The promise of Bengali New Year
Pahela Baishakh stands as the time tested traditional festival of the Bengalese making us all get united irrespective of our caste, creed, colour, religion, opinions and ideals which actually we cannot maintain all the year round in other national forums and arenas. The sky rocketed price hike, on mass food adulteration, insecurity in public and social life, frequent power failure and water crisis fail to diminish the spiritual pleasure of the Bengalese on this day. The ‘hilsha’ fish with water rice has become scarce to escape the tradition; still it cannot deter many to enjoy this traditional dish stretching from village to the capital city. Actually, this day is a promise to make us united forgetting the past the smaller clouds gathered around us. The whole country observers the day with due solemnity and arranging various cultural programs .I can still remember how I went to Baishakhi Fair in our local market with my friends and cousins. It was quite a pleasant and different day and situation from the normal ‘hat day’. Playthings of various kinds and traditional foods flooded the fair inviting the attention of young and teenagers. Still the fair holds as usual. We used to go to the fair and buy things according to our choice. This unmixed joy still haunts me and I feel a feeling of nostalgia.
The observance of ‘Pahela Baishakh’ in the city gives a different momentum. It gathers people from all walks of life at Ramna Batamul, Bangla Academy and TSC. They huddle together, enjoy the ‘ dawning songs’ of ‘ Chayanat’ at Ramna Batamul. They huddle together and try to share their joys forgetting the miseries and sorrows of city and family life for the whole day. Really participating in different programs of the day serves as a tonic which keeps them vibrant , smiling and cheerful. People move and run huddling their bodies but not quarrel or clash with each other. But alas! The same participants and students get divided in other programs of politics and social gathering to show the enmity against each other in its ugliest form making us surprised. Viewing from this point, we can say that Pahela Baishakh serves as a symbol of ‘national unity’. We should promise that this moral teaching of the day must be reflected in our other national forums and programs.
We have already walked quite a long way of forty-one year since our independence through a bloody struggle. Still the dream of our independence has not been materialized in the true sense of the term. Economic emancipation for the overwhelming majority has not been achieved .With the passage of time the gap between the haves and have-nots is getting widened. The number of ultra-poor is increasing. It is true that the city is witnessing many high rise and sophisticated buildings. It is equally true that these modern buildings proclaim their sophistical view mocking at the quickening race of slums which make room for the hapless creatures streaming from the rural Bangladesh due to chill –penury, insecurity, unemployment, village politics, river- erosion, natural calamities and local mastans’ disturbance. They now embrace the life of day laborers’ in the city to add to civic problems. Making the dens of criminals they live in the slums. Some even are involved in flesh trade and trafficking and illegal drug business. The children who are born in the slums are left to the vacuum of uncertainty. Being pure Bengalese they don’t know the meaning and significance of Pahela Baishakh. They remain far away from enjoying and learning the significance of Pahela Baishakh.
My heart aches and becomes frustrated to see the faces of the streams of rootless children who don’t have any address to say, any better means to survive, no promise to receive education. They start stealing food to survive and the jubilant crowd beat them mercilessly without giving any consideration to their right to live in this society. These children get involved in the gang of hardened criminals to commit drug peddling, become drug addicted without knowing its pernicious aspect and effect, girls become prostitutes selling their malnourished bodies. What does this ‘New Year’ promise for them? What contribution have we made for them in our individual level? What the state has really done for these ‘homo sapiens’? What does this masked society tell them on this New Year day?
Do they really have any new year? All the days and years probably remain equally bleak for them. What is this New Year festival shows us? Still the nation has been politically divided into two and cannot amalgamate over the issue of very basic national issues. The millions of commoners want economic emancipation, social security, real freedom in individual, social and state life. They want real freedom of speech, a better future for the austerity. But will the divided political culture and force make them happen? Will the destructive politics of the country show us a new path to go ahead on this New Year’s Day? Let us hope for the best. Let us promise to reflect the real spirit of Pahela Baishakh in our individual and national life.
Md. Masum Billah Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Doctors to go to rural areas
Doctors should serve the poor and ailing humanities
Bangladesh experiences the dearth of doctors particularly in the rural areas and the specialists prove to be acutely scarce as one or two experts are available in one area of medical science in the country which seems quite abnormal comparing to the number of population. To meet a specialist doctor one is to wait months together which seriously deteriorates the patient’s condition. As a result, the affluent ones go abroad for treatment and the rest are left to the fate or just to the lap of death. Again, millions of poor throng towards government hospitals where they just meet a series of harassment --------harassment from the gate keeper, sweepers, middlemen, nurses , staff and finally the doctors. Who cares for that? Government comes and goes. But the situation of government hospitals witnesses no change allowing the private hospitals and clinics to flourish as a viable business centers from upazila to the capital city along with pathologies or diagnostic centers. With the change of the government two things change ---one is harassment in the government hospital and more private hospital grow with more facilities. Wherever you go, whatever doctor you meet you must undergo a series of tests at the cost of a huge amount of money which always go beyond your means whatever your ability is or whether you need it or not. Who bothers about it? If you have means, you just move from this private hospital to that if you cannot afford just meet the tragic death. Whose concern is it? But we have a big ministry of health and family welfare, we have ministers, we have lots of meetings, seminars, symposiums on the health situation, we have BMA, several medical colleges and we produce a lot of doctors every year. So what, qualified doctors are not for the poor.
Our prime minster on March 12, 2011 sounded a note of warning to the government doctors posted in rural areas, asking them to stay at workplaces or quit job.” If you do not feel good to do job in rural areas, please quit the job—you will do government job and take salary but would not provide service, it cannot happen.” She said this while inaugurating the 19th conference and special annual general meeting of Bangladesh Medical Association at Bangahandu International Center. She further said, “Wherever I go including parliament, I hear the same allegation that the doctors do not stay in rural areas. I do not want to hear the allegation further.” Yes, as a prime minister of this nation and representative of the fourteen crore people must warn the medical community. But this kind of warning we hear in the grave and somber meetings and seminars many a time. No change actually takes place. Only her one meeting or warning will not work at all. Many facts and figures and phenomena are related with it. Why doctors will go to villages? They were brilliant students in their student life. They left the village for a better living. They have become doctors to leave the village. They don’t have environment to live in the village. If we really want to see them in the village, we must make a well thought out plan and program. Just in the meeting uttering some chronic facts does not give the solution. We cannot give qualified doctors to the union hospitals but upazlia hospitals. If we want them to stay in the upazila hospitals, we must give them some incentives. In some newly advancing countries they send their doctors and teachers to the village by giving them double salaries. If we can send some young doctors to the upazila hospitals, we must give them the double of the usual salary. When it is done, many doctors will show interest to go there as they are unmarried and don’t have enough scope to do private practice in the town because of being new doctors; they will go to the village to earn some money. If some pragmatic steps like these are taken, they will go to rural hospitals.
This poor nation spends the highest amount of money to produce a doctor and the poor people bear this expenditure. Students’ monthly tuition fee in the medical college is Tk 12 and hostel fee is Tk 5. Moreover, each and every student receives scholarship every month from government’s fund. Gopal Sen Gupta has expressed his astonishment at this in his write up in the Financial Express (March 18). To speak the truth I am not astonished because the students who study medicine in government hospitals, most of them also hail from poor and middle class family but they are brilliant students. Many of them cannot afford to bear the huge cost of studying medical science. So, the poor nation has the duty to bear the expenses of the medical students through scholarship and subsidy. It is our pride that we produce doctors mostly on state run money. But we cannot employ those doctors for the greater welfare of the nation and particularly for the rural and poor community is our failure. We cannot teach these doctors how to work for the ailing humanity. We cannot rouse fellow feeling and brotherhood in these doctors though many of them come from poor financial background. We must teach them social science, give them moral and religious education otherwise we will just produce people having some knowledge to apply medicine and sell the medical knowledge for their personal gain . Our prime minister asked physicians to provide medical services to poor people with a sympathetic mind. She said, “Patients get half-cured due to your little affection, words and care.” Exactly. It’s a great part of giving treatment which our doctors either don’t know or they miserably fail to do it. When we meet any foreign doctor, we get astonished to see their behavirour and conduct with the patients as well as the companions of the patients. What happens to the doctors of our country, they remain grave and serious with the patients. They don’t talk to the patients let alone the visitors, give many tests and then give a big prescription. No talk, no encouragement, not background, no explanation of the disease at all. I can clearly remember many incidents regarding this issue. Once I met a doctor with my pregnant wife. Surprisingly the doctor did not talk a single word with me. He just did his work and one or two words he said only with my wife. Another example is I met a doctor at Lab aid hospital with my son. The doctor did not talk to me at all. I asked him what the problem with my son was. He just told me ‘problem in the leg’ which is known to me. This is the response of the doctors. They must have training on socialization which is a part of treatment. But I find the Indian doctors who are very friendly; they ask the history of the patient, talk elaborately to the visitors and give explanation of the disease, its future etc.
The prime minister announced that 11000 community clinics have already resumed their activities which are benefitting the people. The PM said arrangements are being made to set up coronary care unit and heart surgery at the district level, while 4331 doctors, 1747 nurses’ and 6391 health assistants were recruited. Recruitment of the doctors and even the teachers of medical colleges are said to have been done giving political consideration which must call for careful attention of the authorities. It is not unknown to us that the students of medical colleges also now are engaged in serious student politics who give more attention to political activities than study. Many student leaders who don’t have strong footing and knowledge of medical science get the appointment as medical college teachers. This thing must be taken into consideration to save the nation. Doctors need extensive research which now receives scant attention and importance.
Finally all the medical college hospitals, government hospitals whether at upazila or distict town or in cities of the country see awfully dirty atmosphere and obnoxious smell comes out of the toilets and bathrooms always? Even, a healthy man is bound to become sick if he remains in the hospital area for several minutes. The food prepared in the kitchen of the hospitals is another source of spreading disease. There is none to look after it. The peons, guards and sweepers have their own union under the banner of strong political parties. They are the actual governments of the hospitals. The higher authorities of the hospitals are also the supporters of strong political parties. Definitely the common people are not supposed to have any treatment. If they don’t give treatment to the poor, there is none to ask them. They are the government. If any patient does not receive treatment and even dies, the relatives cannot take any action against those people as they have strong party background. PM made it known that DMC has 37 gynecologist whereas many district hospitals don’t have any gynecologist. This is another picture of corruption and mismanagement. Who will take the initiative to address these unlimited problems? As there is none to look into these issues, the doctors not only rob the money like lawyers but also rob the lives of the people without any hesitation. We the general people can just write something through print media with the hope of raising a little bit awareness. I am sure both print and electronic media can play a meaningful role in this regard.
Md.Masum Billah
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com
Bangladesh experiences the dearth of doctors particularly in the rural areas and the specialists prove to be acutely scarce as one or two experts are available in one area of medical science in the country which seems quite abnormal comparing to the number of population. To meet a specialist doctor one is to wait months together which seriously deteriorates the patient’s condition. As a result, the affluent ones go abroad for treatment and the rest are left to the fate or just to the lap of death. Again, millions of poor throng towards government hospitals where they just meet a series of harassment --------harassment from the gate keeper, sweepers, middlemen, nurses , staff and finally the doctors. Who cares for that? Government comes and goes. But the situation of government hospitals witnesses no change allowing the private hospitals and clinics to flourish as a viable business centers from upazila to the capital city along with pathologies or diagnostic centers. With the change of the government two things change ---one is harassment in the government hospital and more private hospital grow with more facilities. Wherever you go, whatever doctor you meet you must undergo a series of tests at the cost of a huge amount of money which always go beyond your means whatever your ability is or whether you need it or not. Who bothers about it? If you have means, you just move from this private hospital to that if you cannot afford just meet the tragic death. Whose concern is it? But we have a big ministry of health and family welfare, we have ministers, we have lots of meetings, seminars, symposiums on the health situation, we have BMA, several medical colleges and we produce a lot of doctors every year. So what, qualified doctors are not for the poor.
Our prime minster on March 12, 2011 sounded a note of warning to the government doctors posted in rural areas, asking them to stay at workplaces or quit job.” If you do not feel good to do job in rural areas, please quit the job—you will do government job and take salary but would not provide service, it cannot happen.” She said this while inaugurating the 19th conference and special annual general meeting of Bangladesh Medical Association at Bangahandu International Center. She further said, “Wherever I go including parliament, I hear the same allegation that the doctors do not stay in rural areas. I do not want to hear the allegation further.” Yes, as a prime minister of this nation and representative of the fourteen crore people must warn the medical community. But this kind of warning we hear in the grave and somber meetings and seminars many a time. No change actually takes place. Only her one meeting or warning will not work at all. Many facts and figures and phenomena are related with it. Why doctors will go to villages? They were brilliant students in their student life. They left the village for a better living. They have become doctors to leave the village. They don’t have environment to live in the village. If we really want to see them in the village, we must make a well thought out plan and program. Just in the meeting uttering some chronic facts does not give the solution. We cannot give qualified doctors to the union hospitals but upazlia hospitals. If we want them to stay in the upazila hospitals, we must give them some incentives. In some newly advancing countries they send their doctors and teachers to the village by giving them double salaries. If we can send some young doctors to the upazila hospitals, we must give them the double of the usual salary. When it is done, many doctors will show interest to go there as they are unmarried and don’t have enough scope to do private practice in the town because of being new doctors; they will go to the village to earn some money. If some pragmatic steps like these are taken, they will go to rural hospitals.
This poor nation spends the highest amount of money to produce a doctor and the poor people bear this expenditure. Students’ monthly tuition fee in the medical college is Tk 12 and hostel fee is Tk 5. Moreover, each and every student receives scholarship every month from government’s fund. Gopal Sen Gupta has expressed his astonishment at this in his write up in the Financial Express (March 18). To speak the truth I am not astonished because the students who study medicine in government hospitals, most of them also hail from poor and middle class family but they are brilliant students. Many of them cannot afford to bear the huge cost of studying medical science. So, the poor nation has the duty to bear the expenses of the medical students through scholarship and subsidy. It is our pride that we produce doctors mostly on state run money. But we cannot employ those doctors for the greater welfare of the nation and particularly for the rural and poor community is our failure. We cannot teach these doctors how to work for the ailing humanity. We cannot rouse fellow feeling and brotherhood in these doctors though many of them come from poor financial background. We must teach them social science, give them moral and religious education otherwise we will just produce people having some knowledge to apply medicine and sell the medical knowledge for their personal gain . Our prime minister asked physicians to provide medical services to poor people with a sympathetic mind. She said, “Patients get half-cured due to your little affection, words and care.” Exactly. It’s a great part of giving treatment which our doctors either don’t know or they miserably fail to do it. When we meet any foreign doctor, we get astonished to see their behavirour and conduct with the patients as well as the companions of the patients. What happens to the doctors of our country, they remain grave and serious with the patients. They don’t talk to the patients let alone the visitors, give many tests and then give a big prescription. No talk, no encouragement, not background, no explanation of the disease at all. I can clearly remember many incidents regarding this issue. Once I met a doctor with my pregnant wife. Surprisingly the doctor did not talk a single word with me. He just did his work and one or two words he said only with my wife. Another example is I met a doctor at Lab aid hospital with my son. The doctor did not talk to me at all. I asked him what the problem with my son was. He just told me ‘problem in the leg’ which is known to me. This is the response of the doctors. They must have training on socialization which is a part of treatment. But I find the Indian doctors who are very friendly; they ask the history of the patient, talk elaborately to the visitors and give explanation of the disease, its future etc.
The prime minister announced that 11000 community clinics have already resumed their activities which are benefitting the people. The PM said arrangements are being made to set up coronary care unit and heart surgery at the district level, while 4331 doctors, 1747 nurses’ and 6391 health assistants were recruited. Recruitment of the doctors and even the teachers of medical colleges are said to have been done giving political consideration which must call for careful attention of the authorities. It is not unknown to us that the students of medical colleges also now are engaged in serious student politics who give more attention to political activities than study. Many student leaders who don’t have strong footing and knowledge of medical science get the appointment as medical college teachers. This thing must be taken into consideration to save the nation. Doctors need extensive research which now receives scant attention and importance.
Finally all the medical college hospitals, government hospitals whether at upazila or distict town or in cities of the country see awfully dirty atmosphere and obnoxious smell comes out of the toilets and bathrooms always? Even, a healthy man is bound to become sick if he remains in the hospital area for several minutes. The food prepared in the kitchen of the hospitals is another source of spreading disease. There is none to look after it. The peons, guards and sweepers have their own union under the banner of strong political parties. They are the actual governments of the hospitals. The higher authorities of the hospitals are also the supporters of strong political parties. Definitely the common people are not supposed to have any treatment. If they don’t give treatment to the poor, there is none to ask them. They are the government. If any patient does not receive treatment and even dies, the relatives cannot take any action against those people as they have strong party background. PM made it known that DMC has 37 gynecologist whereas many district hospitals don’t have any gynecologist. This is another picture of corruption and mismanagement. Who will take the initiative to address these unlimited problems? As there is none to look into these issues, the doctors not only rob the money like lawyers but also rob the lives of the people without any hesitation. We the general people can just write something through print media with the hope of raising a little bit awareness. I am sure both print and electronic media can play a meaningful role in this regard.
Md.Masum Billah
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com
Dr. Yunus is still our pride
Dr. Yunus is still the pride of Bangladesh
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the initiator in making tiny loans to poverty-stricken individuals, especially women to help them launch their own means of support, has been sacked from the Grameen Bank. Grameen Bank is a brand name in one hundred counties in the world. Grameen Bank is read , studied and being researched across the globe. But our government did not have any alternative to remove him from his dream organization. Let us see what our Finance Minister AMA Muhith syas on March 03 ‘the government had no alternative but to remove Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhahmmad Yunus from top position of Grameen Bank despite the fact it may taint Bangladeshi image to the global community. ‘The statement of the Finance Minister indicates that the country runs very smoothly and Dr. Yunus was a great problem otherwise their smooth running of the government will be hampered. Actually, the country is facing multifarious and hydra headed problems though the government. May be, the people in the government don’t see it as they belong to highest strata of people. It is definitely how they can understand the pains of the poor? .The price hike has gone up several times beyond seventy percent people’s ability. The government claims that the buying capacity of the people has increased, so they are not facing so problem to buy rice at an exorbitant rate. It also explains the cause of price hike is the game of the opposition party. That is the game or race between the government and the opposition. What about the ordinary people, what about the people like us who are do depend on a certain amount of salary? They give another explanation that in the free market economy the price does not remain within the controlling power of the government which the previous government also claimed. Then what’s the necessity of changing the government by the people if they get the answer from their representatives? When elected government fails to understand the pains of the people, when elected government tells otherwise with the people, do they have any place to go? People don’t get any reasonable answer from them; they see the government doing something strange with which only the poorest people’s interest is directly concerned. Real public representatives of this country must know that the poor people don’t have any access to the state run banks. State run banks are for the businessmen who deliberately increase the price of essentials commodities. But the banks, institutions and organizations developed in the country responding to the dire necessities of the poor must not be disturbed in any way which is tantamount to throwing a kick to the hungry belly of the poor.
The concept of social business enterprise that Yunus proposed is a powerful means for developing a healthy and productive private sector. He has got vast idea and experience to its full flourishment in the greater interest of the nation. A social business enterprise has two criteria for its success. They are how much profit it makes and how much social profit progress it brings. To succeed such an enterprise needs competent and dynamic leadership. We do believe Dr. Yunus possess that level of competence. Under his dynamic leadership the nation hopes to see new way of poverty alleviation. Without removing and alleviating poverty, nation’s going forward to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity simply prove impossible. The purpose of democracy is to ensure sustainable development of the common mass. Without economic emancipation sustainable peace cannot be possible. His achieving Nobel Prize proves this fact. Bringing economic prosperity to the lives of the rural and commoners lead them to peace and prosperity. Grameen Bank is part of the larger effort of the NGOs which has spread far and wide; they have created networks mostly in the villages that reach the poorest elements. NGOs have matured into a significant force over the last 30 years. The contribution of NGOs in our socio-economic setup is time tested. If we close our eyes and think of what would happen in the country in absence of NGOs. Poverty with its multifarious tentacles would have grasped the vitality of the nation. The rural sector would have been in the most neglected portion of the country. NGOs are largely focused on development work and poverty alleviation and in this sense operative in the same areas of society as the government intervention. NGOs have empowered people, particularity women by making the people look towards themselves for solutions instead of waiting for the government to address their problems. If Bangladesh and the diehard poor section of the society want to see some real change, definitely we need more Dr. Yunus and Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. Yunus has shown his ability to organize and mobilize the poorest sections. About 6.5 million poor rural women account for more than 97% of the clients of Grameen Bank. He has shown commitment towards poor section. He understands the urgency of removing poverty by developing the economy by one’s own efforts and has the optimism and organizational ability for accomplishing the task. He has the international stature and vision needed for leading Bangladesh into the global economy. The public representatives of Bangladesh are well aware of the fact that any noble effort of the government never reaches the diehard poor through the state machinery. Why? The causes are well known to them. The existence of organizations such as Grameen Bank and other similar kind of is time tested and well fit in the rural set up of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Bank said the Managing Director of Grameen Bank’s appointing authority did not take prior permission from the central bank for his appointment twelve years ago. Grameen Bank is not a bank of traditional kind that its MD would be under the direct control of Bangladesh Bank. Even then, the then government gave permission to place that post. Suppose, it was not followed, how he did he run the bank eleven years without the consent of the Central Bank? Suddenly, the government has remembered that his position is not legal? Muhith also said, “ There was no vendetta or political vengeance against Dr. Yunus who won the Nobel peace prize in 2006 along with the Grameen Bank he had founded in 1983. This is another point the people in power always undermines the sensible and comprehending power of the people. They continue doing whatever they like and try to give colour by some details which they think general people or those who are not in politics don; t understand. The government should remember that Dr. Yunus is not a mere MD of GB, he himself is an organization. He is read in different reputed universities in different countries even in the western universities. Those who can go beyond the tradition and create something new, they are not ordinary people. They are real heroes of the country. Yunus is an individual of that stature. Is it not our pride that the Grameen Bank model is followed in one hundred countries of the world?
Prof. Yunus would not have been the MD of Grammen Bank forever. Today or tomorrow he would relinquish his responsibility of leading the bank. As he has founded it, there lies a nerve-relation between Yunus and Grameen Bank. In his absence what would happen to it is a concern for all the real patriotic people of the country, it’s a concern for the civil society and serious concerns for the ever neglected segment of the society who don’t have anybody to get real help from. The politics of Bangladesh has the tradition to play many games. If these games remain confined to the politicians, we the general people would not mind. When common people are seriously affected not just concerned, we just get frustrated. The Dhaka city now sees WASA water with very obnoxious smell, mosquito menace, frequent load shedding , hijacking have made the life of city dwellers unbearable. Bu they have to bear everything sitting in the house. Whom they will ask for help? There is none to listen their cry. If you cry much, the government has a good solution. What is that ‘police action’. Why not? We are enjoying full democracy. A democratic government can indeed do anything for the welfare of the people!
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam. (March 04) has said, “Under the visionary leadership of Yunus Grameen Bank moved into innovative partnerships with global companies life Danone, Adidas, Viola to provide nutritious yogurt, cheap shoes and safe drinking water at affordable prices. Its stunningly successful partnership has been with Telenor of Norway, leading to the formation of Grameen Phone by far the most successful mobile company in the country, now the highest taxpaying company at Tk 900 crore annually. His office is austere with book shelves , some wooden chairs and a square desk for himself. He shares his quarters with four other senior GB officials in a small five-storey building , each occupying a floor. Till his Nobel Prize he had no personal transport but used the bank’s microbus when moving around. His trademark Grameen Check attire is now well known global trade mark that projects Bangladesh’s clothes and designs wherever he goes with these days, is pretty much everywhere. “ I have gone through many comments published in some dailies. One comment from the Daily Star goes like this, . “Shame, shame, shame on all those who were out to disgrace Prof. Yunus for political vendetta. The bad smell of the whole orchestrated move cannot be hidden with the perfume of any smart political statements. Simply, put those who have made comments about Yunus and the benefit of Grameen Bank. Lack sagacity, judgment capability and intellectual quality. It’s a black day for Bangladesh and the people should wear dark badges on arms. “
Dr. Yunus we all are frustrated. The people of the whole world who really love the poor, who really want to do something for the poor, who love innovation and honesty are frustrated at this national decision. Your grief and unfathomable love for Grameen Bank and its beneficiaries are also shared by those people. You have not lost anything. Rather you have gained much. Let us congratulate you once again as we did when you achieved the world’s most prestigious prize for this nation. O nation thou art pride or really poor?
( March 08, 2011)
Md. Masum Billah
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the initiator in making tiny loans to poverty-stricken individuals, especially women to help them launch their own means of support, has been sacked from the Grameen Bank. Grameen Bank is a brand name in one hundred counties in the world. Grameen Bank is read , studied and being researched across the globe. But our government did not have any alternative to remove him from his dream organization. Let us see what our Finance Minister AMA Muhith syas on March 03 ‘the government had no alternative but to remove Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhahmmad Yunus from top position of Grameen Bank despite the fact it may taint Bangladeshi image to the global community. ‘The statement of the Finance Minister indicates that the country runs very smoothly and Dr. Yunus was a great problem otherwise their smooth running of the government will be hampered. Actually, the country is facing multifarious and hydra headed problems though the government. May be, the people in the government don’t see it as they belong to highest strata of people. It is definitely how they can understand the pains of the poor? .The price hike has gone up several times beyond seventy percent people’s ability. The government claims that the buying capacity of the people has increased, so they are not facing so problem to buy rice at an exorbitant rate. It also explains the cause of price hike is the game of the opposition party. That is the game or race between the government and the opposition. What about the ordinary people, what about the people like us who are do depend on a certain amount of salary? They give another explanation that in the free market economy the price does not remain within the controlling power of the government which the previous government also claimed. Then what’s the necessity of changing the government by the people if they get the answer from their representatives? When elected government fails to understand the pains of the people, when elected government tells otherwise with the people, do they have any place to go? People don’t get any reasonable answer from them; they see the government doing something strange with which only the poorest people’s interest is directly concerned. Real public representatives of this country must know that the poor people don’t have any access to the state run banks. State run banks are for the businessmen who deliberately increase the price of essentials commodities. But the banks, institutions and organizations developed in the country responding to the dire necessities of the poor must not be disturbed in any way which is tantamount to throwing a kick to the hungry belly of the poor.
The concept of social business enterprise that Yunus proposed is a powerful means for developing a healthy and productive private sector. He has got vast idea and experience to its full flourishment in the greater interest of the nation. A social business enterprise has two criteria for its success. They are how much profit it makes and how much social profit progress it brings. To succeed such an enterprise needs competent and dynamic leadership. We do believe Dr. Yunus possess that level of competence. Under his dynamic leadership the nation hopes to see new way of poverty alleviation. Without removing and alleviating poverty, nation’s going forward to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity simply prove impossible. The purpose of democracy is to ensure sustainable development of the common mass. Without economic emancipation sustainable peace cannot be possible. His achieving Nobel Prize proves this fact. Bringing economic prosperity to the lives of the rural and commoners lead them to peace and prosperity. Grameen Bank is part of the larger effort of the NGOs which has spread far and wide; they have created networks mostly in the villages that reach the poorest elements. NGOs have matured into a significant force over the last 30 years. The contribution of NGOs in our socio-economic setup is time tested. If we close our eyes and think of what would happen in the country in absence of NGOs. Poverty with its multifarious tentacles would have grasped the vitality of the nation. The rural sector would have been in the most neglected portion of the country. NGOs are largely focused on development work and poverty alleviation and in this sense operative in the same areas of society as the government intervention. NGOs have empowered people, particularity women by making the people look towards themselves for solutions instead of waiting for the government to address their problems. If Bangladesh and the diehard poor section of the society want to see some real change, definitely we need more Dr. Yunus and Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. Yunus has shown his ability to organize and mobilize the poorest sections. About 6.5 million poor rural women account for more than 97% of the clients of Grameen Bank. He has shown commitment towards poor section. He understands the urgency of removing poverty by developing the economy by one’s own efforts and has the optimism and organizational ability for accomplishing the task. He has the international stature and vision needed for leading Bangladesh into the global economy. The public representatives of Bangladesh are well aware of the fact that any noble effort of the government never reaches the diehard poor through the state machinery. Why? The causes are well known to them. The existence of organizations such as Grameen Bank and other similar kind of is time tested and well fit in the rural set up of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Bank said the Managing Director of Grameen Bank’s appointing authority did not take prior permission from the central bank for his appointment twelve years ago. Grameen Bank is not a bank of traditional kind that its MD would be under the direct control of Bangladesh Bank. Even then, the then government gave permission to place that post. Suppose, it was not followed, how he did he run the bank eleven years without the consent of the Central Bank? Suddenly, the government has remembered that his position is not legal? Muhith also said, “ There was no vendetta or political vengeance against Dr. Yunus who won the Nobel peace prize in 2006 along with the Grameen Bank he had founded in 1983. This is another point the people in power always undermines the sensible and comprehending power of the people. They continue doing whatever they like and try to give colour by some details which they think general people or those who are not in politics don; t understand. The government should remember that Dr. Yunus is not a mere MD of GB, he himself is an organization. He is read in different reputed universities in different countries even in the western universities. Those who can go beyond the tradition and create something new, they are not ordinary people. They are real heroes of the country. Yunus is an individual of that stature. Is it not our pride that the Grameen Bank model is followed in one hundred countries of the world?
Prof. Yunus would not have been the MD of Grammen Bank forever. Today or tomorrow he would relinquish his responsibility of leading the bank. As he has founded it, there lies a nerve-relation between Yunus and Grameen Bank. In his absence what would happen to it is a concern for all the real patriotic people of the country, it’s a concern for the civil society and serious concerns for the ever neglected segment of the society who don’t have anybody to get real help from. The politics of Bangladesh has the tradition to play many games. If these games remain confined to the politicians, we the general people would not mind. When common people are seriously affected not just concerned, we just get frustrated. The Dhaka city now sees WASA water with very obnoxious smell, mosquito menace, frequent load shedding , hijacking have made the life of city dwellers unbearable. Bu they have to bear everything sitting in the house. Whom they will ask for help? There is none to listen their cry. If you cry much, the government has a good solution. What is that ‘police action’. Why not? We are enjoying full democracy. A democratic government can indeed do anything for the welfare of the people!
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam. (March 04) has said, “Under the visionary leadership of Yunus Grameen Bank moved into innovative partnerships with global companies life Danone, Adidas, Viola to provide nutritious yogurt, cheap shoes and safe drinking water at affordable prices. Its stunningly successful partnership has been with Telenor of Norway, leading to the formation of Grameen Phone by far the most successful mobile company in the country, now the highest taxpaying company at Tk 900 crore annually. His office is austere with book shelves , some wooden chairs and a square desk for himself. He shares his quarters with four other senior GB officials in a small five-storey building , each occupying a floor. Till his Nobel Prize he had no personal transport but used the bank’s microbus when moving around. His trademark Grameen Check attire is now well known global trade mark that projects Bangladesh’s clothes and designs wherever he goes with these days, is pretty much everywhere. “ I have gone through many comments published in some dailies. One comment from the Daily Star goes like this, . “Shame, shame, shame on all those who were out to disgrace Prof. Yunus for political vendetta. The bad smell of the whole orchestrated move cannot be hidden with the perfume of any smart political statements. Simply, put those who have made comments about Yunus and the benefit of Grameen Bank. Lack sagacity, judgment capability and intellectual quality. It’s a black day for Bangladesh and the people should wear dark badges on arms. “
Dr. Yunus we all are frustrated. The people of the whole world who really love the poor, who really want to do something for the poor, who love innovation and honesty are frustrated at this national decision. Your grief and unfathomable love for Grameen Bank and its beneficiaries are also shared by those people. You have not lost anything. Rather you have gained much. Let us congratulate you once again as we did when you achieved the world’s most prestigious prize for this nation. O nation thou art pride or really poor?
( March 08, 2011)
Md. Masum Billah
To ban or not ban rickshaws
To ban or not to ban rickshaws
The sudden decision of the authorities concerned to ban rickshaws in some city roads invited the unruly protest of the rickshawpullers. Many vehicles went under their attack and they ransacked cars and buses and even some passengers also became victim of their wrath. It is more interesting that they did not meet any strong protest from the law enforcers. Dhaka city is characterized by the city of severe traffic congestion, environmental pollution, mosquito biting and crime and mosque. People have to spend many hours on the roads everyday losing thousands of fruitful working hours every day. But who bothers? The authorities sometimes seem to be sincere enough to remove our sufferings. This is why they suddenly take some decisions and steps which actually increase our suffering manifold.
Does banning rickshwas from the city roads ensure easy and smooth movement of vehicles and save the city dwellers from nightmare experiences of traffic congestion they have to experience from morning to midnight and from Saturday to Friday? But our experiences show us that the roads which are already rickshaw also see severe traffic gridlock. The road in front of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat can be cited as the best example. So, we can reach the conclusion that banning only rickshaws don’t cause traffic jam. The city of Dhaka sees extremely poor number of vehicles comparing to the population. During office time, it is seen that one cannot manage a rickshaw even after waiting for long and after good amount of bargaining. Many people don’t reach their destination on time due to the unavailability of transport. City dwellers particularly the middle class, lower middle class and poor people suffer acutely from the lack of traffic. The existing number of rickshaws actually cannot carry the people easily. When rickshaws will be banned from several roads, what will happen to those who go to their destinations using rickshaws? Will they go there walking? What will happen to the students and children? What will happen to the old passengers or passengers with wife and children who cannot find it easy to get into the jam-packed buses plying on the city roads? Have we ever given any considerations to these issues?
It is known to us that we don’t have easy and undisrupted city bus system in all the roads. Though in some roads some private company buses run, they always remain overcrowded and their halting stations are not enough. Their stations are frequently changing in as the traffic police and sergeants don’t allow them to take passengers and sell tickets in many places. They remain in tension police harassment and giving tolls to local mastans. As they remain busy with satisfying police and local mastan, they hardly get time to think of passenger facilities. In this situation, how can we take the decision to ban rickshaws? In this city more than one crore peole live but we have only five thousand CNG run three wheelers. Private taxies have already disappeared.
If we consider from another point of view we will find rickshawas are environment friendly. Rickshawas don’t contribute to environmental pollution like engine vehicles. Rickshawas are used by middle class, lower middle class and lower class people. Again, What will happen to one lakh rickshaw pullers? Without rehabilitating them properly how we think to manage the whole affair? The already crime-prone city would turn into a heaven of crime causing unimaginable deterioration of law and order situation. Did we ever think it? Yes, rickshaws are creating some problems undoubtedly but banning the rickshaws at this time will incur more problems without making alternatives arrangements for passengers and rickshawpullers. When good number of luxurious and economy buses will be introduced with the assurance of passengers’ lifting and getting down from their desired places, the rickshaws will automatically disappear as passengers will be able to save their time and money. Without ensuring good number of luxurious and economy buses in the city, we cannot afford to band rickshaws.
When university students call on strike do they show very rational attitude on the roads? When political parties call hartals how do they behave on the roads? When they are in the opposition do they show any judicious behavriour with the transports? Then how did the authorities take that rickshaw pullers who have been denied of fortune and having no education and less rationality will behave like gentlemen? They didn’t give any judicious consideration regarding this issue.
Are the private cars not contributing to traffic jams? Why so many people are buying private cars? Private cars are actually the symbols of security, comfort and aristocracy. Now it is a necessity for those who can afford. Middle class people buy cars at the cost of much sacrifice. Many buy cars taking loans even. Why? To get the children to school and taking them back from school safely. To take the family members to hospital and from hospital to home as managing a transport at the critical time is very difficult. These causes contribute a great deal to increase the number of vehicles causing traffic jam in the city. When all the road will see luxurious and comfortable buses plying on the roads round the clock, people will not definitely buy cars to increase the extra burden on their families and on the roads of the city.
Finally, when our lawmakers are going to have duty free cars on the roads, the roads must be made free of rickshaws. The representatives of poor people will drive duty free cars on the streets removing the slow moving vehicles like rickshaws. Doesn’t it look paradoxical?
Masum Billah
Program Manager: BRAC Education Program
Cell: 01714-091431
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com
The sudden decision of the authorities concerned to ban rickshaws in some city roads invited the unruly protest of the rickshawpullers. Many vehicles went under their attack and they ransacked cars and buses and even some passengers also became victim of their wrath. It is more interesting that they did not meet any strong protest from the law enforcers. Dhaka city is characterized by the city of severe traffic congestion, environmental pollution, mosquito biting and crime and mosque. People have to spend many hours on the roads everyday losing thousands of fruitful working hours every day. But who bothers? The authorities sometimes seem to be sincere enough to remove our sufferings. This is why they suddenly take some decisions and steps which actually increase our suffering manifold.
Does banning rickshwas from the city roads ensure easy and smooth movement of vehicles and save the city dwellers from nightmare experiences of traffic congestion they have to experience from morning to midnight and from Saturday to Friday? But our experiences show us that the roads which are already rickshaw also see severe traffic gridlock. The road in front of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat can be cited as the best example. So, we can reach the conclusion that banning only rickshaws don’t cause traffic jam. The city of Dhaka sees extremely poor number of vehicles comparing to the population. During office time, it is seen that one cannot manage a rickshaw even after waiting for long and after good amount of bargaining. Many people don’t reach their destination on time due to the unavailability of transport. City dwellers particularly the middle class, lower middle class and poor people suffer acutely from the lack of traffic. The existing number of rickshaws actually cannot carry the people easily. When rickshaws will be banned from several roads, what will happen to those who go to their destinations using rickshaws? Will they go there walking? What will happen to the students and children? What will happen to the old passengers or passengers with wife and children who cannot find it easy to get into the jam-packed buses plying on the city roads? Have we ever given any considerations to these issues?
It is known to us that we don’t have easy and undisrupted city bus system in all the roads. Though in some roads some private company buses run, they always remain overcrowded and their halting stations are not enough. Their stations are frequently changing in as the traffic police and sergeants don’t allow them to take passengers and sell tickets in many places. They remain in tension police harassment and giving tolls to local mastans. As they remain busy with satisfying police and local mastan, they hardly get time to think of passenger facilities. In this situation, how can we take the decision to ban rickshaws? In this city more than one crore peole live but we have only five thousand CNG run three wheelers. Private taxies have already disappeared.
If we consider from another point of view we will find rickshawas are environment friendly. Rickshawas don’t contribute to environmental pollution like engine vehicles. Rickshawas are used by middle class, lower middle class and lower class people. Again, What will happen to one lakh rickshaw pullers? Without rehabilitating them properly how we think to manage the whole affair? The already crime-prone city would turn into a heaven of crime causing unimaginable deterioration of law and order situation. Did we ever think it? Yes, rickshaws are creating some problems undoubtedly but banning the rickshaws at this time will incur more problems without making alternatives arrangements for passengers and rickshawpullers. When good number of luxurious and economy buses will be introduced with the assurance of passengers’ lifting and getting down from their desired places, the rickshaws will automatically disappear as passengers will be able to save their time and money. Without ensuring good number of luxurious and economy buses in the city, we cannot afford to band rickshaws.
When university students call on strike do they show very rational attitude on the roads? When political parties call hartals how do they behave on the roads? When they are in the opposition do they show any judicious behavriour with the transports? Then how did the authorities take that rickshaw pullers who have been denied of fortune and having no education and less rationality will behave like gentlemen? They didn’t give any judicious consideration regarding this issue.
Are the private cars not contributing to traffic jams? Why so many people are buying private cars? Private cars are actually the symbols of security, comfort and aristocracy. Now it is a necessity for those who can afford. Middle class people buy cars at the cost of much sacrifice. Many buy cars taking loans even. Why? To get the children to school and taking them back from school safely. To take the family members to hospital and from hospital to home as managing a transport at the critical time is very difficult. These causes contribute a great deal to increase the number of vehicles causing traffic jam in the city. When all the road will see luxurious and comfortable buses plying on the roads round the clock, people will not definitely buy cars to increase the extra burden on their families and on the roads of the city.
Finally, when our lawmakers are going to have duty free cars on the roads, the roads must be made free of rickshaws. The representatives of poor people will drive duty free cars on the streets removing the slow moving vehicles like rickshaws. Doesn’t it look paradoxical?
Masum Billah
Program Manager: BRAC Education Program
Cell: 01714-091431
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com
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