The New Nation - Internet Edition

STRONG efforts were made during the month of Ramzan to keep prices of essentials under some degree of control. The BDR operated many markets and sold goods in them at substantially reduced prices. Besides, the police and the RAB were deployed for market watch. Unjustified sales of goods at exorbitant prices were sought to be controlled by them both at the retail and wholesale levels. Some retailers and wholesalers were also arrested at that time. Needless to say, these actions had notable effects in keeping prices stable or at least within reasonable bounds during the Ramzan period.

But the relative stability in the price situation seen during the holy month and the Eid, appears to have fully disappeared now. Prices of essentials and daily consumption items are shooting up again. The prices were already at high levels before the Eid. Now, the fresh spate of price rises is making the life of the common man miserable. The price of at a (flour) and even that of the common varieties of rice have leaped up by 80 per cent and 25 per cent. Similar upswings are seen in the prices of cooking oil, milk powder and other kitchen items. The poor and the middle class people are facing great torments and, in many cases, they have to reduce consumption. The purchasing power of the poor has been further strained.

The government must take up a fresh plan to meet the basic needs of people. It cannot engage in only a temporary intervention in the market while keeping a hands-off policy for the rest of the year. Government's intervention in the market under the present circumstances must be a continuing affair throughout the year. The BDR markets should be fully operated. The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) should play a similar role throughout the year of procuring essential products and then selling them through many outlets to people. The existing size of the foreign currency reserve should help subsidise the distribution of essentials through imports. The subsidies will be heavy but there is hardly a choice under the present circumstances. Making available essentials to people at affordable prices will mean great relief for them. On the other hand, government's regular presence in the market will create strong pressure on unethical operators in the privately run markets to sell goods at reasonable prices.

Meanwhile, the government should embark on a crash programme to facilitate and motivate farmers for much increased production of essential items, particularly the kitchen items. The growing import dependency for such items and their higher prices, have made the marketing of these goods at low prices an impossibility. From foodgrains to all other edibles, the government should lose no time to encourage their production in the country to the optimum level. This is necessary for food security in the country as well as to hedge people from the soaring costs of imported foods.

THE bricks produced at kilns at different places in the country can have a very adverse environmental impact if the kilns are not operated according to the law and regulations. The violators of the law in this regard dangerously harm the environment by accelerating deforestation through use of firewood in the kilns, by not setting up the chimneys at an acceptable height and, thus, creating air pollution for the surrounding areas for humans as well as the vegetation. Recent newspaper reports have been focussing on how brick makers in different districts are defying the law and rules by using firewood instead of coal, not maintaining the chimney height at the recommended level and discharging noxious fumes into the air laden with dust, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, florin and lead. As the chimneys are not at the level where these ought to be as per regulations, the fumes are creating awful breathing problems for the people in the nearby areas. Besides, the fumes and unregulated heat from the furnaces of the kilns are also causing the destruction of vegetation in the places around those.

The law was adopted more than a decade ago that prohibits the making of brick by burning wood. The rules made under it also provide for the mandatory maintenance of safe chimney height and maximum punishment of 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fines for the violators. The existence of legal penalties and the availability of coal from Barapukuria in the country as substitute for wood should have led to adherence to the laws. Why the same are being so flagrantly violated, as the reports suggest, poses a serious question even though the environment degrading effects of the same are more or less known to all. The answers need to be searched in the inexcusable dereliction of duty by the involved district administrations.

The deputy commissioners (DCs) have been entrusted with the task of finding out and punishing the violators of the laws promptly and unsparingly. Even the prospect of regular inspection from DC offices would have probably deterred the brick kiln operators from resorting to such crimes so unconscionably. But the district administrations in most cases appear to have a relationship with the brick makers which allow the latter to be most uncaring in their polluting activities. It is indeed shocking that such complete disregard for the law can take place before the very gaze of the officials who are paid from the public purse to enforce them. The higher authorities in the government need to look into the matter with no loss of time and take action also against the district administrations which fail to act against the violation of the law who cause degradation of the environment.

Dr. M. S. Haq

In an increasingly interdependent and uncertain world, it has been observed: the cause, effect and causality (CEC) associated with price hikes of commodities is neither limited solely to commodities affected by price hikes nor its treatments (I mean, CEC of price hikes) confined only to a set of specific antidotes for say, repeated use in relation to time, space and other variables.

Cutting edge price management strategies - that are for example, wholesome, short to medium term in duration, flexible, growth centered and people owned - could be of some assistance to combating price hikes for a 'given' period of time at local, national and other levels provided that outcome making processes of those strategies are backed, on a continuous basis, by sound institutions, good governance and public administration practices, dependable and affordable criminal justice system, effective operation frameworks, favorable WTO requirements capable of facilitating maximum utilization of comparative and competitive advantages in relevant areas by member states, conducive environments - both political and apolitical - in borderless territories, result-oriented implementation, and affordable, as well as user-friendly recycling potentials, to mention a few.

In light of above and other considerations, the reasons behind present day price hikes of commodities in Bangladesh are for example, both within and beyond its control. The measures such as and as appropriate:

1. A further fixation of demand-supply gaps through for example, internal production - a crash program for boosting up post-flood cultivations could inter alia be instrumental in improving the supply situation;

2. A further exploration of opportunities (as applicable) for procurement of relevant commodities at say, subsidized rates with the assistance of donor organizations such as USAID and WFP;

3. A further intensification of the role of Bangladesh missions in host countries in identifying and negotiating import commodities (by Bangladesh) at rates favorable to the people of Bangladesh and in facilitating the effort of Bangladesh towards importing above commodities - following buying decisions - within a minimum possible lead time from the time of ordering those commodities, per se. Kindly note here, time also means cost;

4. Removal of existing barriers to distribution related supply gaps through appropriate policy and program initiatives and interventions;

5. A more proper handling of say, market intermediaries through an integrated market management system;

6. An enhancement of poor people's and low income groups' coping capacity in these days of price hike through a variety of safety nets such as ration shops, VGF, food for work programs, and cash support;

7. A further improvement in bilateral relations with for example, commodity exporting countries;

8. A further minimization, if not a total elimination, of security related risks, vulnerabilities and threats having impacts, either direct or otherwise, on markets, market behaviors and market opportunities, to mention a few;

9. A more proper and profitable handling of market and market related politics;

10. Strengthening food planning and food security based on local, as well as global trends, situations and developments in pertinent areas; and

11. Enhancement of community participation in monitoring and controlling market prices through legal and other ways and means - both structural and non-structural. Simplification of market and marketing processes, as well as procedures for marketers and promotion of honest marketers to avail of those simplified processes and procedures as soon as practicable and at an affordable cost;

could assist Bangladesh in dealing with challenges and harnessing opportunities associated with price hikes in a meaningful manner.

It may, however, be noted here the above list of measures is not exhaustive and it has been presented in the article as a checklist for government of Bangladesh and others to assist them in the effort towards reviewing the existing price situation in a more serious and comprehensive manner and taking remedial measures based on short and long term perspectives and consequences associated with price hikes in Bangladesh and elsewhere.

Price hikes are, in many respects, sensitive, dynamic and destructive in nature and scope - they have potentials for hurting, in varying degrees, people, progress and prosperity, relative to time, space and other variables.

They could - unless checked in a timely and proper fashion - cause, in a progressive manner or otherwise, substantial damage and loss to for example, good outcomes produced so far, either directly or otherwise, by present government of Bangladesh. It will not be out of place to mention here, political parties of Bangladesh and others could for example, elect to use present day price hike situations in their attempt towards mobilizing and promoting anti-government perceptions and behaviors among Bangladeshis and others in the foreseeable future.

The measures that have already been taken or will be taken by the government in the future for combating price hikes will take an amount of time to produce desirable effects on the price situation. But it is true, a significant change in price structure in say, non-real value terms, might not be forthcoming at least immediately because factors external to price hikes in Bangladesh would need some more time to become stable either in part or in full.

The last word: a reduction in commodity prices in real terms would need, among other things - a significant improvement in production and productivity; more viable, more equitable and more sustainable technology-growth-distribution chains; removal of existing market imperfections, as far as practicable; correction of economic and market fundamentals, as far as practicable; perfecting demand-supply mechanisms, as far as practicable; poverty alleviation; corruption reduction at least to a tolerable extent; and a more proper management of human behaviors; at respective local, national, global and other levels.

Razzak Raza

The role of the police in a democratic society is very complex. Police work is highly visible. It affects every people of every stratum. Every individual is subject to police observation-either he is an ordinary farmer or a powerful VIP. So, every step of a police-decision is severely scrutinized by the society.

A police officer with full uniform, if scrutinized carefully, speaks much of his authority to use force to materialize his lawful ends lawfully. The fire-arms in his holster, tells us that it could be shot, the baton/lathi in his hand depicts that some one is subject to be lathi-charged; the tear-shell, riot-van, and water cannon and all other anti-riot equipments symbolically stand for the authority of using force .

But the power to use force by the police is a controversial authority. Where ever and whenever police use force, they are criticized. No use of deadly force is welcomed by the public. The media is highly critical. No situation of using force is sufficiently ripened for the media. This is a tragic dilemma for every police organization that even the cost of a police officer's life is hardly enough to counter the public criticism.

The police by the very nature of their function are an anomaly in a free society. One hand, we expect them to exercise coercive force: to restrain people when they are out of control, to arrest them when they break the law, and in some extreme cases to use deadly force. At the same time, however, we expect the police to protect the individual freedoms that are the essential part of a democratic society. The tension between freedom and constraint is one of the central problems of the police [1]

The authority of using force lies in the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr P.C) and in the PRB. The right of private defense describe in the Penal Code (PC) also provides with the principles of using force of various degrees by the police officers.

Nothing is an offence which is done in the exercise of the right of private defense. [2] This generic section is applicable to every situation where the usage of deadly force arises. The elaboration of the right of private defense is stated as "every person has a right (subject to the restrictions contained in section 99), to defend first,- his body , and the body of any other person , against any offence affecting the human body;

secondly- The property, whether moveable or immoveable , of himself or of any other persons against any act which is an offence falling under the definition of theft, robbery, mischief or criminal trespass , or which is an attempt to commit theft, robbery, mischief or criminal trespass. The right of private defense extended to causing the death of the offender in some cases [3] and to the grievous hurt in some other cases [4].

But this right is not unfettered .There is the limitation such as if there is sufficient time for recourse to public authorities, the right will not be available. More harm than that is necessary should not be caused; there must be a reasonable apprehension of death or grievous hurt or hurt to the person or damage to the property concerned. These are the broad-band principles of using force against the citizens a police officer to bear in mind.

There are some regularly special cases, the police officers have to encounter. Police need to use force to execute warrants of various descriptions or to arrest the offenders. The Cr.PC allows the police officer concern to use force for the execution of arrest.-

If such person (whom to arrest) forcibly resists the endeavor to arrest him or attempt to evade the arrest, such police officer or other person may use all means necessary to effect the arrest. [5] The expression "all means necessary' does not authorize the police officer to do any thing he whishes. There are also limitations. However, police can chase an offender up to the house of an individual [6]. They can enter the house by breaking its doors or windows [7]. But noting gives the police officer a right to cause the death of a person who is not accused of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life [8]. The offender, once arrested, shall not be subjected to more restraint that is necessary to prevent his escape [9].

Dispersal of an unlawful assembly is a much criticized police action. Any Magistrate or Officer-in-Charge of a police station may command any unlawful assembly (an unlawful assembly within the meaning of section 141 of the Penal Code) or any assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace to disperse. [10]

If upon being so commanded any such assembly does not disperse, or if without being so commanded, it conducts itself in such a manner as to show a determination not to disperse, any Magistrate or Officer-in-Charge of a police station may proceed to disperse such assembly by force. [11]

The power of a police officer to use force against a citizen of a democratic country demands highly judicious discretion. In this crucial respect, the police are different from other professionals-teachers, social workers, doctors. Force includes the power to take some ones life, the use physical force and the power to deprive people of their liberty though arrest. The official duty of a teacher might enrage some people. But the use of force by a police officer as a tool of official duty results in the loss of some lives. [12]

The use of deadly force, that is, the use of fire arms by the police is strictly controlled by a set of mandatory rules stated in the Police Regulations, Bengal (PRB). The Police officer at the charge of an armed party cannot order firing at his sweet will. An order to fire upon a crowd should be regarded as the extreme measure to which recourse should be had only in the last resort when it is absolutely necessary for the defense of life or property and it is impossible to disperse the mob by any other means. [13] Before an order is given to fire upon a crowd the Magistrate or, if no Magistrate is present, the police officer in command shall give full and sufficient warning to the rioters that they will be fired upon if they do not disperse immediately. [14] Two consecutive warnings are needed. However, only one warning will suffice if the situation turns extremely grave. [15] The Police officer ordering fire stands in the line of his carrier as his decision to order firing will be scrutinized immediately by the press, by the local people and by the victims or the relatives of the deceased. The firing saga will be inquired by the executive authority.

Whenever the police have fired arms, a full executive enquiry to ascertain weather the firing was justified and weather these regulations (of PRB) were obeyed, shall be held as soon as it can possibly be arranged. [16] It is not uncommon that police officers ordering fires lose their job and are prosecuted to send behind bars. The decision that a police officer disburses standing between the line of the belligerent mob and his riot-geared armed forces is being judged by the cool-headed executives for months. His decision must be right without fail, otherwise ruin will seize him. He will turn a villain over the day.

General people have a much talked-about wrong belief that ordering firing is the sole authority of a magistrate. The police officer has no power to open fire without a magistrate's order. But the laws and rules of the country tells otherwise. A police officer is empowered to open fire without the order of a Magistrate. An Officer-in-Charge of a police station or a police officer superior in rank or even a head constable in charge of an armed party, sometimes, can decide independently to order the use of fire arms.

The maintenance of law and order is primarily a police-job. The Magistrate might be present with the police to guide the police and caused the police to arrest persons when their offence is purely non-cognizable. To suppress a riot or an unlawful assembly the presence of a Magistrate is not obligatory.

The police officer who leads or sends out armed constables (to suppress a riot), should, whenever possible, inform the nearest magistrate and give him an opportunity of accompanying the party. The departure or dispatch of an armed force must, however, and on no account be held up to the possible deterioration of the situation, solely with a view to obtaining the accompanying presence of a magistrate. [17]

The authority to use force by the police officer is a highly sensitive empowerment. It is inherent to the police officer that he is a potential misuser of his power. Power tends to corrupt. So, it is not unlikely that police authority to use deadly force will be misused or fairly used.

The lowest rank and file officer of the police force can use force and use the fire arms he carries with him. But he is not unbound. The aftermath of a probable firing is more painful than the pelting stones from the unruly mob. Sometimes, the police officers find their arms a heavy burden on them.

A police officer is accountable to his organization, to the Government (that is to the political boss), to the courts and, above all, to the community. The authority to take lives of the citizens is an earthly supreme discretion. It is also a noble authority. But it may turn devil if the police officer using it does not apply his judicious discretion. To kill a human being to save the other lives is a benevolent ideal. The police must hold up the ideal of saving the masses from injustice and animosities.

Dr. Abdul Ruff

"Hello, nice meeting you again, tell me what is happening with your pet Indo-US nuclearism?"

"Hey, I know you are on your old trick of disagreeing with the "official stand"! But you know any one who is against the nuclear deal is anti-Indian?"

"I am not, certainly not! I am 99% pro-Indian. Ask the media people I write only lavishly praising India, Gandhiism and nuclearism". "What about the remaining 1%? Anti-Indian?

"Oh, that is depreciation value loss due to Mumbai finanacial crash last week."

"I specially appease Indian media and bureaucracy by showering in loud clapping for India."

" That may be true, even USA is like that , it would repel any criticism , constructive or otherwise." " I don't konw if India would eventually change the national flag characteristics, by keeping in the latest development in its polices. India could have a flag in blue color with lot of currency notes and nuclear symbols displayed in it".

"I suppose you are not objecting to Indian cricket wings choosing blue, red and green colors for local tournament in Ahmadabad, currently on, with a clear understanding that Blue India team should win the tournament. Green and Red India teams should ultimately lose, you know!"

" I understand Red color is favorite of Sonia Gandhi and Green -- is the choice of others including the Muslim League" Am I right?"

"You mean it has got nothing to do with India's neighbors, Bangladesh and Pakistan?"

"Come on, you read too much in what India does each timetYou should be an ISI man! "Do you say that Raw and IB are less powerful than ISI? Common, friend, you can't be too partial. By the way, ISI seal/mark is not seen in Indian products these days."

" If you read Indian newspapers you will know only about ISI .These poor guys don't remember any thing other than that. That reminds me of the memory loss suffered by US president Bush, figting terror wars in Middle East. He confused ASEAN with APEC and North Korea to mean South Korea and terror for peace, etc. One day, he would say denuclearized world to mean US foreign policy.

"Osama bin Laden seems to be interested in Iraq now. How come the USA is still unable to detect him by using all the latest remote technology at their disposal?" "You mean why President Bush is not stating that Osama is hiding in Iraq along with his WMD?" "India say Al-Queda is Kashmir, how about that?" "Why Kashmiris need independence? They are used to live like slaves so long?" After independence they would be called rogue as well as terrorists in New Delhi."

"But those who fought for Indian independence are called patriots, except the Muslims"

Indian state has a peculiar way of looking at things to their own advantages, like the USA has been doing1"

" Wealth and cash make wonders, you say so" No w India has a lot of cash from privatization and liberalization so they can say any thing and even the Arab countries say salaam to them, yeah!" "What the Americans do is final in every aspect and no one can question them because that would amount to questioning their wisdom. They just can't tolerate criticism, because they say their democracy is finest and tested for spam.(spam less?).The USA defines terrorism thus: the calculated use unlawful violence to inculcate fear, intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological".

"You mean India's word is final for the so many third word nations now? Especially in South Asia?

"Of course, now you have got it all right!" "How could one distinguish between struggle of patriotism and separatism?"

"When you struggle you are separatists or terrorists, but when gain independence, you are elevated to the rank of great patriots. That is all about history freedom movement in the world. Once even USA was a terrorist country seeking independence?"

"USA is not different even now, attacking the Islamic countries with support form anti-"Islamic countries and a few Muslim countries themselves"