La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(26 août --- 02 septembre)

Ma Semaine Gastronomique

Date	Petit déjeuner	Déjeuner	Dîner	Snacks,Sucreries,Boissons et Fritures
27	Paratha,Omelette	Riz,Soupe aux lentilles, Épinards malabar,Papaye-Citrouilles	---	Lait
28	Pain tchapati,Rice pudding ,Lait	Riz,Anguille en zigzag poisson,Soupe aux lentilles	Riz,Purée de pommes de terre,Soupe aux lentilles	---
29	Pain tchapati,Omelette	Riz,Courge amère,Ruhi,Soupe aux lentilles	Riz,Pois de chiches avec pommes de terre,Courge amère,Ruhi	Singara
30	Pain tchapati,Omelette,Lait	Riz,Haricot vert,Courge amère,Soupe aux lentilles	Riz,Haricot vert,Soupe aux lentilles	Lait,Gâteau au rônier,Miel
31	Pain tchapati,Haricot vert,Lait	Riz,Courge amère,Papaye-pommes de terre,Poisson-chat à moustache longue	Riz,Papaye-pommes de terre,Soupe aux lentilles, Omelette	Riz gonflé,Miel
01	Pain tchapati,Haricot vert,Lait	Riz,Citrouilles-Gourde pointue, Purée de la peau de gourde pointue, Purée de la peau de gourde calebasse,Soupe aux lentilles	Riz,,Citrouilles-Gourde pointue, Purée de la peau de gourde pointue, Purée de la peau de gourde calebasse,Soupe aux lentilles	Lait,Riz gonflé,Miel
02	Pain tchapati,Lait	Riz,Ruhi poisson avec gourde épineuse, Haricot vert	Riz,Ruhi poisson avec gourde épineuse, Haricot vert	Riz gonflé,Miel,Lait

Intervene In Protein Market

Sudden hike in milk price Hints the market is not fair and nice. Updated consumer rights' laws Could fix the market and address the flaws.

Recently prices of liquid milk distributed by big companies have increased by TK 10. From now on 1-litre of liquid milk will cost Tk90.Few companies operate in this market. And many of them dominate the food-processing industry.The latest decision will make protein costlier for the middle and lower middle-income groups. Earlier, eggs were sold at Tk180/170 per dozen. Now it is hovering somewhere around Tk120/130 per dozen.

Inflation-battered household is already paying a heavy price by curtailing their consumption and spending.Rise of coarse rice price gives an indication about the gravity of the situation. A year ago ,1 kilo of coarse rice was being sold between Tk 35 and 38. Now the coarse rice is being sold at Tk 55.Tk 20 increase is indeed costly for the lower income groups. Even flour/atta price rose to an uncomfortable level. Official figure of inflation is 7%. But the food-inflation has long crossed the double digit figure and many argued that it is more than 15%.While household income is fixed many find it an uphill task to fight this battle against rising food-inflation.

Except Milk Vita, there is no successful cooperative in Bangladesh. If we have few more examples like Milk Vita,Amul then they could comfort cash-strapped middle class pockets by delivering affordable agro-products.Consumers would not mind if the high prices they pay for eggs,milk,milk-products and meat went to the pockets of govt-backed,regional cooperatives.

The issue here with current big operators of agro-products is that they have wide range of product line and they are dominating in every domain,from banking to media, from consumer goods to export-oriented industry. Moreover, many here operate in agricultural input market.It is unhealthy competition and unacceptable.Nowadays, we have seen people representing these groups have becomes MPs. Now groups are at policy level to influence the production and prices of inputs and final products.

As we have left-induced narrative-making machinery---very strong here,we have seen left-leaning media embarked on carrying narratives that justify the price increase of a particular product. Who did tell you to give the breakdown of cost of making a particular product?And such reports are not being carried out by profit-making media. At the end of the day, the inflated price became the new price of the product.This is a tremendous disservice to the consumer in general.

Government needs to break the cartel in fish feed,animal feed,poultry feed market. If it requires to intervene in these markets then it should leave no stone unturned to do so.Remember the greater good here is to ensure cheaper protein for the consumers. To do so if govt thinks it should allow import of eggs and meats then it should do so without delay.

Review of antitrust laws,quintessential to protect consumer interest is a must at this critical moment.Proper amendment should be made to bring down any obstacle to entry into the input and agro-processing market, to bar the companies operating in both the input and output market and to discourage them operating media outlet and running for MP election.

For an export-oriented industry, it is ok for backward and forward expansion. Production is taking place in one country,inputs are procured from another country and final product is sold in another country. One tiny individual exporter cannot influence the price. But when the market is domestic and consumers’ interest gets top priority, we simply cannot let the input and output markets fall into the hands of few groups as we have not installed the proper check and balance mechanism for the operation of such groups.

In many developed and developing countries, investment in agro-processing industry led to benefit both the consumers and peasants. But here in Bangladesh we have not reaped that benefit yet. Producers are yet to be insulated from any bed spell of cultivation. And consumers are getting worse off day by day by paying high prices for the processed food with a compromise to quality and environment. The price I pay for a small amount of dry cake/plain cake is not worth of the product. I deserve higher quantities for TK 10. And plastic wrapping is detrimental to the environment. Instead of big companies,if we invest in and modernize the neighborhood bakeries to maintain hygiene and quality goods,they will do a fine job in terms of delivering higher quantities of quality foods. And employment and revenue for the govt will increase by many folds. If these big groups have so much money and brain why they do not go to somewhere else and invest there to make money,leaving the consumers' market alone. Similarly, I have serious doubts about the joint-venture one as Bangladesh is no place for saints.BM container depot tragedy revealed how foreign investors with little credentials operate at ease in this country. My point is agro-processing industry should not be an industry to mask your other fishy businesses. I observe that Bangladeshi consumers in general pay inflated price for agro-processed goods compared to other countries.

I think consumer protection body should immediately convene a hearing on the increase in liquid milk price. A clear explanation on what provoked the sudden increase should be demanded. Any unjust increase should be met with punitive measures and further reduction in price. Very few imported ingredients are used in poultry and animal feed. It is bizarre that price increases drastically in the agro-processed industry since we allowed investment of big companies here. This kind of tendency has to be stopped for the sake of of the consumers. And no compromise is allowed with the protein needs of the ordinary people.

Notes And References:

1. ”Companies Increase The Price of Milk”,Dhaka Tribune Desk,August 27,2022.For more read at https://www.dhakatribune.com/commerce/2022/08/27/companies-increase-the-price-of-milk

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(19 août --- 26 août)

Ma Semaine Gastronomique

Date	Petit-déjeuner	Déjeuner	Dîner	Snacks,Sucreries,Boissons et Fritures
20	Pain tchapati,Ruhi poisson,Lait,Thé sans sucre	Riz,Purée de pommes de terre,Ruhi poisson	Nouilles	Dattes,Lait,Thé sans sucre
21	Pain tchapati,Pommes de terre,Thé sans sucre	Riz,Soupe aux lentilles,Ruhi poisson	PainPain tchapati,Ruhi poisson	Dattes,Lait,Thé sans sucre
22	Pain tchapati,Omelette,Thé sans sucre	Riz,Purée de pommes de terre,Soupe à l'œuf dur	Pain tchapati,Soupe aux pommes de terre	Dattes
23	Pain tchapati,Omelet,Lait,Thé sans sucre	Riz,Soupe aux lentilles,Haricot vert,Banane	Riz,Purée de pommes de terre,Soupe aux pois de chiches avec pommes de terre	Dattes,Riz gonflé,Thé sans sucre
24	Pain tchapati,Soupe aux pois de chiches avec pomme de terre et prunier de porc,Thé sans sucre,Banane	Riz,Purée de pois de chiches avec pommes de terre,Ruhi posson,Soupe aux lentilles	Riz,Ruhi,Soupe aux lentilles	Riz gonflé,Lait,Banane
25	Pain tchapati,Ruhi poisson	Riz,Soupe aux lentilles,Hilsa sec dans feuille de calebasse gourde,Purée de pommes de terre	Riz,Purée de pommes de terre,Soupe aux lentilles,Omelette	Dattes,Riz gonflé,Lait,Miel
26	Pain tchapati(fait par moi),Omelette	Riz,Ruhi,Épinards malabar,Soupe aux lentilles, Courge amère	Riz,Purée de pommes de terre,Soupe aux lentilles, Ruhi poisson, Courge amère	Lait chaud

Souls In Distress

Seven hapless souls in Kyrgyzstan Suffers in hands of satan. To protect the souls spartan Is Foreign ministry's top concern.

Last week,few migrant workers who are also victims of human trafficking held a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity. Two NGOs Refugee And Migratory Movement Research Unit and Rights Jashore organized the event. In that press conference, they revealed how they were tortured and lost everything in Kyrgyzstan. What is interesting they went there after obtaining permit from BMET and following all the legal procedures. Yet they fall into the hands of organized criminal groups¹.

The members of the group reneged the terms of the contracts ,held them against their will , meted out tortures and grabbed extra money for their release. Many in the process lost their meagre resources and went bankrupt. Despite having all the valid documents, they were deceived and tortured. 7 Bangladeshis are still in captivity and going through the ordeals their freed colleagues endured all these months.

BMET permit,considered the hallmark of a qualified migrant worker,and procedures are bluntly abused by a bunch of goons.And it happened right before the govt eyes. It is an indication how organized criminal groups are operating at ease in this country.

Earlier in Italy,hundreds of Bangladeshis assembled before the embassy of Bangladesh in Rome. They are demanding new passports to the embassy². Some 15000 Bangladeshis faced difficulties and other job related complications in Italy as they are not able to update their passports. Failure to get passport in time cast shadow over their jobs and status in Italy. These are real concerns that govt to take in cognizance are witnessing how negative growth of remittances in our traditional overseas markets led to 20% depreciation of Taka against US dollar.

More recently South African ministry of interior laid down that Bangladeshis and Pakistanis require transit VISA to enter Lesotho and Swaziland using South African airports. The decision came after some Bangladeshis and South Africans were detained by the customs and immigration for clandestinely using the South African airports.

In South Africa in the last 3 or 4 years 400 Bangladeshis ,most of them shop owners or assistants,lost their lives in gun violence. Govt did a routine job to send some officials to investigate about the matters.But it did not disclose the progress about the investigations. Rare are the occasions that Bangladeshis manage to know the result of such investigation.

If we take a look at the remittances inflow from top 10 countries we could easily see that there is a negative growth of 20.6% in Saudi Arabia during July-June of 2021-22 compared to a year ago. The growth in UK is 0.8% in the same period. In Italy,7th country in the list ,the growth is 30% and remittances sent by Bangladeshis working in Italy crossed the $ 1 billion mark³.

While remittances from Middle Eastern countries keep falling,those from Occidental countries continue to rise. The record current account deficit is an Eye-opener and reminds us that problems band challenges in our remittances earning sources should be addressed immediately.

Similarly, those mock the legitimate and safe procedure of sending workers abroad should be brought to book so that an example is made out of them and no one dares to make fun of the procedure.

And Bangladeshis ,no matter what social strata they represent,should be at the heart of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. Their woes,grieves,ordeals should be concerns of the concerned authority and no effort should be spared to address them while holding the head high. Our workers are abroad to make contribution at a competitive wage market. Protecting their interests should be the first objective of our missions as they are pursuing economic diplomacy diligently.

Notes And References:

1. "Bideshe Shoitey Hoechhey Nirmomota,Fireo Boro Bipodey Tara(Tortures Abroad, Ordeals At Home)”,Daily Prothom Alo(P-3), August 17,2022
2. “Bangladeshis Protest In Italy Demanding Age Correction In Passport, 2 Detained”,Star Digital Report,Daily Star,August 20,2022.For more read at https://www.thedailystar.net/nrb/news/bangladeshis-protest-italy-demanding-age-correction-passport-2-detained-3097011
3. Bangladesh Bank

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(12 août---19 août)

Ma Semaine Gastronomique

Date	Petit-déjeuner	Déjeuner	Dîner	Snacks,Sucreries,Boissons et Fritures
13	Parota,Pain tchapati,Labra(Papaye-Pommes de terre-Graines du jacquier),Thé sans sucre	Riz, Labra(Papaye-Pommes de terre-Graines du jacquier),Banane,Soupe aux lentilles, Sperata aor/ moustache longue poisson-chat	Parata,Papaye-Pommes de terre-Haricot vert,Banane	Dattes,Riz gonflé,Prunier de porc Banane,Thé sans sucre
14	Pain tchapati,Papaye-Pommes de terre-Haricot vert,Banane,Thé sans sucre	Riz,Courge amère,Citrouilles, Soupe aux lentilles	Riz,Citrouilles,Lait	Riz battu dans lait,Dattes,Prunier de porc
15	Pain tchapati,Citrouilles,Thé sans sucre	Khichury,Ruhi poisson	Khichury,Ruhi poisson	Riz gonflé, Thé sans sucre
16	Pain tchapati,Ruhi poisson,Thé sans sucre	Riz,Labra(Papaye-Pommes-Haricot vert), Soupe aux lentilles	Riz,Soupe aux lentilles, Labra(Papaye-Pommes-Haricot vert), Lait	Pomme-éléphant,Thé sans sucre
17	Pain tchapati,Labra(Papaye-Haricot vert-Citrouilles),Thé sans sucre	Riz,Purée de pommes de terre,Soupe aux lentilles, Papaye-Haricot vert	Pain tchapati,Papaye-Haricot vert	Pomme-éléphant,Toast, Thé sans sucre,Dattes
18	Pain tchapati,Papaye-Haricot vert,Thé sans sucre	Riz,Purée de pomme de terre,Ruhi poisson,Papaye-Haricot vert	Pain tchapati,Ruhi poisson	Lait,Dattes,Thé sans sucre
17	Pain tchapati,Papaye-Haricot vert,Ruhi poissonThé sans sucre	Riz,Purée de pommes de terre,Soupe aux lentilles, Ruhi poisson,Papaye et haricot vert	Riz,Ruhi poisson	Lat,Dattes,Thé sans sucre

Could There Be A Wage Hike?

A sudden fuel price hike, Hurting the rich and poor alike. Protein bank and rise in deposit rate In this crisis,few means great.

In an unprecedented move, government more than doubled the energy prices¹. This sudden hike in energy prices caused ordeals to the vernacular lives of ordinary people. Ultimately, the rise in energy prices will drive the prices of everything, causing further woes to the inflation battered middle and lower income groups.

This rise has coincided with the ongoing negotiations with the IMF for a credit of $4.5 billion budget assistance, which government desperately needs to check the record current account deficit. Despite the claim that no string attached with the IMF credit package, many see the rise as part of the negotiations. Concerned ministry claimed the step was a must to put an end to the oil and diesel smuggling as a huge price mismatches prevailed prior to the price hike. In addition, BPC was incurring a record deficit of $2 billion. Experts and NGOs however argued that government could have avoided the price hike by wavering some of the taxes on fuel. In addition, they also demanded information about the saved subsidy to BPC, some estimates put the figure somewhere around Tk 460 billion ,in the last couple of years when oil price was below $70 / barrel. This salvaged subsidy could have used to prevent the hike, they further argued.

Govt is also mulling raising the price of tap water by 25%. Earlier govt raised price of urea to Tk 16 per kilo. This thickens the belief that govt is determined to reduce subsidy expenditure, I think it is good,in a bid to unhook the IMF credit. What I construed from the energy price hike is that government may use the IMF credit to check the budget deficit while it may continue development expenditure as planned ahead of election years to procure loyalty. This may be the reason behind its pass of fuel price hike to the consumers.

There is a perception that the rise in fuel price will further aggravate the inflation problem. Growing price levels and Central Bank's gradualist policy to contain inflation will ultimately reduce the aggregate demand, leading to downward pressures in the price level. The unprecedented rise in fuel price will check the leakages in oil consumption in rental power plants, which enjoy many privileged benefits apart from subsidies in energy sector.

The fire tragedy in BM container depot exposed that goods are being exported to other countries concealing their true identity. Fertilizer and diesel subsidy may end up in wrong hands if the price mismatch between the domestic level and international market is huge.

Rising cost of living calls for an increase in pay hike across the sectors. Govt has already adopted a policy to review public service pay scale in every two years. Last year, govt also raised the minimum salary of the garments workers. But the inflationary pressure rendered useless the pay hike and to some cases conditions of the wage-earners deteriorated. Now here comes the point as government is letting the price fixed by the market then it should also include cost of living clause, which requires that salary reflect cost of living, in the job contracts. But that is not happening.

In the latest Monetary Policy Statement ,government clearly spelled that it would raise the policy rate by 50 point basis. This gradualist policy, small increase in interest rate at measured intervals, is anticipated to cut the money supply. But any government initiative to pay rise will increase money flow of the economy. Public service salary increase declaration will raise the salary level of the private sector. This increase in money supply to the economy is contradictory to the Central Bank's gradualist policy.

But people require urgent attention from the govt to lift them out of this ordeal. Protecting the badly affected groups should get the top most priority. Depreciation of Taka is the incentive to the exporter. At the same time, falling orders due to recession like situation in the West causes worries to them. But the workers vie for the benefits exporters received from the depreciation of Taka. As they are also having a tough time, a small increase in their salary will not be a big deal. At the same time, protein bank, discounted markets could be set up in industrial pockets to offer them discounted goods. Special deposit rates could be offered to lower income and vulnerable groups through commercial and MFS so that they could offset the inflationary pressure. This step is in line with the Central bank’s MPS. For long, Central Bank has barred both the deposit rate and lending rate from rising. Govt should discontinue it. Increasing the deposit rate is tantamount to give inflation-battered ordinary people an incentive, no matter how small it is.

In addition, special transport rebate, protein voucher could be introduced to fixed income groups as long as their salary is not adjusted to the inflation.

There is growing concern that this fuel price hike has seriously undermined the food security program. Leading agricultural economist calls for direct cash subsidy to pump owners as the decision will raise the irrigation cost by TK 13 billion². Govt could mull diesel rationing to diesel-intensive economic activities. Or govt could offer interest free credit to pump owners through specialized banks, reducing the possibility of misuse of fund.

Another thing that everyone has to be careful about is the unacceptable profiteering from the crisis. Fuel price hike should not be an excuse to hike the prices of goods at every level. In recent years ,law enforcement mechanism has been deteriorated to a great extent. We witnessed how some quarters pocketed windfall gains from volatile markets of rice,onion,soybean oil and e-commerce platforms. I learnt that at soybean oil industry wholesalers refused in unison to give receipt to the retail sellers . It is unthinkable how undocumented transaction was taken place in digital Bangladesh. A favorable political climate prevails here for the operations of these organized groups who would make money through shoddy dealings. Giving bank licenses and edible oil factories to security establishment neither prevent this unethical activities in economy (NPL keeps rising) nor protect the consumer interests.

I think govt should clearly demarcate a line about who should do business and who should not. Regulatory and enforcement bodies should not engage in any kind of moneymaking activities. It just spoils the whole system.

Govt should address the woes of middle and lower income groups caused by recent fuel price hike. Raising salaries of industrial workers and benefits offered in line with the MPS objectives should be given utmost priority. Similarly infrastructure projects that do not yield any revenue should be scrapped. Luckily import spending is slowing down as reflected in data furnished by Bangladesh Bank. Govt should come clean by initiating probe on the soybean oil market debacle and delay in providing quick stat on BPC spending and earnings as the BPC started automated payment system few years ago. Failure to do so will be a boon for leakages in public corporation and jeopardize all the reform work in subsidy and incentives. Government’s stated monetary policy is an obstacle to raising the salary in general. However, as soon as inflationary situation improves it should spare no time to review the salary policy in general.

Notes And References:

1. "Bangladesh Announces Fuel Price Jump,Stokes Inflation Fear”,Ruma Paul,Reuters,August 13,2022. For more read at https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/bangladesh-announces-fuel-prices-jump-stokes-inflation-fears-2022-08-06/
2. “Shechey Barti Diesel Khoroch,Khadya Nirapottar Ki Hobey(Extra Diesel Cost On Irrigation,Looming Shadow Over Food Security) “,M A Sattat Mondol,Former VC Bangladesh Agricultural University, Daily Prothom Alo(p-8),August 13,2022.

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(05 août---12 août)

Ma Semaine Gastronomique

Date	Petit-déjeuner	Déjeuner	Dîner	Snacks,Sucreries,Boissons et Fritures
06	Parota,Omelette,Thé sans sucre	Riz,Gangétique anchois,Calebasse gourde,Papaye et haricot vert,Soupe aux Lentilles	Riz,Soupe aux lentilles,Pain tchapati(fait par moi),Gangétique anchois,Papaye et haricot vert	Goyavier,Thé sans sucre
07	Pain tchapati,Papaye-Haricot vert,Thé sans sucre	Riz,Soupe aux lentilles, Pama croaker poisson, Purée de pomme de terre,Papaye -Haricot vert	Riz,Soupe aux lentilles,Pama croaker poisson,Purée de pomme de terre	Riz gonflé, Thé sans sucre
08	Pain tchapati,Haricot vert,Thé sans sucre,Lait caillé(fait chez moi)	Riz,Épinards malabar,Haricot vert,Citrouilles	Riz,Épinards malabar, Citrouille	Dattes,Riz gonflé, Lait et Riz battue,Thé sans sucre
09	Pain tchapati,Soupe aux lentilles,Thé sans sucre	Riz pilaf,Purée de pomme de terre,Labra( Papaye,Banane verte et Prune de porc)	Riz pilaf,Purée de pomme de terre,Labra(Papaye,Banane verte et Prune de porc)	Prune de porc,Lait chaud,Thé sans sucre
10	Pain tchapati,Labra(Papaye,Banane verte et Prune de porc),Raw tea without sugar	Riz,Wallagu attu,Soupe aux lentilles, Courge amère,Papaye-Haricot vert	Riz,Wallagu attu,Soupe aux lentilles,Papaye-Haricot vert	Prune de porc,Dattes,Thé sans sucre
11	Pain tchapati,Thé sans sucre,Papaye-Haricot vert,Lait	Riz,Citrouilles, Soupe aux lentilles, Wallagu Attu	Riz,Citrouilles, Soupe aux lentilles, Wallagu Attu	Banane, Riz gonflé, Thé sans sucre
12	Pain tchapati,Citrouilles, Thé sans sucre	Riz,Labra(Papaye-Pommes de terre-Graines du jacquier),Pama Croaker	---	---