Bangladesh equivalents

The figures about some countries of the world and the corresponding states of the USA, which are of Bangladesh equivalents in terms of US$-based respective gross domestic products (GDPs) of 2009, are quite encouraging for us as a nation. At that time, Bangladesh had GDP of $94.60bn which was almost equivalent to the sum total of GDPs of South Dakota ($38.31bn), North Dakota ($31.87bn), Vermont ($25.44bn) or GDPs of Sri Lanka ($42.20bn), Uruguay ($31.51bn), and Yemen ($25.13bn). Thus, the 40-year-old-country, Bangladesh, has already crossed three states of 235-year-old-country -- the USA -- in terms of GDP. Or we can say that Bangladesh can compete with at least three countries of the world alone. Now, one can imagine what would have been the situation, if Bangladesh were a 235-year-old country. Just imagine and develop your belief strongly for building a better Bangladesh. Enamul Hafiz Latifee Shahjalal University of Science and Technology E-mail: enamul.hafiz.sust@gmail.com The inspirational and uplifting Sir Frank The write-up titled, 'A seasonal story to change your thinking and enhance your life' in the Financial Express on Tuesday has lived up to its promise. It is one of the most refreshing, beautifully written, and uplifting stories I've read in a long time. The philosophical quotation of its writer Sir Frank Peters, 'Today is never too soon. tomorrow might be too late' is sheer magic and makes total sense in this mad world of ours. We go through most of our life taking people for granted, thinking of them only on Eid, and then when unexpectedly they die we become remorseful and regret not having told them all the nice words we should have told them, while they were still alive and we had the chance. Sir Frank has proved from his own personal experiences the outcome can be different and better all around for everyone who applies his philosophy. That Tuesday afternoon I phoned my sister in England to tell her that I loved her and she became so emotional and happy hearing the words that she wept . then I wept. I don't think either of us understood a word spoken after that. Sir Frank's tribute in print to Tanveer and his family of Mac Solutions was also special. I doubt if a Bangladeshi would express his feelings so openly and with such forthright honesty and sincerity. No doubt the family is special otherwise he would not have written the praises he did and given us a special lesson. Did the story change my thinking? - Most definitely. I've come to realise that it's not the expensive gifts I give on Eid that really matters, but the little things like a hug, a 'thank you,' and a caring expression like 'I love you' that are considerably more significant and valuable for a person's spirit than anything money can buy. Overall, I found Sir Frank's article very inspirational and uplifting. I'm glad my husband Shobuj forgot to take the Financial Express to work that day. Rashna Begum Uttara, Dhaka It is sad indeed Home Minister Sahara Khatun said recently that she came to know about the on-going secret killings in the country from reading newspapers. How sad it is! Our ministers seem to be oblivious of our sufferings that we are facing almost on a regular basis. They also appear to be unaware of the news reports printed on the inner pages of the newspapers. They just go through the first and back pages of the newspapers avoiding all other pages containing a lot of woes and sorrows of the nation. Habibur Rashid Ismail Chittagong E-mail : habibur.rashid.ismail@gmail.com Hedging RMG sector Bangladesh produces mainly apparels for low segments of the market in the developed economies. The demand for its readymade garment (RMG) and knitwear products is usually considered inelastic. But over the longer-term or if the present battered conditions of many western economies linger on and reduction in state supports there for people translate into much depleted disposable income for them, then the present typical instinct of buyers in many western countries to buy Bangladeshi common apparels with the same frequency could change as they would turn more thrifty. Already, in the backdrop of the deepening recession and economic downturn in the USA and Europe orders from these countries to Bangladeshi readymade garments (RMG) exporters are reportedly on the decline. This is indeed an ominous news and calls for taking proactive steps by all concerned and involved in the country. It is high time for Bangladesh to be diversifying its export market for garments products by progressively giving up its reliance mainly on the western countries . Some successes have been attained in this direction. But much more needs to be done -- and done quickly -- before the recession hits the western economies with greater force. Some limited quantities of Bangladeshi garments are presently going to the Indian and Chinese markets. But there is good prospect for our garments to win a larger and sustainable market share in the two giant Asian economies. The government in Bangladesh must go on keeping the Indian authorities to enable the country's RMG producers effectively to go on supplying in the Indian market by taking advantage of the facilities that have recently been given by India in the form of otherwise quota-free and duty-free access of Bangladeshi RMG products to its markets. This concession has to be exploited to the maximum; without being inhibited by any para- and non-tariff barriers and other kinds of irrational restrictions. China should also be diplomatically pursued to operationalise similar concessions and facilitate and encourage Bangladesh's RMG products to its market in an uninhibited manner. The government must not hesitate to extend fresh packaged concessions and incentives, if the same are needed on any justified ground, to the RMG sector to help retain its competitiveness in these troubled times. Ifteqar Ahmed Iqbal Road Mohammadpur, Dhaka Tip of an ice-berg Probably since the start of winter and after the last few free falls in our capital market the memory of the people might have faded about the impact of world's second largest recession. After the recession many giant manufacturing, service oriented and the mostly financial organisations have shaped them as they could to survive. Their measures included cuting down jobs, massive change in policy, closing overseas branches etc. Due to the recession punch in 2008, the total industrial production around the world dropped by 13 per cent, unemployment rate in America and Europe has also increased by 10 per cent. In the largest ever recession in 1930s, production dropped by 40 per cent while unemployment rose by 25 per cent. Since the recent recession, balance sheet's figures still worry the top management of banks. Decision makers of the banks are still trying to adjust more stringent compliance for capital adequacy. Every government is facing two major challenges in tuning to a stable economic market- shaping appropriate fiscal space and allocation. Countries like Bangladesh are in a situation where inflation is increasing. People's standard of life is shuddering under high price hike. In 2010-11 food inflation average 12 months count was 11.34 per cent against 8.53 per cent in 2009-10, and 7.19 per cent 2008-09. In September, 2011 food inflation was high in mark- 13. 75 per cent, while in August it was 12.70 per cent, and 13.40 per cent in July. Inflation of non-food item was, however, little bit lower. In 2010-11, inflation of non-food item was 4.15 per cent which is 01.3 per cent lower than that of 2009-10. The present average inflation rate is 08.8 per cent. In 2006-07 it was 7.20 per cent; in 2007-08 it was 9.94 per cent, 06.66 per cent in 2008-09, and 7.31 per cent in 2009-10. In the history of our economy inflation rate of September, 2011 was the most shocking which was 11.97 per cent. It was the highest in the last 10 years. Ahmed Shamir Independent University, Bangladesh. E-mail: ahmed_shamir@live.com) Sycophant: Enemy in disguise Sycophancy is widespread in every sphere of our society. It is a disease which is causing the decay of our social values. We see sycophants everywhere. Especially those who are in power always find themselves surrounded by the sycophants and we think people in power and position very much love flattery. I remember a joke of Gopal Bhar -- The king, his employer, told Gopal, "Isn't bitter melon a wonderful vegetable? Gopal answered, "Of course sir; it is indeed very excellent vegetable" to make some fun with Gopal, the king again said, " No, I think bitter melon is not a good vegetable since it tastes so bitter." Gopal Bhar did not waste a moment and said, "You are right sir, actually it is not at all appetising vegetable" now the king was amused and asked Gopal, "Gopal, when I at first told bitter melon is good, you said it is good and now when I am telling it is not good, you are telling, it is not good! Why is your opinion changing as I change mine"? In reply, Gopal Bhar said, "Sir, I work for you not for bitter melon!" It was only folklore but in our society we see such sycophants everyday. Especially in our political arena. The sycophants have no self respect, they are like parasites but with their gift of the gab they capture high positions. Their only goal is to get some favour from the person in authority. But the leader who leads should remember that the flatterers are not their real well-wishers. Rather, they are their main enemies who are isolating them from reality and the people who matter most. The leader in power should recognise such people and maintain a safe distance from them. For the sycophants, real competent people cannot work. So I believe our present leaders are wise and seasoned enough to recognise the sycophants, who are surrounding them and drive them away so they cannot do any harm. Our leaders should make it loud and clear that sycophancy has no place in their party, only competence and hard work are the main criteria. We should not forget the following quote. "We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter. "Although truth is bitter, but it doesn't create illusion and it help us to remain grounded. Mohammed Sohel Hara Adamjee EPZ Narayanganj E-mail: sohelhara@hotmail.com Multi-vitamins not needed An important back-page medical report from London was published on December 28 in a local English daily. It reported on the finding of a detailed French study, spread over some years, on the benefit or otherwise of daily intake of multi-vitamins. This is also practiced by many of us here in Bangladesh. The study reported that for healthy adults, popping multi-vitamins daily may increase their risk of getting melanoma, a dangerous type of skin cancer. In that respect, it adds to the chances of becoming seriously sick. Should anyone then take multi-vitamins, once aware of the potential risk? It is in our own interest that the matter is widely published in our print and electronic media, for creating widespread public awareness. Logically, it is therefore far safer to regularly eat fresh fruits and vegetables rather than multi-vitamins. However, even this option too is now unsafe in Bangladesh; given the wide spread practice of ripening and increasing the shelf-life of raw fruits and vegetables by using harmful chemicals. It is a classical case of opting for the lesser of the two evils; forced to choose between "the devil and the deep sea". Possibly the best option will be to plant your own fruit trees and have a place for a vegetable garden, wherever it is possible. S A Mansoor Dhaka Email: sam@dhakacom.com