The New Nation - Internet Edition

Govt liabilities continue to soar

The government is reportedly planning to earmark a special fund allocation in the next budget to lessen the burden and address the lingering problems of contingent liabilities of the state. The liabilities for paying fuel import bills pumping liquidity into natioanlised banks and privatising state-owned corporations have risen to a record high of Tk 17,000 crore in April 2008. It is about 3.2 per cent of GDP may increase further if fertiliser import is calculated. Welfare activities and development agenda of the government have largely been affected because of the huge liabilities and the capacities of government institutions weakened because of the spoon-feeding.

The liability was Tk 15,300 crore in October 2006 - the second highest after independence. The government took liabilities of Tk 14,558.75 crore for the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation by giving guarantee and counter-guarantee to the Islamic Development Bank, the Bangladesh Bank and Sonali, Janata and Agrani banks. In it was difficult to pursue budgetary measures because of fund constraint. A separate budgetary allocation under the liabilities head might help the government to a great extent in this regard. The liabilities for jute and textile mills soared this year compared to previous years as 32 jute and textile mills owed four state-owned commercial banks about Tk 1,670 crore as of March.

Meanwhile, the government issued 15-year treasury bonds worth Tk 664.18 crore for Sonali, Janata and Agrani banks to address the liquidity crisis of these banks after their corporatisation, and transformed them into public limited companies. The banks have demanded special budgetary allocation in the next financial year to clear their huge arrears lying with the public sector. The government assumed the liabilities of the state-owned enterprises that were privatised from 1994 until recently. Getting rid of the liabilities is a must to face new global challenges that are now surfacing.

Stop land record forgery

Disputes and litigation over land ownership are widespread in the country. Such disputes lead even to bloody clashes. Most quarrels in the villages arise out of land disputes. In some cases, people in the rural areas having both ill-gotten wealth and muscle power grab landed property belonging to poor people or absentee landowners. They do the crime through forged settlement records in connivance with a section of corrupt field level-land officials. Faults in the land record system make loopholes for manipulation of land records. Most landowners do not have clear idea about the complex land record system. The forgers take advantage of the ignorance and helplessness of poor people and absent landowners. They also make use of irregularities in the distribution of parental properties.

The impact of such fraud on socio-economic structure in the rural areas is grave. Genuine owners of land are deprived of their legitimate rights. The poor and weak sections suffer the most. Losing whatever small patches of land they have, those people slide deeper into poverty. This process of grabbing land pushes the likely achievement of poverty reduction goal further back. It quickens concentration of land in the hands of the non-tiller farmers and leads to inefficient use of land productivity.

The authorities concerned should make concerted efforts to bring about a radical change in the land record system to check pauperisation and social disintegration. Necessary amendments to land laws are needed to do away with the loopholes so that forgery of settlement records is stopped. Fragmentation of land ownership is one of the causes of land disputes. Is it impossible to evolve some methods of discouraging fragmentation of land? Experiences of people in developed countries may be of help.

Creating a more perfect America

Rashidul Bari

Speaking in Philadelphia , the place where 221 years ago the Constitutional Convention was held, Sen. Barrack Obama discarded racially emotional remarks made by his former Pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Earlier Rev. Wright claimed that "God Dam America " is more appropriate sentiment than "God bless America " and asserted that the September 11 terrorist attack on America -represented the "chickens coming home to roost". He also accused America as a racist society that dropped nuclear bombs on Japan and helped to oppress Palestinian and South American. Finally he said that America invented AIDS to eliminate blacks from the earth.

Using some 4, 992 words, speaking relatively small crowds, the Senator of Illinois reiterated his view that some of Wright's comments were "not only wrong but divisive." But in his speech, Obama also offered a context that explained Wright's ravings: "For the men and women of Rev. Wright's generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor have the anger and the bitterness of those years. That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table."

Obama's speech on race was so influential that it reminds me about Pericles oration of funeral. When Pericles (495-429), the Athenian's General- was asked to give the funeral oration for the Athenian fallen soldiers who had died at one of the opening battles of the Peloponnesian War, he took the chance not only to praise the fallen, but also Athens itself. In the same way-when Sen. Obama was asked to deliver a speech about Rev. Wright before the nation, he used the occasion to heal the nation. The way, Athenians praised Pericles' funnel oration, in the same way Obama's speech has been admired by Americans as enshrining the highest ideals of democracy. When I asked Jerald Posman, the Vice President of York College, to make a comment about Obama's speech on race, he replied, "The speech Obama made on race on 18 March, 2008 was the best political speech since John F. Kennedy speech on Catholicism-in 1961." Many Americans sentiments are as same as the Vice President when it comes the importance of Obama's speech on race-in which he applied his oratory skills to heal the racial divide.

Although Rev. Wright's talks about the American nightmare, nevertheless Sen. Obama's speech perused us to believe in American dream. However, the possible Democratic party candidate for 2008 presidential election-admitted that he had sat in the church and heard while his pastor Wright's made all the controversial remarks about 9/11 and AIDS by using series of interrogative sentences:

Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course

Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes.

Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely

Although Sen. Obama is a charismatic leader, and was so persuasive to convince us that he was innocent, nevertheless it has been difficult for the senator to distance himself completely from the retired minister of the church where he has worshipped for two decades. However, he attempt to persuade people to reduce the racial gap, "Given my background, my politics, and my professed values and ideals, there will no doubt be those for whom my statements of condemnation are not enough."

Rev. Wright offense Obama for being speaking as atypical politician, but I think that every single words uttered out from Obama in Philadelphia on "A More Perfect Union" was right because we are still living a segregated society 221 years after the Decoration of Independence-where Thomas Jefferson proclaimed, "All men are created equal". There is no equality in the United Sates. For example, in America 50% of the blacks do not have the high school degree! More blacks are in the prison and street than any other ethnicity in the United States . When I was accompanied Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, who work to creating a world without poverty, on a book tour to India , in 2006, he said, "we have created a society that does not allow opportunities for those people to take care of themselves because we have denied them those opportunities." Although Sen. Obama admits this facts but he thinks that only white people are not held responsible for this inequality, "…expressed a profoundly view of this country-a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America…"

Nobody is perfect, so does Obama, but he has some good aspiration, and we have to make progress toward it under his leadership-because he is the symbol of an undivided America . He is the icon of lasting peace, hope and American dream. Thus we ask Obama to initiate a dialogue to solve the racial issue-only then we can achieve our goal of making a more perfect union.

No single speech will recalibrate America 's consideration of race and politics, but Americans are closer today, thanks to this remarkable address, to facing American history and perfecting the nation. Thanks to Obama, and millions of golden minds, one day there would be no segregation, no discrimination. One day there would be no division between and among Americans. One day there would be no black America , and there would be no white America . One day there would be only one America -the United States of America . Thanks to Obama, Americans are not too far from that day-when we sit down together on the table of brotherhood to create a more perfect union-the Union that Dr. Martin Luther King taught us to create.

(Rashidul Bari, Secretary of Bangladeshi American for Obama, is a Bangladeshi born writer based in the United States.)

Politics and polemics in Nepal

Dr.Abdul Ruff

Nepal looks set for a new historical phase in its existence as a Himalayan nation, an under-developed country sandwiched between China and India. Ahead of the scheduled first national Assembly meet on 28 May, Nepalese authorities have banned rallies and mass meetings in strategic areas in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. The strict prohibition comes into force two days before Nepal's newly-elected assembly is expected to meet to declare the country a republic. The aim is to frustrate protests, rallies and mass meetings planned by political and civil society activists before the vote in the Assembly. Venues covered by the ban include the palace of King Gyanendra, the Crown Prince's house, the hall where the assembly will sit, and the residence of the prime minister.

Despite all this, there is a general belief that a republic will be declared on Wednesday when the assembly first sits. Historic change is approaching in Nepal, but with surprisingly little fanfare. The assembly elected last month is empowered under the constitution to implement a republic, spelling the end of the centuries-old monarchy. But the mechanism has not been determined. Nor has a new government been formed, which many here say will have to happen before any motion on a republic can be drawn up. Up to now there has been no indication of whether King Gyanendra will finally lose his efforts to remain the king or move out of the Royal Palace into one of the other residences, as being proposed by the new emerging dispensation.

As it stands, the top priorities of the Maoists include: To abolish the monarchy and proclaim Nepal as a Republic with a Presidential style of Government; To abrogate all existing unequal agreements (and treaties) with India and re-negotiate those of them, which are considered to be in Nepal's interest; To merge the armed cadres of the Maoists (20,000-strong People's Liberation Army) into the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) which will convert the royalist (Gurkha-dominated) army into a people's army. And to stop the export of Gurkha mercenaries (currently numbering about 45, 000) to the Indian Army's Gurkha Regiments. Obviously, the Maoist leader Prachanda would assume office as the President of Nepal. But a coalition government formation remains the bottle neck for the time being.

New Power Equations

The Maoists had emerged as the largest party in last month's constitutional assembly polls, defying all predictions before the elections, but has been rustling with finding partners for a government formation. The unexpected victory of the Maoist rebels in Nepal's elections has surprised the former rebels themselves, baffled political observers and stunned the international community. The general expectation was that the rebels would trail behind the country's two largest political parties, the Nepali Congress, and the mainstream-left, the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist. But both the parties were left far behind the Maoists who won half the seats chosen by the first-past-the-post system and gained about 30% of the votes for seats given by proportional representation. The polls were to form an assembly to re-write the country's constitution and act as an interim parliament. The "outlawed" Maoists fought a decade-long brutal insurgency which left 13,000 people dead and caused massive damage to the economy before committing themselves to mainstream politics two years ago.

In order to break the political deadlock in Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist was contemplating joining hands with arch rival Madhesi parties to form a coalition government, after both the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML refused support. Since the Maoists and Madhesi parties have a clear mandate from the people through the Constituent Assembly, they still hope to form the new government. Nepal-Maoist accused the NC and UML of holding on to power under some pretext or the other even after their defeat in the polls. They are making attempts to remain in power against the people's verdict but they are sure to fail," the Maoist leader Bhattarai said. The people would take to the streets if the Maoists are denied a chance to form the government.

The Maoist leader Prachanda, whose labor wing has been solely blamed for leading to the closure of a number of industries, however, has pledged that there will be complete industrial security after Maoists come to power. He appealed to the business community to invest more in commerce and industry. Bhattarai left no stone unturned to woo the business community's support for Maoists and complained that the latter have not yet fully won them over despite sincere efforts.

The Maoists, elected to head a new government in the Himalayan country plan to scrap the 58-year-old Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty and have a fresh pact reflecting new realities. Maoist chairman Prachanda said in Kathmandu on 34 April that they also want to review all other treaties signed between the two neighboring countries. During the poll campaign, the Maoists headed by the 54-year-old former school teacher, Prachanda, had said the treaty was "unequal" which needed to be abrogated, a demand which was also made in the Himalayan nation eight years back. Under the treaty, people living in both countries could freely travel across the border for employment and reside in either place. There is a termination clause in the treaty and Nepal can do away with the pact, which is basically meant to address India's security needs, if it is uncomfortable.

There has been resentment in India over Maoists "take over" in its neighbor Hindu nation and there have been reports about India trying to derail the government by engineering a coup. Bhattarai claimed that the Maoist government to come would further consolidate ties with India for the sake of Nepal's economic development. "India's economy is an ocean and ours is a well," he said adding "India's minor assistance in this context would be a great boost for us."

India, infested with huge weapons arsenals piled up over decades on common men's resources, has been a supplier of weapons and other materials and goods to both Nepal and Bhutan. Obviously, India thinks it has legitimate right to keep Nepal under full control as it has already done with Kashmir.

US Opposes While UN supports

Although the former US president Cater who was among the international observers appreciated the conduct of poll and the outcome, the official USA has said that there was 'no change' in the status of Nepal's Maoists, who currently figure in its list of terrorists despite their recent victory in the Constituent Assembly polls. "I don't think there's any change. There's no change in their status," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, commenting on May 07 on the issue in the backdrop of a meeting between a top American envoy in Kathmandu Nancy Powell and Maoist leader Prachanda. "There's a particular listing. And I don't have in front of me what exactly what it is, but at this point there's no change," he said. The Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist was added by the United States in its Terrorist Exclusion List in 2004. Since then, America has refused to change its status or remove it from the list. However, the views expressed now are expected to be revised in due course.

However, a firm positive stance taken by the UN chief is significant. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said recently despite last month's landmark Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal, the South Asian nation still have a long way to go in completing the peace process, United Nations. Characterizing the polls as historic, Ban said that "the desire and commitment of the people of Nepal for peace and change was the driving force behind this success." But he warned that "the election is only a milestone in the peace process," noting that "the real work of addressing the nation's deeper socio-economic difficulties and drafting a constitution that reflects the will of the entire nation only begins now." The Secretary-General wrote that he is encouraged by the commitment and cooperation that the Maoists, who performed well at the elections, and called on the other political parties to remain focused on Nepal's long-term interests. "Short-term differences should not distract them from governing by consensus and from cooperating in the vital task of constitution-making," he said. Although Ban noted that he does not anticipate the extension of the mandate of the UN Mission in Nepal, he said the UN is prepared to offer continued support for the conclusion of the peace process and for the country's lasting development. Additionally, both his Special Representative and Resident Coordinator will provide whatever the new government, once formed, may request. "These are critical times for long-term stability in Nepal, and the United Nations will remain by the side of the people and leaders of Nepal in the historic tasks of political and social transformation on which they have embarked."

(Does, then, the UN compensate for the USA's anti-Nepal feelings espoused and supported by Israel? However, more than the USA it is India that Nepalese new leadership should be beware of.)

Opining: Making future politics meaningful

Mohammad Hasmat Ali

The Chief Advisor proposed a way to make future politics of Bangladesh safe and hopeful in his last speech to the nation. The speech was offered as an agenda for the dialogue between the government and the political parties as well as the selected citizens so that there can be an unanimous and joint role playing decision between govt. and political parties. The government is expecting the parties to take part in the dialogue to make it a success.

Till this day, there is no hope of participating in the dialogue by the major parties as their demands are not fulfilled. The country is ruled by the political parties except for some moments by non-political parties. The political problems have been faced by Bangladesh for long time due to some crucial reasons like

i) Misunderstanding between government and opposition

ii) Worse relation between government and parties

iii) Destructive programs for achieving the target of each party

iv) Difference in opinions and agreement

v) Moreover different philosophies of different parties for themselves and for the country

Economic development in the form of living standard, infrastructure, employment, security, foreign and domestic investment, balance of payment etc. are at stake mostly for political crisis.

As a result we are loosing the image, strength and sovereignty.

The initiative of the present caretaker government is a landmark effort for our future.

The success of this initiative depends on the both government and opposition. No way to deny that the role of government should be neutral, active, motivating, and fruitful. They must be flexible in their efforts. They must be cooperative too.

They are expected to play a good guardian role.

The roles of government machineries are not supportive and balanced with the motive of dialogue between government and opposition. Seems that there are no coordination between government and the machineries.

Every part is moving by itself not by governmental framework. The activities of Election commission, Anti corruption commission, Police, joint force and others are enough to proof the poor coordination and leadership excellence of the govt.

I suggest government to do something before election and handing over the power to the elected government:

1. Try heart and soul to remove the gap in respects, understanding and opinions between political parties. Make an effort to bring them in one table under an umbrella for the interest of the state.

2. Let the political parties be together and ask them to make commitments for the future unanimously.

3. Let the election be held freely and fairly without any interruption

4. Control and avoid all actions that divide nations into different parts on the basis of different issues.

5. Try to be courageous, independent and neutral for all avoiding all kinds of vindictiveness.

6. Ensure a country of mass respects, loves, and patience for all by removing threats.

This is difficult but possible. It is not possible for an elected government but for a neutral and patriotic govt.

It needs a decision, initiative, action just.

I wish good luck for all.