The New Nation - Internet Edition

Stopping the spread of bird flu

THE spread of avian influenza, also called bird flu, has assumed such alarming proportions that the very existence of the poultry industry is now at stake. With every passing day, the disease is spreading fast to newer areas of the country. According to media reports, about five thousand chickens, ducks and pigeons have been culled in Dinajpur town after bird flu was detected in the area. Over 7000 birds and more than two thousand eggs were destroyed in the southern districts of Patuakhali and Barguna. In view of the situation, the administrations of Patuakhali and Barguna declared the districts bird flu affected areas. To resist further spread of the disease they have started awareness campaign to inform the people of the disease. According to latest media reports, the bird flu virus has also been detected in the districts of Rajshahi, Rangpur and Jessore. Official sources have been quoted as saying that over 35,000 fowls had been culled following bird flu outbreaks in the districts.

This rapid spread of the disease indicates that the situation has worsened and poses a serious threat to public health. It is not for the first time that bird flu has assumed such a proportion. Till December 2007 avian influenza virus was detected in 68 farms on 20 districts. The quick reappearance of the disease underscores the need to respond to it with all seriousness. But that is not the whole picture. The disease has taken an unexpected turn. It had so long been confined to domestic birds. But now bird flu has acquired to a new dimension. About 150 crows died in Patuakhali in a couple of days. On laboratory tests the cause was diagnosed as bird flu. Over 400 crows died during the same period in Dinajpur town. Spread of the disease to these wild birds has created a greater risk of quicker spread of the flu from one area to another. It has also complicated the fight against the disease.

Bangladesh is under a serious threat due to another reason. Avian influenza earlier spread to a number of districts in West Bengal, India having common border with Bangladesh. A potential threat thus looms over the northern and western districts of Bangladesh. The authorities should, therefore, take all necessary precautionary measures. The border security forces have been put on alert to prevent entry of poultry birds from India. Surveillance at the border must be maintained strictly. According to the FAO Veterinary Office, avian influenza crisis is far from over and still remains particularly worrying in Bangladesh, Egypt and Indonesia. The latest development with the disease in and around the country confirms this. A comprehensive plan enlisting the participation of all the concerned departments to fight the disease and prevent it from spreading further should be in place right now. Mass awareness programme should be spread all over the country so-that all people know how to protect themselves from infection by the bird flu virus.

Need for rationing essentials

THERE was a time before the independence of Bangladesh when essential food items such as rice, wheat, salt and cooking oil could be obtained by the non-affluent sections of the people through a rationing system. Every ration card holder used to be supplied with a limited quantity of these essentials at prices well below market prices. The ration cards were allotted on the basis of need and the purchasing power of its holder. Affluent persons usually did not get ration cards or did not ask for the same. It was not that there was no corruption in the system. Nonetheless, the rationing system proved to be useful in distributing essential foodstuffs to a large number of people in the population. In this sense, it ideally met the subsistence requirements of a large number of people of modest means. The rationing system was continued after the independence of the country. But its operation was progressively reduced and then phased out.

For some years, bumper production of foodgrains within the country and cheap imports of foodgrains and cooking oil, plus competition among food importers and sellers, meant that prices of the main essential food items remained within the purchasing capacities of people. But in recent years, this scenario of cheap food availability has been changing. This year, a full blown crisis of foodgrains is being felt from major setbacks of local production of food grains and the unusual high prices of imported edibles. The same applies to edible oil, pulses and spices. In these circumstances, the need is acutely felt to hedge the poor from the high food prices by supplying food to them at prices they can afford. Doing of this is also an imperative to prevent discontentment on this score from taking serious proportions.

Thus, different quarters have started suggesting reintroduction of the rationing system. They point out that if this system existed, then it could be well utilised in the present situation to extend affordable foods to the ones who are now very acutely in need of such supports to be able to buy their foods. For example, there are about 8 million ration card holders in neighbouring West Bengal. This has meant that notwithstanding ups and downs in the regular food markets, the non-affluent families there are getting their needs for basic subsistence well supplied at prices they can pay. The Bangladesh government may set up a similar countrywide system at the fastest. The operators of garment industries have made a good suggestion to the government recently. They have requested the government to start issuing of ration cards to garments industry workers immediately. There are about 1.5 million of them. If the government brings them under the rationing system, then it may be expected that on buying essential foods at cheaper prices, their present embittered mood would go and they would see the point of doing their work peacefully. A comprehensive rationing system may be initiated through a rapid action plan.

Wealth ceiling for public leaders

Muhammad Samsul Hoque

Of all misdemeanours "Mr. Lust is the central leader" sings Baul Samrat Saijee Lalon. The Holy Qur'an also prohibits accumulation and confinement of wealth at the hands of the wealthy persons. Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah, economic and social justice and the like principles in the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh constitute the fundamental principles of state policy. Again, securing basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care to its citizens shall be a fundamental responsibility of the State to ensure equality of opportunity to all citizens. As per article 19(2) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh the State is duty bound to "adopt effective measures to remove social and economic inequality between man and man and to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth among citizens and of opportunities in order to attain a uniform level of economic development throughout the Republic". Further, the State has sanction under the Constitution as per Article 28(4) to make special provision for the advancement of any backward section of citizens.

Now, as defined in the Constitution "the State" includes Parliament, the Government and Statutory Public Authorities. Key persons in the State are absorbed from the public leaders. Making and subscribing an oath before entering upon the office mentioned in the Third Schedule of the Constitution being mandatory those Constitutional dignitaries make oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

So, to maintain sanctity of their oath of ensuring equitable distribution of wealth among citizens and remove inequality they cannot allow themselves to become a vivid sign of inequality. If they are prompted to accumulate unlimited wealth it would be far from practical for them to adopt effective measures to remove social and economic inequality and such hypocrisy would not be tolerated by the people. The present Government has a vision to materialise the dream of the people to have the honest persons elected as their representatives from local level to national level. Government, of course, is thinking of the appropriate measures to be adopted for the purpose.

The idea presented herein might be as one of the branches or at least of the leaves of the esteemed tree the Government is aspiring to plant for. Here I am taking the instance of the locality of a union parishad. Usually the most wealthy and influential person is elected to the office of the chairman and in majority cases he is not chosen by the common people but intended by himself and materialised by his sycophants and cadres. The wealthy person in our context naturally enjoys overwhelming respect or influence over ordinary people, nevertheless he might be a bad man. An educated person with every other good quality may not raise his voice against such wealthy and influential person. There may be more such wealthy and influential persons and if they are allowed to contest in any election they would simply try to buy votes with money and influence of wealth they have or somehow got in possession. Then the generations would learn that wealth and only wealth is required to gain the prestigious position and they would jump to accumulate wealth disregarding ethical value. Such encouragement naturally leads the nation to intellectual bankruptcy and a land of corruption that we have already experienced to our utmost shame.

Again, if the wealthy and influential person is elected to a further influential office the power would be monopolised and there would be none to oppose his misdeeds. Wealth is not only money or land. In broader sense prestigious position is also wealth. As one man should not be allowed to hold more than one public office at a time similarly, one influential person should also be restrained from occupying another influential position altogether. A big businessman naturally having big influence if allowed to do politics and then made a minister, he would simply continue to grow bigger in terms of business and would never become a pro-people public leader to minimise the sufferings of the have-nots mass. Lust and greed is inherent in every human being. When one's capacity is increased his lust and greed is also increased and this is how corruption got a high breed in our country.

For the moderation of lust and greed moral and spiritual elements in the education have to be included which should be an eternal programme to achieve and sustain admirable status of human quality. Before that, discipline has to be brought by legal instrument where a party chief shall not be permitted to prefer "Armed and affluent mighty cadres" to be nominated in the Parliamentary election.

A politician, a public leader, local or national, enjoys public respect, ornamented by flowers, garlands. This is most valuable resource more than material wealth. Giving this resource (honour) to the persons who have plenty of money, business and land, would run against the principles of equitable distribution of wealth. Unless some restriction is put to action all resources would be accumulated and confined to a few wealthy persons which would be a gross violation of the scheme of the holy Qur'an and the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. A public leader should aspire public esteem and not unlimited plenty. A public leader must have a sacrificing mind. He including his family members cannot be fond of luxuriousness on the face of millions of unfed and tormented human beings if he claims to be their leader.

Such feigning and heinousness are liable to be extremely hated universally. Most unfortunately, our majority people have not learnt morally to hate those are liable to be hated and fantastically they practice the opposite providing thereby encouragement and incentives to the robbers in disguise of public leader. Might be it is the after effect of long term foreign rule in our motherland. But enough! we have seen and we have no time to waste.

To address the situation I would like to suggest making some laws to disqualify the business leaders and big landlords from contesting in any election to the public office. Further, I would like to suggest to fix an appropriate ceiling to the wealth of the public leaders including their dependants. These may not go against the scheme of the Constitution as equality amongst the equals is the principle which would not be frustrated by such laws. Fairly such laws would contribute towards bringing equality amongst the citizens and cause some advancement to the backward section of citizens and hold back the breeding of corruption. People may get long aspired educated, wise and honest persons as their leaders.

We find instances that an illiterate rural person, who could not educate all his children, when distributing property makes some special favour to the illiterate and poor sons or daughters sometimes with consent of the rich and literate sons or daughters.

This person having no institutional education did know neither the Holy Qur'an nor the Constitution but had the fundamental wisdom that every human being should find in himself.

To materialise the dream of the common people the current State leaders may moderately apply such wisdom within the scheme of the Constitution of Bangladesh. The principle of equitable distribution of wealth however deserves application in the whole universe within the Divine scheme.

(The writer is Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh)

Mushroom: A potential new economic sector

Shamim Ara Begum

Shahed Ahmed, an ambitious youth of Tongi, is desperate to change his life, but he is not interested in education but in business. So, he received training on mushroom cultivation when he was an HSC student and it paid dividends.

On completion of his training, Shahed gave up his study and paid full attention to mushroom farming. First, he began on a limited scale and the profit was good. Gradually, he extended the circle. He made a profit of Tk 25,000 in just two months by investing Tk 50,000. The success encourages him to go further. Assisted by four employees, Shahed now also produces mushroom seed.

Ratna Islam of Savar has another success story in mushroom farming. But once she was deadly opposed to taking mushroom considering it a fungus. When some of her neighbours began farming mushroom after training in the adjacent Mushroom Development Project, she became interested and began the journey after training. She has been producing seed for quite a long time. Now, Ratna sells mushroom and its seed to her neighbours.

Although mushroom is a popular and nutritious food in many countries of the world, many in Bangladesh had long been ignoring this stuff considering it a fungus. But today this mushroom has become bread and butter of many people.

Actually, mushroom is a very nutritious, delicious and fully halal vegetable having medicinal qualities. Though its acceptance once was limited to a handful of people, now there has been a gradual change in the impression.

Mushroom cultivation in Bangladesh began in 1979 with assistance from Japanese organization JOCDV. Later, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) came up in 1987with its assistance. Mushroom cultivation slows down in 1990 following withdrawal of JAICA's support.

In 2003, the government introduced a Mushroom Development Project under Agriculture Extension Department for making mushroom popular among the people.

Different research works are being conducted under the project in addition to providing training on mushroom cultivation.

Apart from Savar, this project has activities in Dinajpur, Jessore, Barisal, Chittagong, Sylhet, Comilla, Khulna, Mymensingh, Bandarban, Rangamati, Chapainawabganj and Rangpur for motivating people to cultivate mushroom.

Sheikh Ruhul Amin, director of the Mushroom Development Project, says currently 13 species of mushroom are cultivated in Bangladesh of which Wester Mushroom is produced commercially to a large extent. Mushroom farming is in fact a very easy job. There is an opportunity to make good profit by investing a little amount of capital and labour. One can earn Tk 4-5 thousand a month by investing only Tk 10-15 thousand.

Mushroom seed or spawn is produced through tissue culture, which is bought by farmers at a cost of Tk 6-10. To get the harvest from the seed, it has to be kept in a wet place and needs to be sprayed with water three times a day. Mushroom can be collected for over two months from each span, which will weigh about 200 grams. The farmers begin to harvest within next 8-10 days from the day of cultivation.

There are such advantages in mushroom cultivation that cannot be found in farming of other crops. Mushroom is a fungus type colourless plant. As they are colourless, they do not need sunlight to survive or grow. Besides, mushroom cultivation does not require soil. Mushroom seed can be sowed using industrial waste like wooden dust and husk of wheat and rice. After production, these elements become fertilizer. There is no need of any insecticide or chemical fertilizer for mushroom farming. Given a suitable environment and proper nursing its cultivation is possible throughout the year. Electricity is not needed for mushroom cultivation.

A buyer can buy mushroom in three forms-fresh, dry and powder. Mushroom generally stays fresh for a day. If refrigerated, it stays fresh for two three days. A kilogram of fresh mushroom sells at Tk 80-200, dry one at Tk 1000-1200 while the powder sells at Tk 1200-1500.

Mushroom food is prepared in different ways in different countries. The mushroom soup, fry and vegetable available in Chinese restaurants of our country are very delicious. Mushroom can be used with fish, meat and vegetables.

Mushroom is a highly nutritious vegetable. ST Chang, a professor emeritus of Biology at Chinese University of Hong Kong, and PG Miles, a US scientist, co-authored a book named 'Edible Mushroom and their Cultivation. To them, the amount of protein in mushroom is double than other vegetables. So, it is called vegetable protein.

A recent article by mushroom researcher Prof SM Alam and Rizwan Manjur published in Pakistan's Dawn newspaper shows mushroom is identified as a good source of iron, copper, calcium, potassium, vitamin D and folic acid.

Mushroom has also been used for a long time as a medicinal plant. It works in preventing different diseases. After making antibiotic from fungus, fungus type plants (mushroom) have been contributing wonderfully for the last 50 years in making medicine. Medicines like Penicillin, tetracycline, oriomycin that are made from fungus have been used effectively against infection and infectious diseases.

Experts in a health-related website said edible mushrooms have multidimensional effects that help prevent different diseases. Special elements of some species of mushroom particularly work in preventing diseases like cancer, kidney problems, hepatitis, AIDS, asthma, diabetes, insomnia and tumor. Medicinal mushroom also play a role in reducing cholesterol and ridding of mental exhaustions. It is learnt from an alternative medicine-related website that a mushroom called Reishi is being used in AIDS treatment.

On inventing medicine from mushroom in the 21st century, ST Chang says it can be said based on the research in the last two decades mushroom will be able to play a successful role in the future in those fields where modern medicine system will fail.

There is a huge prospect of mushroom cultivation in Bangladesh. It can play an important role in eradicating malnutrition, one of the main problems of the people, and preventing diseases. By mushroom cultivation, it is possible to alleviate poverty and providing employment for educated unemployed, youths, adolescents and women.

The amount of agricultural land is decreasing day by day. But the population is going up. So is the demand for food. As mushroom does not require soil and its food value is very high, the country's food deficit can be reduced to a great extent by extensive farming of mushroom.

Mushroom has already been an important crop in developed countries. It is possible to earn foreign currency after meeting the domestic demand. The amount of money earned by exporting mushroom is very low at this moment.

There is a need for extensive publication in raising the acceptability of this vegetable. But, it is important to make mushroom acceptable so that people are not provided any exaggerated information about it. Mushroom, for instance, helps prevent diseases but the use of mushroom, as a preventive is not desirable because the issue of using mushroom as drug is still under research. So, a person having diseases against which mushroom creates resistance must undertake treatment for his diseases.

Like booming dairy and poultry industries, it is very much possible to transform mushroom into an industry. For that, eliminating adverse perception, mushroom will have to be made acceptable to the people. Besides, effective steps need to be taken for its marketing.