Good times not around: A harsh reminder by Finance Adviser
Mohammad Ali Sattar | Tuesday, 15 July 2008
THERE has been an uproar in the media and among some political quarters, over the reported comment by Finance and Planning Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam at a seminar in the city.
The media quoted the Adviser as saying 'the times of Shaesta Khan are over'. Mirza Azizul Islam, while reviewing the prevailing price situation, had, thus, drawn a comparison to the times of this ruler of Bengal when costs of living were cheaper. The finance and planning adviser had more to say, while speaking as the chief guest at the seminar titled 'Price hike and Poverty Alleviation: Budget 2008-09', organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
Mirza Azizul Islam spoke with authority and knowledge. He emphatically said the present market situation is not a "perfect" one but he also made it clear that prices of essentials would not come down anytime soon. Furthermore, focused on many national and international issues and responded to various questions, raised by the participants in the seminar. Not too many people have the guts to speak the truth. We may not commend the performance of the present government, especially with regard to the market situation and price hike. But this writer admires the adviser for speaking candidly, by ruling out the possibility of 'something better coming soon'.
Immediately after the media reports on the Finance Adviser's frank comments, all the waiting critics, particularly the politicians, prowled on him. No other adviser other than the Chief Adviser carries the weight as does the Finance and Planning adviser. The whole world is almost upside down due to the sudden soaring of oil price in the international market.
The economists are spinning their head and most countries are busy about price adjustments of all sorts. Our finance adviser is no exception. One is worked up dealing with an economy like ours, with no particular redeeming characteristic or feature to tide over the problem. Over the last three decades, we did not experience any good time about our economy. Our national budgets, most of the time, had been deficit in character. We largely depend on foreign aid and count our business on grants.
Some quarters believe Mirza Azizul has been rather too honest or trying to stop others from grilling him. Others do not look at the problem the same way. They demanded the "resignation" of the Finance Adviser. But we consider that this was rather an immature demand without really gauging the real substance and content of the Finance Adviser's comment on the prevailing price situation.
The finance adviser is certainly aware of the responsibility of the portfolio that he holds. His remarks and comments are, most of the time, delicate and viewed with considerable importance.
In fact, the common man has been facing a crisis and is looking for a way out. The on-going struggle to making all ends met looks unending. However disagreeable it might sound, it is at the same true that the present government could have done something more and something better to be better in command of things.
We all know that the olden days are gone and, with it, the golden life-style of the common men.
Although the common people of this land were never rich and wealthy, they had, however, the blessings of crop abundance and the bane of less natural disasters.
The media quoted the Adviser as saying 'the times of Shaesta Khan are over'. Mirza Azizul Islam, while reviewing the prevailing price situation, had, thus, drawn a comparison to the times of this ruler of Bengal when costs of living were cheaper. The finance and planning adviser had more to say, while speaking as the chief guest at the seminar titled 'Price hike and Poverty Alleviation: Budget 2008-09', organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
Mirza Azizul Islam spoke with authority and knowledge. He emphatically said the present market situation is not a "perfect" one but he also made it clear that prices of essentials would not come down anytime soon. Furthermore, focused on many national and international issues and responded to various questions, raised by the participants in the seminar. Not too many people have the guts to speak the truth. We may not commend the performance of the present government, especially with regard to the market situation and price hike. But this writer admires the adviser for speaking candidly, by ruling out the possibility of 'something better coming soon'.
Immediately after the media reports on the Finance Adviser's frank comments, all the waiting critics, particularly the politicians, prowled on him. No other adviser other than the Chief Adviser carries the weight as does the Finance and Planning adviser. The whole world is almost upside down due to the sudden soaring of oil price in the international market.
The economists are spinning their head and most countries are busy about price adjustments of all sorts. Our finance adviser is no exception. One is worked up dealing with an economy like ours, with no particular redeeming characteristic or feature to tide over the problem. Over the last three decades, we did not experience any good time about our economy. Our national budgets, most of the time, had been deficit in character. We largely depend on foreign aid and count our business on grants.
Some quarters believe Mirza Azizul has been rather too honest or trying to stop others from grilling him. Others do not look at the problem the same way. They demanded the "resignation" of the Finance Adviser. But we consider that this was rather an immature demand without really gauging the real substance and content of the Finance Adviser's comment on the prevailing price situation.
The finance adviser is certainly aware of the responsibility of the portfolio that he holds. His remarks and comments are, most of the time, delicate and viewed with considerable importance.
In fact, the common man has been facing a crisis and is looking for a way out. The on-going struggle to making all ends met looks unending. However disagreeable it might sound, it is at the same true that the present government could have done something more and something better to be better in command of things.
We all know that the olden days are gone and, with it, the golden life-style of the common men.
Although the common people of this land were never rich and wealthy, they had, however, the blessings of crop abundance and the bane of less natural disasters.