The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh can earn huge foreign currencies by exporting various goods, especially medicines, to the West African country of Liberia.

"There is a huge scope for exporting various Bangladeshi goods, including medicines, cement and matches, to the West African country," said Brigadier General Monawar Hossain, former sector commander of Bangladesh Sector-3 in Liberia.

Medicines available in the war-torn country are very expensive. The price of a paracetamol tablet in Liberia is Taka 15, where it is only Taka 0.70 in Bangladesh, he said.

Brigadier General Monawar said Bangladeshi businessmen could avail the opportunity by exporting the medicines.

Ar present, Lebanon and India are dominating the medicine markets of the country where a single pharmaceutical industry is not set up.

Besides, Bangladeshi businessmen can invest in other sectors like cement, plastic products, matches and agriculture in Liberia, Brigadier General Monawar said.

A small quantity of Bangladeshi fruit juice and other goods, produced by Pran Group, are now being exported to the war-ravaged country, he said.

Though the Liberia's land is very fertile, thousands of acres of farmland remained abandoned there for a long time as local people are less interested in cultivation.

There is a huge number of palm gardens across the West African country but the gardens turned into jungles as nobody is there to clean it.

Liberia, a country rich in scenic beauty as well as natural resources, unfortunately has been the victim of one of the longest civil wars in the world. The effect of this conflict has devastated the country's economy.

At least 80 percent people of Liberia are now jobless as there is no work ready for them.

Liberia, home to 3.5 million people, is almost peaceful following the general elections held in 2005 and disarmament of the rebels, bringing an end to a 14-year-old civil war.

But the war-torn country is yet to reestablish its national power supply, seaport operation, land telephone system, public bus service, railway service and other major economic activities.