The New Nation - Internet Edition

Boosting foreign investment

IN international rankings, Bangladesh scores well in respect of policies pertaining to foreign investment but comes out not so impressive in the sphere of regulations. Through reform of regulations, there is an opportunity for the country to make a big jump in its international rankings for better practices in businesses. Such an achievement would be very positive because in all cases increases in foreign investments in a country are seen vitally connected to improvement in its perception as a favourable location for investments. And the perception is mainly formed on the basis of such rankings.

The inflow of foreign investments into Bangladesh has dwindled by more than 50 per cent in the span of a year. This is a most undesirable trend for a country that suffers from insufficient investment in the economy in both public and private sectors. The rising foreign investments flow in recent years was looked upon as an encouraging development from the perspective of boosting investment operations in the economy which is a big determinant for the economy's expansion leading to income and employment generation. Thus, there is a pressing need to give a spur to the foreign investment inflow.

One can easily realise the sort of frustration that investors are confronted with from knowing that it takes unusually long time and cumbersome procedures, for foreign investors to only register property in Bangladesh. Similar delaying factors are witnessed in other spheres of the regulatory regime which are not at all conducive from the standpoint of motivating the foreign investors. Thus, rationalising of this regulatory framework is imperative to make it responsive to the demands for saving time and hassles - two considerations uppermost in the minds of most of the foreign investors.

Crucial year for Doha Round

THE current year, according to the chief of the World Trade Organisation, is 'crucial' for the outcome of the Doha Round of global trade talks. 'It's an Olympic year for China and may be an Olympic year for Doha too,' the WTO director general Pascal Lamy reportedly said during his visit to Beijing recently. He said what he saw from WTO members was a desire to try to finish the negotiations - lingering on for six years - some time during this year. His prognosis was that it was doable as they now had both political and technical conditions to make it possible.

The Doha Round initiated by the WTO in 2001, has been working towards a

global trade agreement that would liberalise markets primarily agriculture,

manufacturing and services, to reduce poverty and promote development. But

disagreement persists on the size of tariff cuts, and the treatment developing nations should receive. On the No 1 issue, agriculture, developing nations want the rules - for both subsidies and protection - to be rebalanced in their favour. Another pressing issue is industrial tariffs, and greater market access is needed in both developing and developed countries.

An informal meeting of some trade ministers as scheduled in Davos in months would present a clear view of all the possible next steps to be taken. China now has a more level playing field globally with reduced subsidies and more open markets. China's strategic interest is to keep foreign markets open and to open them even more but it also has some defensive interests like agriculture. Developing countries recently welcomed WTO proposals to reduce barriers to farm trade but voiced reservations on those for further opening their own markets for industrial goods. The draft agreement on agriculture presented by the WTO more than a fortnight ago is a good basis for further work. But the emerging market countries were less enthusiastic about WTO draft on manufactured goods.

Bird flu and our Media

Md. Masum Billah

Poultry farming has emerged as a potential source of local economy and cheapest form of protein. Large scale poultry farming started in our country in 1980s which has drawn an investment of $1.457 billion. Resurfacing the outbreak of bird flu has thrown this industry into a serous quagmire as it poses not only health hazard but also a serious blow on our viable economy. Since the inception five million people directly and indirectly related to this farming proclaiming it as potential and gigantic industrial sector. Hence it calls for a concerted effort and immediate pragmatic steps. A series of misfortunes have blown over the country throwing us into a state of frenzy. The present one is bird flu. It has already affected 271 farms covering 78pazilas in 43 districts. So far 883613 chicken have already been culled and 11, 02 669 eggs have been destroyed. About 40% poultry have been closed.

Dense population, unhygienic market condition and lack of protective measures during poultry handling and meat processing pose serious health hazards for the city dwellers. The experts pointed out lax monitoring of the market, lack of awareness among the poultry sellers and customers about fatality of killer disease.

Professor Mhamudur Rahman, Director, Institute of Epidemiology , Disease Control and Research said, " Dhaka city is extremely vulnerable especially because of the dense population and close living quarters which increases potential for any virus transmission," If affected poultry birds are transported to the city regularly with the current unhygienic condition of our kitchen markets and practice of poultry processing it would be hard task to contain the situation if the deadly disease strikes. When a case of infection is identified all chickens around one kilometer area has to be destroyed which is literally impossible." In China and Thailand where Bird flu has been detected millions of chickens have been culled and the farms remain away mostly from human habitation. Necessarily they don't have the possibility to affect the people. But the problem lying in our densely populated country culling safely becomes virtually impossible. Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock so far identified 27 farms in Dhaka including Dmera, Peelkhan, Lalbagh, Sabjubagh, Mirpur. It means bird flu germs fly in the city of Dhaka and in a very short period of time the germs can affect thousands of people. So, preventive measures from government, community and in the individual level must be taken. Dependence only on the government cannot address the situation successfully as it has posed as a gigantic problem. Dhaka City Corporation has already started monitoring bio-safety measures at all the kichen markets. It has provided 50 plastic barrels to dump dead kitchen and kitchen wastes in different markets. They have also provided " 2000 pairs of gloves and masks to the chicken sellers and traders. But monitoring is important to make sure whether sellers are using them or not. Actually due to awareness or business sensitivity they hardly use these protective tools. Many chicken vendors even don't know what is bird flu and how it spreads.

However, media particularly electronic media must play the significant role during this period of calamity which has affected all sections of people. Only creating alarm and fear among the public does not mean the main role they should play. Rather, they must try to explain how people can and should use the meat after proper treatment. Hotels, restaurants and in ceremonials feasts using chicken has been stopped. Individually using chicken has been stopped. All these are the contributions of media. Media must play the positive role. We must keep this industry alive without affecting public health. How we can do it should be our main concern. This industry significantly contributes to our GDP. So, we must thrive this industry. About 1.75 lakh to 2 lakh chickens are consumed in the city of Dhaka everyday. Now the number has drastically reduced. Even, AIDS and SARS could not create so much panic as AI has sparked. And it is the media which has contributed to this situation. WHO reports that deaths from bird flu has stood 225 since 2003, Diarreal disease has killed over two million children, Malaria 3 million but Avian Flu 225. but media has created just like a panic. Whereas AIDS are more dangerous than bird flu. It is not an air-borne disease as well. Now awareness should be created how to eat the meat after proper treatment and processing.

When the meat of the chicken affected with bird flu can be taken after boiling it over 70 degree Celsius, why don't we encourage the people to follow it? Wearing musk while processing the meat and washing the hands after touching the meat can save an individual from being affected by bird flu. We must magnify this message among the public without encouraging them to avoid eating chickens. We must give emphasis both on our health and economy.

(The writer works as a specialist in the Brac Education Programme, PACE and regularly writes on various national and international issues.)

Exotic dishes help tourism promotion

Mohammad Shahidul Islam

Coarse rice for food, water to drink, and the bended arm for a pillow - happiness may be enjoyed even in these." - Confucius

Yes! Food & Beverage could be the all source of attraction to the tourist in their all way of tours and travels. In tourism food and beverage occupies an alluring part in all fascinated activities done by the tourist. People move from one place to another not to enjoy beauties but to taste foods. Naturally food is always next to tourism. In tourism, the role and experience of Food & Beverage is popular as Culinary Tourism. A unique food and drink experience has the power to lure tourists like museums - recreation and shopping. Culinary tourism is the newest slot to come into sight within the travel industry in years because dining is one of the best ways visitors can get to know a new and exotic locale.

The history of culinary tourism is romantic. Thousands of years ago, merchants traveled the seven seas, looking for foodstuffs to trade. Spices, wine, fruits and olive oil were the currencies of the ancient time. Today, we unconsciously do much the same. However, modern travelers tend to prefer restaurants and wineries in place of pirate-infested trade routes. Culinary tourism is not new. It is a subset of agri-tourism that focuses specifically on the search for, and enjoyment of, prepared food and drink. Culinary tourism promotes all distinguishing and impressive cookery experiences, not just those that have earned 4 stars or better. Previously overlooked, "culinary tourism" is an important new niche that fosters economic and community development and new intercultural insights. Culinary tourism can be found in rural or urban areas and should be available to visit all year 'round.

Culinary tourism sounds nothing special for which we need not to have much preparation, as it continues automatically till the confirmation of the tourists' arrival is ok. Even though, we have to see it under greater consideration to lift the country' image; at the same time to promote economy. Culinary tourism should be looked important for following easy reasons:

Nearly 100% of tourists dine out when they are away from home

Dining is consistently one of the top 3 favorite tourist activities [transportation, accommodation and F & B]

The higher the total bill, the more likely the patrons are tourists

High correlation between tourists who are interested in wine/cuisine, museums, shows, shopping, music and film festivals

Culinary tourists are highly likely to participate in outdoor recreation

Interest in culinary tourism spans to all age groups

Cuisine is the only art form that speaks to all five senses

Culinary tourists are "explorers"

Culinary "attractions" remain available year-round

Culinary tourism offers relief to tourists from fatigue

Local cuisine is the number 1 motivating factor in choosing a destination

In the Bangladesh context, we have a very silent culinary tourism as it is not officially thought; what is not really in grammar or do not think in formal way as well. We can easily develop our culinary tourism formally. We have to see the thing first of all commercially though the thing is automatic in the condition of tourists' arrival. Otherwise the authority and the concerned would not show their concentration. National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation is sincerely producing resourceful food and Beverage force to feedback culinary tourism in Bangladesh. The present scenario is very prospective.

We are really proud of having a remarkable legacy of food and beverage since the origin of our land. The taste haunts tourists. Tantalizing blend of wonderful and fragrant spices keeps anyone coming back again and again. Many non-Bangladeshis have probably eaten Bangladeshi food without knowing them. Now it is imperative to champion our food throughout the culinary tourism in the world. Over 80 percent of the "Indian" restaurants in the UK serve Bangladeshi food. When it is tasteful and loved, it is confidently Bangladeshi.

Many tourists fail to taste Bangladeshi food as being the same as Indian food. But, it does not taste so. Bangladeshi food has its distinct taste and character. Especially the variety of our curry dishes is significant. The many different meats, poultry and fish curries are a culinary delight. We have a variety of seasonal vegetable dishes also. One of the main characteristics of Bangladeshi curry is that it is not as hot as its counterparts in the other parts of the Indian subcontinent. Our cook is like a painter; has the talent to combine different smelling spices to add to taste as a painter does with different hues to stand a splendid fervor in his painting.

To the tourist, Bangladeshi local dishes rank top and more exotic. Curries of many kinds abound, cooked with scented spices and taste provoking curry powders looking colorful, including Korma, Rezala, Bhoona and Masala Gosht, Chicken, mutton, beef, fish and prawns, Chicken Afghani, Chicken Baghdadi, Chicken Kashmiri, Chicken Tikka, boti kabab, shutli kabab and a variety of fish curries may easily electrify any tourist. Plain rice and rice in the form of pulao biriani and mutton or chicken and khichuri are available everywhere in Bangladesh. Those who do not care for rice dishes can try mughlai parata, plain parata or naan, which go very well with curries. Seafood and sweet-water fish are available in most of the towns and villages. Fish-lovers should not miss smoked hilsa, fresh bhetki and chingri (lobster/king prawns) malakari, prawn dopyaza. Bengali cooking is also known for it's wide collection of sweets made from milk. Rasho-gollah, kalo-jam, shandesh, mishti doi, shemai, chamcham t the names are endless.

To foster culinary tourism, food or beverage experience must be unique and memorable. Culinary tourism is much more than just restaurants and wineries. Cooking is of course a matter of maintaining food hygiene and presentation. Every house in towns and villages could be the center of culinary tourism. They may entertain tourists homely.

It will play double roles in generating money and reviving culture and heritage. In Bangladesh we have examples to produce real culinary tourism in most tribal families in Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban and Sylhet. They celebrate culinary tourism for tourists in their own setting. National food carnival for local and traditional cuisines may promote culinary tourism. Eventually it will outshine internationally.

(The writer is a freelance travel writer and Faculty member of National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.)

Demise of king's party

Asif Haroon Raja

The demise of king's party and particularly its leading lights came as a shocker to its mentor President Musharraf and a pleasant surprise to the winning political parties. PPP's victory was never in doubt because of rejuvenation of the party as a result of arrival of Benazir on 18 October, timely selection and submission of election papers of its candidates and later on the huge sympathy vote it received. PML N on the other hand remained handicapped because of second banishment of its leader on 10 September which not only depressed the party workers but also put a stopper on expected desertions from Q League to the mother party. The party suffered because of the late arrival of Sharif brothers' in November amidst restrictions imposed on public meetings in the wake of emergency and security concerns and hostility of the Establishment and PCO judges. Besides acute shortage of time for campaigning, invalidation of Nawaz and Shahbaz to participate in elections became a serious drawback. The entire local government in Punjab was in the grip of Q League and the interim government was also an extension of former rulers. Under the grim circumstances to win 67 National Assembly seats and 101 Punjab seats was creditable. Nawaz's unequivocal stance on the issue of judges as against non-committal stance of Benazir and then by Zardari, and his vocal anti-Musharraf tirade turned the tide in Punjab in favour of PML-N.

Q League's confidence to win the race emanated from its plan of pre-poll, during poll and post-poll rigging. The president, caretakers, the election commission and the judiciary were to look the other way to all the irregularities committed. Arrival of Nawaz and his alignment with PPP upset its calculations to emerge as the single largest party. It grudgingly accepted the changed situation but still hoped to win sizeable chunk of seats at the centre, Baluchistan and Frontier, with dominance in Punjab and to emerge as second largest party after PPP by manipulating results on the D-day.

While it succeeded in carrying out pre-poll rigging and put the party at a distinct advantageous position as opposed to other contestants, rigging on the polling day had to be abandoned due to massive internal and external pressure and presence of hundreds of foreign observers. The regime had already come under extreme pressure on account of Benazir's murder inquest and chest thumping by opposition parties that elections will be rigged. They had threatened to boycott election results and to launch violent agitations. More so, the new army chief's decision to keep the army out of politics and civil affairs nailed the manipulators. These unforeseen developments plunged the fortunes of Q League and deprived it from emerging even as a runner up. The post-poll rigging has now been set in motion in connivance with USA to form governments friendly to US policies and having liberal outlook.

Although PPP has emerged as the single largest party winning 88 national assembly seats out of 342, 78 seats in Punjab, 17 in Frontier, 65 in Sindh and 7 in Baluchistan , yet it is not in a position to form governments at its own either in the centre or in Sindh. PML-N could make its presence felt at the centre and Punjab only and could not gain a single seat in Sindh and Baluchistan . Although Q League has miserably lost the race, however, it has managed to win sizeable seats in national assembly as well as in all the four provincial assemblies. ANP has improved its performance considerably by acquiring highest tally of seats in Frontier, ten in national assembly, two in Sindh and one in Baluchistan . MQM has improved its strength at the centre and in Sindh by resorting to organised rigging and coercive tactics in Karachi . It could not win a single seat outside urban Sindh since the masses had rejected its fascist policies and has thus continued to remain a regional party.

PPP has several choices available to form governments at the centre and in provinces. At the centre it had the choice of either co-opting PML-N and ANP or PML Q and ANP to attain the magic figure. It has been decided to team up with PML-N and ANP. In Frontier it can join up with ANP, BNP and independents. In Sindh, it can form a government with MQM alone or with other parties.

Although it will be in the interest of Sindh if the PPP-MQM marry up, but going by the rules laid down in Charter of Democracy, all the parties had pledged not to get aligned with MQM because of its fascism. In Baluchistan PPP can team up with PML Q or with independents and other smaller parties. The independents will be in hot demand while the winners in Q League would be itching to move over to greener pastures. PML-N fortunes can upturn in case of flurry of desertions from the winners in Q League to whom Nawaz has already thrown bait. Patriots could also return to mother party. Since all of them are turn coats, it would not come as a surprise if they decide to change their loyalties. The process of making and breaking and under hand deals has already commenced.

Both PPP and PML N are so far in no mood to get friendly with Musharraf and have given open hints that he should resign. Even if the PPP-PML-N coalition agree to work with him, Article 58 (2)(b) would remain a sticking point. Even they would like to snatch away appointment of services chiefs, governors and judges from the president, and convert NSC into NDC under the PM. The big question is whether Musharraf who has basked in glory for over eight years would accept getting converted into a ceremonial figurehead and tolerate the overbearing attitude of the Executive for the next five years.

Although USA as well as President Musharraf have lost their role of kingmaker to form another dummy legislature, USA will continue to pressurise Zardari and Nawaz to reject policy of confrontation and instead co-exist with President Musharraf. The latter and Q League would keep hoping for a conflict between PPP and PML-N over issues or over portfolios resulting in its early collapse.

(The writer is a defence and political analyst.)