% share of Nagad, Department of Posts did not own the trust and settlement accounts. Those were owned by 49% share holder of Nagad,Third Wave Technologies Limited². This information was brought to surface when Third Wave Technologies Limited had tried to change the ownership of the settlement accounts of Nagad in a bid to avoid paying the clients in the wake of a scam. The objective was to put responsibility of clearing client’s money on the other owner's shoulder,here Department of Posts. As the news became public, Bangladesh Bank intervened and required that Nagad abstain from opening new account without prior consent of Bangladesh Bank and Department of Posts.³

Banks are obliged to report about transactions over TK 1 million. In addition, they can also report on transactions that they deem malevolent. During pandemic, when most of the economic activities were stalled and transportation with the rest of the world was disrupted, meteoric growth of e-commerce platforms raised suspicion. Many feared the platforms were used to legalize black money and launder money abroad. Regulatory environment was weak back then.This kind of transactions was reflected in the mobile financial service provider's bank account. BFIU back then froze many accounts sensing illegal MLM activities. Many used Nagad ,offering lucrative rates,to run their e-wallets to do e-commerce transactions. It is not known what percentage of suspicious transaction belongs to Nagad subscribers. Since row revolved round eValy,e-orange and clients mostly drawn from Nagad, Nagad subscribers may constitute a large part of the accounts fell under suspicious category.

Nevertheless, this should not be the pretense to clip the wings of mobile financial services, which did a tremendous job in financial inclusion. The services are now diversifying its product range. Now many can open savings account using such services.Mobile financial service operators should concentrate on procuring local software. This is no rocket science that our local software developers will not be able to develop. Many brokerage houses in Bangladesh use local software. Mobile financial service operators may follow their steps.

The head of BFIU anticipates correctly that suspicious transactions may grow in future and it is wrong to categorize every suspicious transaction as criminal offense. This observation came at a moment when government continues legalizing black money in ICT sector in the current budget⁴[*]. So apart from e-commerce,many startups may pop up to avail this opportunity. Government has to make sure that this kind of capital turns out to be productive and catalyst for the industry instead of just relabeling the money,which does little help for the industry in terms of job creation, innovation and adding values. While the number of suspicious transaction goes up, central bank should take the onus to spell clearly which one is an act of malevolence and which one passes the scrutiny.

Notes And References:
1 “Suspicious Transaction Reporting Up By 43.67%,BFIU ”,Shamprotik Deshkal, March 15,2022. For more read at https://en.shampratikdeshkal.com/economy/news/220327725/suspicious-transaction-reporting-up-by-bfiu

2 “What Does Nagad Ownership Row Reveal?”,Rezaul Hoque, https:hoquestake.blogspot.com,September 12,2021.For more read at https://hoquestake.blogspot.com/2021/09/what-does-nagad-ownership-row-reveal.html?m=1

3 “BB Bars Renaming Bank Accounts Of Nagad Without Its Approval”,New Age,September 06,2021. For more read at https://www.newagebd.net/article/148399/bb-bars-renaming-bank-accounts-of-nagad-without-its-approval

4 "Bangladesh Retains Option To Legalise Dirty Money By Raising Fines", bdnews24.com,June 29,2021. For more read at https://m.bdnews24.com/en/detail/economy/1908159

[Note:This piece has been updated on March 22,2022 at 11:04 AM Bangladesh Standard Time (BST).
*The update includes reference to legalizing dirty money in ICT sector.]

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(11 mars --- 18 mars)

Selon un reportage, 140 personnes qui avaient participé dans un programme gouvernemental de maison pour sans-abris ont dit qu’ils avaient payés les dépenses de construction pour leurs maisons gratuites.

Selon un reportage, le bureau de la Banque Centrale a détecté 5.280 transactions méfiantes dans le plateforme de l’e-commerce et de portefeuille numérique en 2020-21.

Selon un reportage, police a préparé procès verbal contre 25 personnes dont chef de l'ARSA dans la tuerie de dirigeant rohingya Muhibulla.

Selon un reportage, 1 personne a été tuée par balles à Bandarban. Un dirigeant d'un groupe rebel indigène a été torturé à mort à Khagrachhari.

Anarchy In Kitchen Market

Anarchy in kitchen market
Swells pockets of the few.
Duality in dealing the issue
Makes the debate renew.

There has been anarchy in kitchen commodity prices. Edible oil prices garnered lots of attention and causing most worries to a typical household. I still remember more than a year ago I bought soybean oil at a price Tk 105/liter. Later the price rose to Tk115/liter. And now it is being sold at the retail shop at Tk 173/liter. Situation is so dire that head of a consumer rights protection body under the Ministry of Commerce even accused that a vested group plundered Tk 1000 crore from the market in a matter of a week by raising the oil prices¹. His accusations have gained some attention as edible oil production ,import and distribution are done by handful of groups. Moreover, it is found that on too many occasions edible oil at wholesale and retail level is being sold without furnishing any money receipt. Authority suspects hoarding and business malpractices. Government has even set the factory gate price at Tk 143/liter². Despite all the efforts, soybean oil prices show no sign to go back to Tk 105/liter or below level.

I have not seen before that head of department of consumer rights protection expressed his concerns about malpractices in kitchen commodity market.

The price increase came at a moment when Minister of Commerce assured the countrymen of a stable edible oil market during the fasting month of Ramjan,which will begin two weeks later³. As people here consume more fried items at break-of-the-fast time, edible oil prices soar at that time. Many like me suspect this price hike is deliberate to keep the promise made by businessmen to the Minister of Commerce so that oil prices remain stable during the month of Ramjan. Moneymaking from high edible prices during the fasting month is only scheduled ahead. And government may later take credit for containing the situation and keeping the market stable.

Malpractices and fraudulent activities in the business already costing Bangladesh economy dearly. Despite many corona incentives and ease in regulatory restrictions, ailing banks did not get back on track.Loan scams,corruption of management board and frauds almost plundered the Bangladeshi banks. Government’s review of policy on loan rescheduling and incentives to the businesses did not improve the situation. The result is 10 banks suffer from capital shortage.Of them,two specialized banks borrowed at a high interest but lent at a lower interest in a bid to comply government agricultural policies⁴.

During the corona outbreak, e-commerce scam did a tremendous blow to government,which has been reeling from a series of financial scams. It is assumed there will be less fraudulent incidents. But there is hardly any pause in such crimes.

Last week police nabbed a man for swindling Tk 400 million from 300 contractors giving fake work contract in a railway bridge to be constructed over river Jamuna. He even opened an office at posh residential area of Baridhara⁵.

Just two weeks ago Police caught a group of thieves who took care of the ATMs of a private bank. They regularly stole clients money by manipulating ATM machines.

Many fear that part of the soft credit and incentives distributed after the pandemic were misused and laundered abroad. According to Bangladesh Bank, bank deposits increased by TK 869 billion in 2020(November-July). But in 2021(November-July), bank deposits increased by TK 463 billion⁶. That means growth in bank deposits declined in post-pandemic period when economic activities were resuming. Moreover, high demand for US dollar last year supports the belief. Even government used the Forex reserve to supply dollar,$7 billion approximately, to the banks to ease the high demand. Later IMF raised serious objection about such use of Forex reserve and not reflecting it on the actual figure of Forex reserve⁷.

These are indications that govt is not at ease with the economy. The ongoing war in Ukraine further worsened the situation. Each year Bangladesh exports $420 million worth of garments to Russia.Due to war,that stream of revenue is stopped abruptly,causing worries to Bangladeshi exporters[**]⁸. And the country is also a major source for wheat procurement. Ensuing high fuel prices require that government raise subsidy to ensure its energy and food security.

It appears that kitchen market has become a lucrative source to make windfall gains for some quarter. And it is happening right under government’s nose. Onion price hike still rankles the Bangladeshis. Despite being perishable and hard to store, onion registered a high price. The unusual hike already raised serious questions about functioning of our market and government failure to deal with it. Recent edible oil price hike again brought to surface those questions.

Notes And References:

1 “Soyabean Teler Barti Dam Niye Ponero Diney Ek Hajar Koti Taka Hatiye Neya Hoyechhey: Bhokta Odhikar Songrokkhon Odhidoptor(TK 1000 Crore Pocketed During Soybean Oil Price Hike : Department Of Consumer Rights Protection)”,Kadir Kollol,BBC Bangla, March 09,2022. For more read at https://www.bbc.com/bengali/news-60680866

2 “Teler Dam Beshi Rakhae Dokan Silgala(Shop Closed For Charging High Oil Price)”,Daily Prothom Alo(Page 6),March 06,2022.

3 “Soybean Oil Price Won't Be Hiked In Ramadan: Commerce Minister”,The Business Standard, for more read at https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/bazaar/soybean-oil-price-wont-be-hiked-ramadan-commerce-minister-377818

4 “Muldhono Hariechhe 10 Bank(10 Banks Lose Capital)”,Daily Prothom Alo(Page 9),March 11,2022.

5 “Tinsho Thikadarer Chollish Koti Taka Atmasat(TK 400 Million Embezzled From 300 Contractors)”,Daily Prothom Alo(Page 6),March 11,2022.

6 “Korona-Poroborti Bank Babosthapana(Post-Corona Bank Management)”,Mueed Rahman,Daily Jugantor,February 06,2022. For more read here[*]

7 “Forex Reserves Overstated By $7.2 Billion: IMF”,Jebun Mesa Alo,The Business Standard, October 23,2021. For more read at https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/forex-reserves-overstated-72bn-imf-319909 [*]

8 “Bangladesh Garment Exports To Russia Stuck”,Maritime Gateway,March 10,2022. For more read at https://www.maritimegateway.com/bangladesh-garment-exports-to-russia-stuck/

[Note:This piece has been updated first on March 13,2022 at 10:03 AM and later on March 15,2022 at 10:30 AM Bangladesh Standard Time(BST).
*First updates include references to stalled garment exports to Russia and IMF concerns over misuse of Forex reserves.
**Second update include inclusion of a phrase on stalled Bangladeshi export to Russia.]

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(04 mars --- 11mars)

Selon un reportage, incendie a ravagé 300 toits de chaume à Ukhia,Cox's Bazar. 20 personnes ont été brûlées. Un enfant a été tué.

Selon un reportage, cadavres de 4 membres de Mogh Liberation Party ont été trouvé au bord du fleuve à Roangchhari,Bandarban. Le groupe était responsible d’avoir abdiqué un dirigeant de Jana Sanghati Samiti. Il y a une éruption de violence dans les premiers deux mois de 2022 à Roangchhari et Ruma,situé à la proximité de la frontière Bangla-Birmanie.

Selon un reportage, une société sri lankaise a détenu toutes les actions de première marque de supershop bangladais. Tous les deux n'ont pas divulgué le montant dans lequel la marque a été vendue. Tous les deux n’ont pas divulgué le montant dans lequel la marque a été vendue.

Let It Pass

It's a raging storm ,we are in the midst.
In the middle of a field, like a tiny little grass.
Deep in our thought,hoping firmly with a clenched fist:
Let it pass, let it pass,let it pass.

Many years ago, I watched a movie whose name I could not recall(I think it was “We Were Soldiers”).In that movie, an American Army officer was about to go to a new frontline. Some nights before the deployment, he scribbled down few lines in his note book. I could not exactly recall the lines, but it goes like this: if you go to a war with a just cause and with the right side, win is inevitable; but if you jump into an unjust war, lacking support of most of the people,you are heading to a catastrophe.

Hardly anyone has ever imagined there will be another war in Europe. Both the Ukrainian and the Russian are decent and talented races. The word “Gentleman”,which has long been reserved for the English, could be aptly put after them. They share a common history and linguistic identity. However, independence is a thing that is even cherished by the most powerless and socially marginalized people.

The war in Ukraine reminded me the story of a Polish Army officer during the World War II. His story,title I could not recall, was translated into Bengali and regularly published on "Rohoshya Patrika", a local monthly on adventure and mystery. The Army officer was also Jewish. Poland was occupied both by the German and the Russian. It is a story of betrayal, persecution and stiff resistance of a tough race. Like Poland, Ukraine, as old as my first published poem, has been back stabbed by its allies. Ukrainians do not know fate of their country has been sealed. Ukrainians like the Poles put up a good fight and are showing their true color. Many captured Russian soldiers were telling that they had been told to take part in military manoeuver but found to their surprise in a real battlefield. Buccaneering Russians have gained some success but Ukrainians also put up valiant effort. It appears to me that it is going to be a protracted war unless the Russians pull out of Ukraine quickly or reach a consensus with the Ukrainians.

In Bangladesh, we are already feeling the fall-outs of the war. Inflation,unofficially crossed the double digit mark, is making a dent into the pockets of the ordinary citizens. Ukraine is the 3rd largest producer of corn and 5th largest producer of wheat. Russia too is one of the top producers of wheat.Bangladesh imports wheat from both the countries.Protracted war and subsequent sanctions will make the wheat procurement harder.In addition, corn is used to make poultry feed and fish feed. Food prices are likely to rise.

Russia is financing development projects in Bangladesh. An $11 billion Russian credit is behind the construction of country’s first nuclear power plant. $100 per barrel oil price underscores its importance.In winter, when water level goes down, water pumps are needed to irrigate the winter paddy fields, vital for ensuring our food security. This irrigation process is diesel-intensive.In 2012-13,government provided a total subsidy of TK 427.46 billion and TK 135.58 billion was oil subsidy¹. When oil prices were low,no subsidy was needed for three consecutive years.A year ago government gave a subsidy of Tk 530 billion,of which diesel subsidy accounts Tk 230 billion².Now with higher oil prices,more subsidy is needed.

2400 MW nuclear power plant to some extent will ease the diesel-subsidy burden. Most of the work is complete and first plant will come to operation next year.But sanctions on Russian bank VEB,which is financing the project, make it difficult to carry through³. And Bangladesh has to rely more on costly diesel to ensure its food security.

The sanctions on the Russians are useless. Because it only drives up the oil and gas prices. Though initially Russia may loose some market share ,it will cover the losses with higher oil prices. Iran somehow skirted these sanctions selling oil prices below market price. In a scenario like more than $100 a barrel, Russian offer in the below market price will be much higher, making it in a far more comfortable position to finance war. Already, major oil producing countries show reluctance to take tough stance against Russia, second largest exporter of gas and oil. This higher fossil fuel price only swells the pockets of American and Russian companies and makes it easier to offer corona incentives to their citizens and companies. Moreover,it will proliferate black market activity and who will inspect whether Nord Stream is really complying the sanctions! Meanwhile,ordinary Ukrainians endure ordeals of war in cold basements and bunkers.

The effort to keep the Russians outside the international financial system is only heralding dawn of digital currency ,paving their path for future legitimacy and widespread acceptability. Iran has already dealt with such sanctions by floating new banks, doing currency swap or dealing between central banks.Moreover,ban on SWIFT will make the alternate payment systems floated by Russia and China operational pretty quickly⁴. Though they may not wield significant influence, but endorsement of twenty or more countries to such payment mechanism may undermine any SWIFT restriction in the future.

The war in Ukraine may work as a precursor to other territorial misadventure in future. We should stay aloof from such temptations. One of the pitfalls of such war is that they manufacture historical precedent for future war! Photograph of a Muslim Imam blessing the Nazis in occupied Yugoslavia played crucial role in ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslims in the Balkan war.War concessions laid out by allied forces in World War I played some role in creating the second one.

What is important is maintaining the high moral ground, standing for the just cause, respecting the international norms and making legitimate demands to be heard and accepted. By not dragging ourselves into any conflict ,we also thwart future conflicts. What matters is the brand Bangladesh. More shinier and likable it will become, more prosperous we will be.In a country where most of the people cannot get three full-course meal every day, war is a luxury that it cannot afford. We do not confront a raging bull or a storm,we just wait and let it pass. Time is the best healer.

Notes And References:

1 Bangladesh Economic Review 2019

2 "Be Rational About Fuel Price Hike Because Subsidy Has A Limit: PM", The Business Standard,November 17,2021. For more read at https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/be-rational-about-fuel-price-hike-subsidy-has-limit-pm-330982

3 “Bangladesh Bank Warns Of Transactions With Russian Entities Amid Sanctions Over Ukraine”,bdnews24.com,March 04,2022.For more read at https://m.bdnews24.com/en/detail/economy/2024811

4 “Aat Bocchor Agey Thekey Prostoti Nicchey Russia(Russia Taking Preparations For The Last 8 Years)”,Daily Prothom Alo(Page 12),February 28,2022.

[Note:This piece has been updated on March 09,2022 at 12:18 Bangladesh Standard Time (BST).The update includes reference to the Tk 530 billion subsidy in 2021.]

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(25 février--- 04 mars)

Selon un reportage, un cargo bangladais en Ukraine est tombé victime d'un attaque de missile. Un ingénieur a été tué par cet attaque.28 marins ont été secourus.

Selon un reportage, la banque russe VEB annulé son lien avec la banque Bangladaise Sonali Bank après les pays occidentaux avaient interdit la Russie dans le système du paiement SWIFT.

Selon un reportage, Freedom House,ONG américaine, est placé Bangladesh dans la catégorie de «Demi Libre» parmi l'indice de liberté. Bangladesh a obtenu la même note,39, pour les dernières 3 années.