Democracy to get a 'boost if economy moves forward'
Friday, 21 September 2007
FE Report
Former adviser to the caretaker government Wahiduddin Mahmud said Thursday the country's democracy will be strengthened only if the economy moves forward.
"One does not need be a genius to figure out this simple linkage between economy and democracy of a country," he said, while speaking as the chief guest at the launching ceremony of two books on trade and development.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Centre, Colombo and Unnayan Shamannay jointly organised the programme at the Centre for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) auditorium in the city.
Dilating on the issues, Mahmud underscored the need for upgrading Bangladesh's negotiating capacity in global trade talks to open up new avenues for local products in the international markets.
"Bangladesh is the only one among the least developed countries (LDCs) that depends solely on industrial production for its export earnings," he said pointing out the urgency of exploring more international markets for local products.
Unlike Bangladesh, other LDCs including the Sub Saharan countries are dependent on energy and mineral resources for their export earnings.
Despite being a LDC, Bangladesh could not attain duty-free access of its ready-made garment (RMG) products to the United States market only due to dearth in negotiating skills, the former adviser to the caretaker government said.
Bangladesh could attain the duty-free access of RMG products to the US market like other LDCs if it could convince properly the country's position and the impact of this facility with proper research works, he opined.
Underscoring the importance of time-bound and appropriate research works, Mahmud also observed that due to their absence, the country could not do well in last month's hearing in the US Senate on the duty-free market access of Bangladeshi RMG products to the US markets.
On price hike of essentials, Wahiduddin Mahmud said if the agricultural subsidy continues to decline, the prices of these items will go up further.
As a result, the prices of wheat, oilseed, lentil and soybean in the US futures markets are witnessing an upward trend, he said.
Former member of parliament (MP) GM Quader admitted the limitations of the policy makers in trade negotiations in the past saying many of the negotiators should not have taken part in the discussions.
It is the country's businessmen who will be directly benefited if the country can do well in the international trade negotiations, said Senior Vice President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Shahjahan Khan.
The books that were launched during programme are - "WTO and regional trade negotiations: Quantitative assessments of potentials implications on Bangladesh," and "Trade and industrial policy environment in Bangladesh with especial reference to some non-traditional exports sectors."
UNDP trade specialist Jessica Murray, Adviser of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Monjur Rahman and author and editor of the books Selim Rahman also spoke on the occasion, presided over by Unnayan Shamannay Chairman Atiur Rahman.
Former adviser to the caretaker government Wahiduddin Mahmud said Thursday the country's democracy will be strengthened only if the economy moves forward.
"One does not need be a genius to figure out this simple linkage between economy and democracy of a country," he said, while speaking as the chief guest at the launching ceremony of two books on trade and development.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Centre, Colombo and Unnayan Shamannay jointly organised the programme at the Centre for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) auditorium in the city.
Dilating on the issues, Mahmud underscored the need for upgrading Bangladesh's negotiating capacity in global trade talks to open up new avenues for local products in the international markets.
"Bangladesh is the only one among the least developed countries (LDCs) that depends solely on industrial production for its export earnings," he said pointing out the urgency of exploring more international markets for local products.
Unlike Bangladesh, other LDCs including the Sub Saharan countries are dependent on energy and mineral resources for their export earnings.
Despite being a LDC, Bangladesh could not attain duty-free access of its ready-made garment (RMG) products to the United States market only due to dearth in negotiating skills, the former adviser to the caretaker government said.
Bangladesh could attain the duty-free access of RMG products to the US market like other LDCs if it could convince properly the country's position and the impact of this facility with proper research works, he opined.
Underscoring the importance of time-bound and appropriate research works, Mahmud also observed that due to their absence, the country could not do well in last month's hearing in the US Senate on the duty-free market access of Bangladeshi RMG products to the US markets.
On price hike of essentials, Wahiduddin Mahmud said if the agricultural subsidy continues to decline, the prices of these items will go up further.
As a result, the prices of wheat, oilseed, lentil and soybean in the US futures markets are witnessing an upward trend, he said.
Former member of parliament (MP) GM Quader admitted the limitations of the policy makers in trade negotiations in the past saying many of the negotiators should not have taken part in the discussions.
It is the country's businessmen who will be directly benefited if the country can do well in the international trade negotiations, said Senior Vice President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Shahjahan Khan.
The books that were launched during programme are - "WTO and regional trade negotiations: Quantitative assessments of potentials implications on Bangladesh," and "Trade and industrial policy environment in Bangladesh with especial reference to some non-traditional exports sectors."
UNDP trade specialist Jessica Murray, Adviser of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Monjur Rahman and author and editor of the books Selim Rahman also spoke on the occasion, presided over by Unnayan Shamannay Chairman Atiur Rahman.