The New Nation - Internet Edition

Boosting the housing sector

THE Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) is now holding its exhibition at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre. Over the years, this fair turned into an annual event to showcase the products of real estate developers to their potential clients under one roof. Nearly 191 real estate developers and four financial institutions with deep involvement in real estate business, are participating in it. Like in other years, the fair will be providing comprehensive services to those who look forward to owning homes.

Every year, the fair leads to a big one-time sale of flats and plots of land. The financial institutions also gain from financing these activities. Business has not been booming over the last two years in Bangladesh. Therefore, there may be relative slackening of interest this year in home buying. Nonetheless, there is merit in holding the fair in spite of the temporary troubles facing this sector.

Last year, the sale of flats dropped alarmingly from a fear that buyers become targets of income tax people and security agencies. REHAB leaders say the reason behind this was a newly introduced income tax rule that buyers of real estate from now on must disclose where from they get their resources to make such purchases. The construction sector along with its nearly 200 linkage items like rod, cement and sanitary wares have been contributing some 25 per cent to the GDP in recent times. Nearly 30 lakh people and their dependents rely on the real estate sector.

Considering these factors, the government may facilitate the sector through reduction of registration fees, withdrawing restriction on import of basic building materials. The government may also help create a large housing fund from which home buyers can take out loans with notably lower interests and other soft terms.

Protecting children from injuries

ACCORDING to an estimate, about 30 thousand children aged below seventeen die of different injury-related cases every year in the country. Another 13 thousand children survive with permanent disabilities. Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB) disclosed this at a seminar on 'Save Lives, Prevent Injury' organised on the occasion of the Safety Week - 2008. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 5.8 million children die of injuries in the world annually. This shows a death rate of 97 per lakh. Statistics show that death rate among the male children is higher than that among female children.

A study conducted by the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey pointed out that child injuries have posed a more serious threat to child health than infection and nutritional causes, though a steady decline in the infant mortality rate and under-five mortality rate was observed. Drowning, burns, falls, road accidents, poisoning, cuts, animal bites, stings and internal haemorrhage are some of the important causes of death of children. Drowning is the major cause. Deaths from drowning have increased to 57 percent in 2003 from nine percent in 1983. Frequent floods for longer periods of time are the likely causes of the increasing rates of drowning. Most of the children living in cities and towns do not know how to swim.

Mass awareness can play an important role in bringing down injury rates. Swimming training should be introduced for children who should also be taught the ways of avoiding road accidents. Grown up people should be more responsible toward children. CIPRB, in co-operation with UNICEF, is reportedly implementing a project in three upazilas of the country with the aim of reducing the child injury rate to a satisfactory level. Their experiences should be shared to reduce child injury in other areas of the country.

Meeting crisis in Bangladeshi democracy

M. Mizanur Rahman

The romantic penumbra of politics in Bangladesh made the people always frustrated. It has been evinced to fulfil the conditions of democracy necessary election of people's representatives in Upazila and Parliament must be done. The people of Bangladesh have since been experiencing some imposters among politicians who made the image of the country pernicious by dint of their illegal or corruptible activities. Now the question arises, would the people face the same leadership again? Are there no good, efficient and honest people to lead the country?

Yes, they might also exist and probably vocal for the bright future of the country and the people. But it is uncertain whether they will be voted to power because they might be failing to adopt various types of trickery and machinations of allurement to most of the needy and impoverished voters. The vast number of these classes of poor people is overwhelming to be credulous and cheated at ease by the black money holder politicians. They tend to have been always purchased by the mischievous so-called politicians at a very low price. The same traits in the character of the members of the concerned political party can also be found. They are also duped. Because of their simplicity, emotionally most of the poor people, student community and other labour class people believe in false promises and tall talks of those leaders who entrap them to dark alleys of the crime world ultimately. That is the reason why poverty overwhelms the nation by the few crime lords.

Hence the need of the hour is gross awareness among the people to select and elect their leaders. This is the job of the intellectual educated ones to motivate the common masses of the affected people that whatever their (poor people's) poverty, they can be able to change their lot provided they select and elect the honest leader of their respective area either for Upozila Parishad or for the Parliament very carefully. This very rich Bangladesh is yet to be explored towards amelioration of the fate of its teeming millions of people. Those ablest hands are there that can be of use to the cause of the country and the poor people. That is, the leader who must be worthy of it must lead them. That leader must establish the rule of law to discipline the nation as an honest and strong patriotic personality. The people who are led by that type of leader will tend to be honest usually. If that comes in reality there will be no crisis of democracy in Bangladesh. Then "Honesty is the best policy" will only be the concept of each citizen of Bangladesh.

Only the mischievous one dictates the nation in the name of democracy.

Since liberation of Bangladesh, we have been experiencing this dictation from the authoritarian rulers surrounded by bureaucracy in the garb of democracy. Should we bring them back to their seat again to take away the fruits of freedom earned by the blood and tears of the innumerable liberators of Bangladesh? What the intellectuals of the country say? What the conscience of the people of a nation should say? Let us ponder over such important national questions very seriously before we vote for those nominated ones who are likely to sustain democracy and do welfare-oriented nationbuilding works for the people. The most perilous path we came across must not be forgotten. To reach the ends justifying the means will have to be our great achievement. We will elect the leaders who will not forget to implement their pledges for peace and prosperity of the people that they promised before the election.

Anti-incumbency sweeps New Zealand

Dr.Abdul Ruff

New Zealand's centre-right wing opposition National Party has swept to power, ending PM Helen Clark's nine-year centre- left Labour government. Helen Clark, one of the world's longest-serving elected female leaders, presided over years of strong growth and social reforms, but the economy has gone into recession this year, and she admitted defeat and said she would step down as leader. In the 120-seat parliament, the centre-right opposition won 45% of the vote, against 34% for Labour, leaving it just short of an overall majority. Mrs Clark said she accepted responsibility for the result and her job as leader of the Labour Party was complete. Casting her vote in Auckland, Mrs Clark felt "very, very positive" about her chances. "We have countless thousands of people mobilizing Labour supporters out to the polling booths today, and feeling very good about it," she had said.

About three million people were registered to vote - a record number for the country - though the estimated turnout, at 78.69%, was slightly down on the previous election in 2005. Voting has ended in New Zealand's general election on Nov 08, in which the ruling Labour party faced a strong challenge after nine years in power. The centre-right National Party was hoping to oust Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Green allies, probably with the backing of smaller parties. Some predicted a kingmaker role for the Maori Party, which has signaled it could work with either major party. According to official figures, National is set to win 59 seats, Labour 43 and their allies the Greens, with 6% of the vote, eight, in the 122-seat parliament. Election officials say a record number of people registered to vote, with 2,979,366 enrolled by 1600 on Friday, almost 95% of those eligible.

Both main parties are committed to free trade and multilateralism, and following the successful conclusion of a free trade agreement with China earlier this year, the new government is likely to continue the push for similar agreements with the United States, Australia and East Asian countries.

Seventeen small parties were contesting the election, and under New Zealand's mixed-member proportional representation system (MMP), one or more of them may well end up holding the balance of power in parliament. The biggest players among the minor parties are the Greens, currently with six MPs, and the Maori Party, which has four MPs. A new entrant in the 2005 election, the Maori Party says it aims to give indigenous people an authentic voice in parliament and has indicated it will support the party that offers the best deal in return. The Maori Party wish-list includes retaining the seven existing Maori electoral seats (which National has indicated it would like to abolish) and better health and education provision for Maori, who make up nearly 15% of New Zealand's population.

After the results, National leader John Key told supporters that hundreds and thousands of people across the country had "voted for change", for a safer, more prosperous and ambitious New Zealand, but warned of tough times ahead. John Key said he hoped his government would be inclusive. "I want to run a centre-right government, a pragmatic and decisive government, but certainly one that reflects the views of all New Zealanders," he said. National Party will be able to govern with the help of two smaller parties - the United Future and ACT parties - and will also look for support to the Maori Party.

New Zealand, a wealthy Pacific nation, is dominated by two cultural groups: New Zealanders of European descent, and the minority Maori, whose Polynesian ancestors arrived on the islands around 1,000 years ago. Agriculture is the economic mainstay, but manufacturing and tourism are important and there is a fledgling film industry.

New Zealand has diversified its export markets and has developed strong trade links with Australia, the US, and Japan. In April 2008 it became the first Western country to sign a free trade deal with China.

Since the country introduced proportional voting in 1996, neither of the big parties has won an outright majority and they have always relied on the support of minor parties. Clark had said she is willing to bargain with the Maori Party. Any deal, she added, would "come at a cost". But the new government will seek the backing of the Maori Party, formed before the 2005 election to give an authentic voice to indigenous people. Among Maori demands are the repeal of a law preventing Maoris from claiming rights to the foreshore and seabed, and greater control over government spending on indigenous programs to prevent waste. However, Key said his party was "diametrically opposed" to some of its policies, and Maori leader Tatiana Turin said there would be hard bargaining involved in any deal. Among Maori demands are the repeal of a law preventing Maoris from claiming rights to the foreshore and seabed, and greater control over government spending on indigenous programs to prevent waste.

The country's current recession has loomed large in the campaign. But few major policy shifts are expected, whoever wins. Both Labour and National have promised tax cuts and extra spending, amid fears that the global credit crisis will hurt New Zealand still further. National has also promised to take a tougher stand on law and order, slim down the bureaucracy and cut red tape, and raise standards in public education and healthcare.

Last time in 2005, the general election in New Zealand confirmed that the governing Labour Party was still the biggest in the outgoing parliament. Labour Party has 50 seats in the 121-member parliament, two more than the main opposition National Party. Ms Clark was the first Labour prime minister to win three successive terms. The National party had hoped to overturn Labour's lead as the last votes were counted, but instead lost ground. This time around, NP has overturned the results in its favor.

Labour was seeking a fourth term in government, but polls indicated it was unlikely to win enough seats to ensure a workable majority with its allies among the smaller parties in the 120-seat single-chamber parliament. Veteran politician and former academic Ms Clark has campaigned on a platform of safe hands in uncertain times. While Labour has presided over a sustained period of economic growth and record low unemployment levels, the New Zealand economy has been steadily losing ground and is now officially in recession. Tax is usually a top issue for voters, but the financial crisis, coupled with this year's food and fuel price hikes, also took the shine off Labour's pre-election sweetener of personal tax cuts.

In addition, Ms Clark has been rocked by a political donation inquiry involving her government's now-suspended foreign minister, Winston Peters of New Zealand First Party. Peters held the foreign affairs portfolio outside cabinet in return for his New Zealand First Party's support in parliament, but a string of politically damaging allegations - including that he used a helicopter belonging to one of New Zealand's richest businessmen for political campaigning - may force his exit from parliament.

The global financial crisis and strict new rules curtailing election spending have made this a relatively low-key election campaign for political parties and voters alike. Minor scuffles in two provincial towns between supporters of rival political parties as campaigning wound up were one of the few signs of voter enthusiasm for the three-yearly election process.

There no obvious reason for the defeat of the Labour Party, though economic ailment is said to be the key cause. However, the anti-incumbency factor has inflicted the damage to the long time ruling party. It may not rival the US presidential election for high drama, but New Zealand voters who went to the polls on Nov 08 to elect a new government seemed to see the choice they were making in much the same terms having realized time for a change. The difference is that New Zealand has had nine years of centre-left government led by Helen Clark's Labour Party. She was challenged by a former market trader and self-made millionaire, John Key, who has rejuvenated the centre-right National Party and turned it into an election winner.

After inflicting a crushing defeat on its main rival in the 2005 election, Labour faced a serious challenge from National under its new leader John Key. With just five years in parliament, Key is a mere newcomer compared to Ms Clark who entered parliament 27 years ago and has been prime minister since 1999. Despite efforts by Labour to portray him as untrustworthy, Key has been campaigning under the slogan "it's time for a change", and has made much of his business and financial credentials in his pledge to revive New Zealand's economic fortunes.

National Party leader John Key, a multimillionaire former investment banker, has capitalized on the mood of change seen in the USA, with the election of Barack Obama as president this week. He also said he will be willing to strike a deal with the Maori Party, even though he said his party "diametrically opposed" some of its policies. John Key made a fortune as a currency trader before returning to New Zealand to pursue his political ambitions. Critics said that with only six years' experience as an MP, he did not have the experience to successfully lead New Zealand as prime minister. But after rejuvenating the centre-right National Party, he has swept to power in an election dominated by change. "In their hundreds and thousands across the country they have voted for change," he said after his victory.

John Key was born in Auckland and brought up by his mother after his father died when Key was only six years old. After training as an accountant, he became a currency trader in New Zealand, before moving to Singapore and then London.

During a successful, and highly-paid career, he earned the nickname "smiling assassin" for his ability to remain cheerful while making staff cuts. In returning home and running for political office he "fulfilled a long-held ambition". He won the Helensville seat in 2002 - and again in 2005, having increased his majority eightfold.

Key, who is married with two children, was elected leader of the party in 2006. He has forced National into the political middle, accepting Labour policies such as the anti-nuclear law and the deployment of troops to Afghanistan. But his pledge to lower taxes and get tough on criminal gangs also appealed to voters.

Though the recession loomed large in the campaign, few major policy shifts are expected once the new government takes over. Both Labour and National had promised tax cuts and extra spending, amid fears that the global credit crisis will hit New Zealand hard.

There is likely to be little change in New Zealand's trade or foreign policy with National heading the next government. John Key has already warned of difficult times. "We must make the most of our advantages because the state of the global economy and the global financial crisis means that the road ahead may well be a rocky one," he said. However, the change of guard in Washington would demand corresponding shifts in policy contours in due time.

Opinion: One marathon at a time

Ramzy Baroud

My right knee is wrapped. My left ankle is iced. I lost the nail on my right big toe, and have about 20 blisters and a similar number of bruises on both of my feet. This doesn't even begin to convey half of the story of the punishment that my body has been subjected to in recent months. Why, you ask? Because I will join Susan Abulhawa, a Palestinian American activist, writer and founder of Playgrounds for Palestine - in running the Philadelphia Marathon on November 23. Our goal is to raise enough money to build a large playground in a Palestinian refugee camp, likely in Lebanon. We are more than half of the way there, but have about 5,000 dollars to go.

I ran a full marathon before (the Vancouver Marathon in Canada in May 2008). I finished at a 4:10:29 and intended to break the four-hour mark in the next run. But since then, I sustained a knee injury. Compounded with an old back injury, training for the Philly Marathon has been much harder than I thought it would be.

I try to maintain a 40 miles per week running routine and juggle many hours of writing, editing, interviews, travel and public speaking events at the same time. Needless to say, it's been really tough. But I had a cure to keep me motivated.

Pictures of Palestinian children enjoying the many playgrounds that this organization has already established inspire me to trot on. I was born and raised in a refugee camp in Gaza, and truly understand what these playgrounds mean for the children.

My last a major runs in the last two weeks were around 13, 15 and finally 20 miles each. I think I am ready for Philadelphia, but still, we don't half enough to build that playground in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.

Today, I read a new report filed from Nahr Al Bared refugee camp in Lebanon. The camp was entirely destroyed during a recent fight between the Lebanese army and Arab fighters. It included a photo gallery of the camp, flattened to the ground as if hit by a major earthquake and massive hurricane all at once. IRIN News said that UNRWA's international appeal to assist the refugees, fell largely on deaf ears. What a shame.

What have these poor refugees - betrayed at every turn for many, many years - done to endure such a fate? All of those frantic moms, and dads, hauling their kids in beat up trucks or by foot and moving from one place to another, seeking help and receiving little, or none at all. Indeed, there are many vital questions that should be asked of those whose decisions affect the lives of the refugees, but also there is much work to be done to help them survive the harshness of their life. For Susan and I, running one marathon to raise money to build one playground is our main focus, and we are adamant to meet our goal.

I am also certain that there are many who care just enough to build one more playground for the children in the refugee camps. My hope is that your involvement will exceed that of making a one-time financial contribution to sponsor our run, but will rather get involved yourself as a runner, or in any other way to support such important organizations as Playgrounds for Palestine: they provide hope in a time when only misery and despair seem to eclipse the lives of so many children in Gaza, in Lebanon and in those caught behind Israeli walls in the West Bank.