The New Nation - Internet Edition

Business security

ONLY about a month ago, the owner of a garment industry was shot dead for his failure to pay up an amount of money demanded by an extortionist gang. The operators of wholesale businesses in the city's Karwan Bazar area have been pleading to police and RAB for months to protect them from the resurgent extortionist gangs. The businessmen in this big wholesale market of perishables and other commodities in Dhaka city, are at their wits' ends about how to meet the rising demands of these gangs. But they are helpless and feel only obliged to meet these demands as they do not get the required help and protection.

The daring robbery at a jewelry shop at Prince Plaza in Danmondi on Wednesday and extortionists holding sway over Karwanbazar, are not isolated cases. These are representative of the upsurge in crimes which threaten business and business establishments in varying degrees. Thus, it should come as nothing exceptional or peculiar if businessmen now demand truly dedicated and timely action from the government and the law enforcement bodies for the protection of their lives and properties. For the persistence of such attacks are causing erosion in the confidence of businesses on the business environment.

The functioning of the economy on top gears is linked inexorably to business conditions remaining conducive and good law and order is counted as a very important part of this conducive business environment. Attention from the highest level of the government, therefore, needs to be directed to the very pressing need of taking appropriate actions, specially giving stern directive to the law enforcement personnel and bodies, to protect businesses from extortionists and other criminal activities. Higher economic growth which is aspired by the policy planners, cannot be achieved when businessmen are too stressed and lose ability and motivation to vigorously pursue business activities.

New rice variety

AGRICULTURE scientists, according to recent reports, have developed a new aromatic rice variety claiming it to be very 'cost-effective' and 'disease-resistant'. This new variety of paddy, the scientists believe, will help mitigate sufferings of poor farmers, particularly of what is called 'Monga' areas in the northern districts. The variety can be harvested within 110 days after plantation. The scientists at the Agricultural University Rangpur in association with a local non-governmental organisation, RDRS, have developed the new variety of paddy named 'BU Dhan-1'. Earlier efforts were initiated jointly with the government's Agricultural Extension Department for the welfare of the poor farmers of the area following their persistent seasonal joblessness in the annual lean period.

This year, as many as 17 farmers in Rangpur district have cultivated the new variety following experimental cultivation by scientists. The Agricultural University and the RDRS initiated the research in 1994 to develop a variety suitable for the lean season to engage agriculture labourers who usually leave homes for cities and towns for temporary work till the next harvest time. Crossing two varieties of rice - 'KK-4' and 'Badshahbhog' - after an extensive research, scientists developed the new variety of paddy 'BU Dhan-1'.

The newly evolved grain is 'a short duration paddy' and got approval of the National Seed Board in August last. Farmers can plant saplings in mid-July and harvest rice in late October - a lean period. After the harvest, farmers can cultivate early variety of potato, pulse and vegetables on the same field, which will bring more benefit for them and create additional jobs in farm fields. During trial farming it was not affected by pest attack anywhere although 'Aman' paddy suffered such attacks. In cultivating the new variety of paddy, the farmers need not worry of such pest attacks.

Shouldn't a Muslim American dream to be President?

Maswood Alam Khan

Former US Secretary of State General Colin Powell touched a huge emotional chord with the Americans on Sunday night as he questioned: "Is it something wrong with a seven year old Muslim American kid believing that he or she can one day be President of the United States of America?"

Colin Powell in a bold move endorsed Senator Barack Obama for president, criticizing his own Republican Party's narrow focus on irrelevant personal attacks. In an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" Powell said he was "troubled" by Republicans' personal attacks on Obama and the recent focus on Obama's alleged connections to William Ayers, a co-founder of the radical '60 Weather Underground.

Republican campaigners, as Powell said, are suggesting that Obama was a Muslim. Powell said, "The correct answer is Obama is a lifelong Christian. But the right answer is: 'what if he is? Is there anything wrong to be a Muslim?" praising the contribution of millions of Muslims citizens to American society.

Given his intelligence and present-mindedness Obama could also come out and say, "I'm Christian, but if I were Muslim, SO WHAT?" But, he had to suppress many such answers considering sensitivities of pre-election campaign. Obama must be smiling after he heard Powell speaking what he couldn't. Powell's enunciation of the right answer "what if he is a Muslim?" is an excerpt of a historical statement that has to reverberate for a long time in American classrooms where American democracy will be tutored.

But the part of his interview with NBC that sent millions of Americans---irrespective of their colour, creed, religion, or ethnicity---into raptures was when Powell in his subdued voice narrated a story of a 14 year old Muslim boy who was appalled at the carnage of 3,000 Americans on the morning of September 11, 2001 as Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City.

In an emotional undertone Colin Powel said: "It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of the photo essay was a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave.

And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards---Purple Heart, Bronze Star---showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life."

Kareem R. Khan, a 2005 graduate of Southern Regional School, was determined to join the Army to show that not all Muslims were fanatics and that many, like him, were willing to lay their lives down for their country, America. Immediately after his graduation he enlisted himself and was sent to Iraq in July, 2006 where at Baqubah he along with three other soldiers died on August 6, 2007 in a blast from an impoverished explosive device.

Shouldn't Americans, especially Republicans, have to ask themselves what Kareem's sacrifice means to them? Shouldn't this young man and his family deserve to have a leader governing this country who won't dishonor his sacrifice?

The essence of Powell's message is: "Muslim Americans like Christians, Jews, Buddhists, or anybody of any faith are fully part of American society".

Reality Check!

Amyn A. Ghulamali

I am Thirty Five years old, an entrepreneur and some one who has had the opportunity of looking at life from many angles… I have lived abroad and seen Pakistan and I have worked here and witnessed the country go through several changes and have witnessed our citizens at their best and worst moments.

You must be thinking that my next statement would be that I am disappointed and would look for a better opportunity elsewhere in another country… WRONG! Yes I am very frustrated but its not because of any one or the government its because I took a look at Pakistan and asked a question… "What have I done to be a part of the solution?"

Everywhere I go and the people I talk to always have something negative to say about the government, the economy or one another… I have realized that as a nation we are very ungrateful and unhappy no matter what goes in our favor… I have noticed in the various layers of society that it's a dog eat dog world and we have become very selfish…

Ok if we start at the beginning (I am not into politics and I really avoid discussions about religion) No matter what government has been in power right from the nineteen seventies we have always had a very strong opposition that slanders the government viciously… And when they are in power the same circle happens again with another band of so called martyrs ready to die for a cause that they them selves do not understand…If you look at the most developing economies and countries one thing you will find is that there is a sense of nationalism and people irrespective of what the issue is come together to claim their identity.

We on the other hand are quick to pass the blame and mock each other to look better…

As a nation we need to embrace each other and put our differences aside and we need to abandon the sinking ship of blame and claim ownership of Pakistan… We have a land that is rich with minerals, and treasures that only most countries dream to have. We are a people that hide behind a veil of false security and do not address main issues at heart unless our personal interests are being harmed…

Pakistan has some of the brightest minds and some of the best human resource in the world but in the past fifteen years all I have heard is that they are proudly claiming second rate citizenships in the west and running away from it all. We are a nation that is very ungrateful for what assets we have and the culture that is our own as we within our own country cannot co-exist with each another…

We say we are a tolerant nation but we are still living in the dark ages as we have not gotten out of the "class system". On a macro level - If it suits us we silently accept the fact that we are Sindhi, Balochi, Pathan or Punjabi and quickly condemn the other residents of other provinces. (That is when we are not flaunting our foreign passports and / or relatives that reside abroad.) If some how we do agree on the provincial differences than we have the religious sects and then even in the two main sects of Shia and Sunni there are many divisions that confuse the hell out of most civilized people…

To be civilized one does not have to disregard their own opinions and values and embrace other cultures…

Urdu is one of the most beautiful languages but we tell our children to embrace English… I don't remember one day when our mother tongue was given equal importance as English… Most children of today that come from the so called modern and enlightened homes of Pakistan know what is happening on the catwalks of Milan and know what the stars of Western media are up to. If you ask them to recite a verse of the Holy Quran they are speechless… and if you tell them to write a letter to a friend in Urdu they would be lost…

What is our identity just ask your self because the change within this nation comes from within you…Have you taken a step to look at what you can do for the nation or are you just moaning about how bad the situation is these days…

Why are terrorists putting the fear of God into us and why are we always blaming the west for our own insecurities and past governments for what we could have stood up and stopped.

When the time comes to vote and cast an opinion most people run away from the responsibility of claiming what is theirs (which is the citizenship of Pakistan)…

The only thing I have seen people be passionate about is a cricket match against India and that too because everyone has some financial or vested interest in the game…

We have been so busy trying to out do each other that we have not moved on from the infancy stage of whining and moaning…

If we as a nation have to succeed then we need to take ownership of this land even though the outcome may not be in our favor. Aggression never solved any problem and situation… If we are an enlightened nation then why do we lack the strength to look at things through logical reasoning… If we are called an unsafe and unsteady nation it is because we have let it become this way…

However this is not an article where I will condemn all Pakistanis as there is solidarity in the ideals of a few. As a nation we need to take the bitter pill accept reality and claim ownership of the situation and country that we are in and move it towards peace and prosperity…

When conceived as an idea this nation in the muslim world was a gift to all muslims… Then how did we end up this way?

The one things I will not do is tell you that I have the cure for a perfect Pakistan… I will accept a united decision from all the citizens who claim to be patriotic… Only if they are ready to accept their part in rectifying the situation…

If one looks at the world, we know that the ozone layer is being depleted and many things are changing with the due radical changes in climate. Before we become global citizens we need to be Pakistani Citizens and accept reality…

The dream of corruption-free Bangladesh

Amit Imran

When the country was facing tremendous internal political conflicts and drifting towards a civil war, the current caretaker government headed by Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed took the charge of the country through a dramatic procedure on January 11, 2006. Although the birth of this caretaker government, which can also be termed as the interim government as per the constitutional emergency power rule, itself was questionable among the political leaders and the general countrymen but through the initial activities of this government, it had earned a trust of being neutral and trustworthy.

Although the function of the caretaker government is to create an appropriate environment and to hold a free, fair, creditable and acceptable general election and hand over the power to an elected government but the current caretaker government backed with the support of the armed forces has taken many pragmatic steps to uplift the socio-economic and economic conditions of the country.

Some of the successful and time-befitting measures taken by the government include separation of judiciary from administration, empowering Anti-Corruption Commission, Election Commission, creating a creditable & appropriate voter list and creating national identity cards with photographs within a very short time.

One of the mandates of this caretaker government after taking office was to curb down corruption and ensure that corrupted politicians or people involved with corruption will not contest in the next general election. In order to turn this mandate into reality, the government reformed and empowered the Anti-Corruption Commission, and created special cross-functional taskforces and a special cell named National Crime Control Taskforce.

While the government on the one side continued to perform the day to day work, that is the routine work of any government, and on the other side, in addition to creating an environment for election, started to identify the politicians, government officials and other people who were involved with corruption or who misused their power for personal benefits. Anti-Corruption Commission started to conduct a drive to bring these corrupt people under the rule of law.

As their first step, the commission asked for the valuation of the properties which their suspects possess. In the second step, the commission scrutinized the valuation and details of the properties provided by the suspects. And finally, legal actions were being taken against those suspects where any deviation between the information provided by the suspects and the investigation reports were found.

As a consequence of these, many renown politicians along with the former Prime Ministers, former deputy ministers, former state ministers, members of the cabinet, members of the parliament, mayors of different city corporations and some high government officials were arrested. Corruption cases were being filed and charge sheets were being submitted. After going through the trial, many of them were proved to be convicted and were sentenced to punishment.

This drive against corruption induced the people to visualize Bangladesh as a corruption free country. But as the time of the general election as per the road-map of the Election Commission is coming nearby, the drive against corruption has slowed down.

It seems that the Anti-Corruption Commission has lost its momentum and the interest not only in identifying new corrupts but even with continuing the cases filed by them.

The commission has again worn its previous mask of being ineffective and inactive.

Most of the arrested politicians are being released on bail and the commission or the government hardly seems to be concerned about this matter.

The story does not only end here, many of them have even informally started their election campaign as they think that they can participate in the upcoming national polls. If these people are going to contest in the next general election then can we expect to see a corruption free Bangladesh.

The role of the caretaker government suddenly seems very unpredictable. If the government did not take proper measures to ensure necessary legal, financial and logistical support to the Anti-Corruption

Commission, then why did the government waste time and money in initiating such a vast project?

We, the ordinary citizens of the country supported and applauded the government for its initiatives taken to curb down corruption from the country - did we supported them to show us just a trailer version? If these people who were voluntarily or involuntarily involved with corruption participate in the upcoming national polls, then how can we even dream of having a corruption-free Bangladesh?

I, personally believe that this caretaker government should take stern measures against the corrupts and provide logistical and backup support to the Anti-Corruption Commission so that we can have a corruption free state. The government do not have the right to embarrass the Anti-Corruption Commission, a government agency, and make it look like a failure.

Corruption is like a worm in an apple which slowly eats up the apple and destroys its taste and appearance and finally spoils it completely. Corruptions can only deteriorate the development of the country and hamper its potential prosperity. I hope that the government will profoundly look into this matter and resolve the problem within the shortest possible time. The government should turn the dream of having a corruption-free Bangladesh into a reality which every citizen of this country hopes to see.