The New Nation - Internet Edition

It is reported that Bangladesh received foreign direct investment of US$666 million in 2007 against US$793 million in the previous year, marking a 16 percent decrease in the FDI at a time when the global FDI reportedly increased by around 30 percent. Bangladesh shared only 3.4 percent of the global FDI share in 2007. A highly placed government official identified problem of infrastructure, mainly gas and electricity as the likely cause of this fall. It is apprehended that the FDI would be affected unless these problems were solved. Power crisis seriously hampering the national development.

This bleak energy situation seriously obstructed domestic and foreign investment. But this is a partial truth. The above sluggish trend in investment is the price of long-drawn political instability here. The local investors refrained from investment apprehending political uncertainty, needless to say about the foreign investors. Only political stability and continuity of polices that placed India in the leading receiver of FDI in South Asia.

The political forces were mainly responsible for the rise and continuity of the abnormal political atmosphere.

In the present era of free economic order when every one tries to supersede the others in economic activities, forces here are engaged in pulling down one another. And, the nation pays the price. The emergency rule that imposed a total accountability abruptly on certain individuals, a fear factor prevented local investors from investment. In co-relation to these negative developments, the FDI naturally came down. These are believed to be the main causes of downward trend in overall investment. It is hoped that all concerned quarters will rise to their senses to bring an end to the political instability once and for all. They must come to a common strategy for the development of the country and should in no way deviate from it. The equation is really simple as that.

Ariful Huq

Dhaka