BangladeshWeb Blogs

Just about 22 years ago, Bangladesh Cricket team played their very first one-day international match. That game against Pakistan on March 31, 1986 in Asia Cup brought a huge loss without much surprise for a new entrant to the international cricketing world. Coincidentally, in the recently concluded Asia Cup, Bangladesh played their last game against Pakistan. The result - still a huge loss! There has been recent sprinkle of success of our national cricket team but after many years, many selection committees, many coaches, many player and many captains, it seems like we have not elevated much further from the time we took off 22 years ago. We are lucky that the international cricket governance and powerhouse has shifted to the Indian subcontinent and we have always been given the vote of approval by our neighbors. Beside the fact that we have a nation full of cricket lovers and sponsors, can we keep getting the vote of approval from the authorities without getting where we should be? What is our real problem anyway for not being able to get where we should be after all these years? It can't be "time needed" as I think we clocked enough time in international cricket; it can't be selection committees or coaches or player or even captains as we have had complete makeovers many times over in each of these departments over the years. Damn it - we can't even blame it on politics as we have seen many changes and all forms of governments in 22 years. So, what is it? Are we lacking the basic temperament of the game?
 
Bangladesh v Pakistan 31 March 1986
Scorecard
 
Pakistan v Bangladesh
4 July 2008
Scorecard

The record breaking SSC exam results yesterday with 70.41 percent pass rate and 41,917 with GPA of 5 suggest that some things are changing in the education system of Bangladesh.

Over the years, education system of Bangladesh slowly but surely changed quite a bit especially in the post-elementary levels. It is not just the names of the board exams and degrees like Matriculation becoming S.S.C. and Intermediate becoming H.S.C. but the whole approach has been changing. The emphasis is shifting more towards understanding the concepts rather than memorizing (even better it the notes are from so and so highly rated private tutors), ability to use as many antiquated quotes and taking and filling up as many extra sheet of papers in the exams. The grading system also went through much needed change to be more relevant and meaningful in a global world that we live in; for instance, the adaptation of GPA scale instead of First-class, second-class, pass and percentage scale.

But the biggest change is that the system is no longer glorifying a dozen students out of thousands and thousands. Not that I fell out of the top ten ranking because of a few total points back when I took the SSC exam but the system just didn’t seem fair and right when there could be thousand others that were just few points shy of the top ten students but without deserved special accolade. It was eye pleasing to see the news clip of a wave of new generation ready to take on the future with the fruit of their hard-work in form of GPA 5 instead of reading about ten students and wondering when these selected few would disappear in “brain-drain”. Coincidentally, fellow blogger Rumi Ahmed also touched on the same sentiment in one part of his writing on this SSC results and his recollection.

There is much to cheer about but much more work lies ahead in fostering this wave of capable new generation to the next level of education and creating an environment of opportunities that would ultimately benefit the country and the people. Based on New Age report, roughly 52 thousand students scored GPA 5 of which most would seek admission to the 12 renowned colleges of the country (Notre Dame College, Dhaka College, Viqarunnisa College, Holy Cross College etc.) that have combined 13 thousand seats only. What chances do those with GPA 5 like Sabir Hossain that are fighting the odds have in this race of life?

See the label above that reads “Product of Bangladesh”? I am sure first thing that will come to your mind as far as what’s inside the wrap is what would come to my mind – Garments, Textile or Clothing. That’s typically what a general consumer sees in a retail store in North America as far as goods made in Bangladesh. I was more excited than surprised when the seafood section of a local super market (a.k.a. grocery store) caught my attention today when I saw one of the packages read that it originated from Bangladesh. I thoroughly inspected the entire shrimp section ignoring the “look” from others around me. I got even more excited to see that the majority of the packages of variety of shrimp on the shelves were from Bangladesh!


I have a tendency of checking where a product is made before buying especially garments. Of course I always prefer to buy garments that are made in Bangladesh. In one funny “in excess” instance, I once bought a pack of undergarment that I desperately needed but only packages that were left that day at that particular store were made in a different country and I was aware that the particular brand is also made in Bangladesh which I bought in the past. I went home with a pack that was NOT made in Bangladesh but I felt so guilty that I decided to drive back that same day to a different store of the same retailer in the area that happened to have that same brand of undergarment but made in Bangladesh. I am not suggesting others to be that extreme about buying Bangladeshi products. I just hope we all, the emissaries of Bangladesh don’t put down or make negative connotation about a fine product simply because it’s made in Bangladesh without any basis.

Anyway, going back to the shrimp – I have checked the seafood section many times before at that same store and other mainstream food stores wondering why Bangladeshi seafood has not made it to the heart of America in regular grocery stores when I know that seafood is one of the export items of Bangladesh. Most of the times in the past, I saw seafood from mainly Philippines, China, India and Vietnam. Most likely some of the seafood may have been from Bangladesh but possibly purchased by large exporters, packaged and exported from the county of those exporters. Are changes on the way – changes that are positive and changes that are visible? This instance of shrimp at a local grocery chain in the middle of America may seem small but few small changes like this one is bound to elevate us to the next level. Also, this is BIG progress as the name “Bangladesh” is getting out to the consumers in the heart of America (and other importing nations I presume) through the package labels of products other than garments.

We have been hearing about ‘minus-2’ formula for the top two leaders and the term ‘treatment abroad’ for the rest in the political arena and their associates from shortly after 1/11. Of course, ‘minus -2’ was once carried out unsuccessfully last year when both Khaleda and Hasina were denied entry to the country. Well, this time after spending almost a year in a sub-jail in Shangshad Bhaban, Hasina did take up the 'treatment abroad' offer after pressure kept mounting on the administration. What was all in the fast-tracked so called ‘political deal’ which was outwardly termed as ‘humanitarian’? Nevertheless – a win-win situation for AL and current administration.

So what was the term on which Hasina was set free? Is it really conditional or unconditional? Some of it will come to light when the ‘parole’ term is about to expire. I have a strong feeling that the ‘episode of care’ of Hasina’s treatment abroad will take longer than the 8-week term of the ‘parole’ for obvious reasons.

What’s cooking for Khaleda? She has been more on the unwavering side of the two leaders. Though there are views out there that Hasina leaving makes Khaleda look stronger of the two - I absolutely disagree this being the reason why she is still in. It’s very unlikely that Khaleda will be held for too long with Hasina out now. It’s obviously not Khaleda or Koko (who was literally invisible in politics) that will have problem in getting go-ahead for ‘treatment abroad’. I think the quandary is Tarique for both Khaleda and the current administration. It will be interesting how this catch-22 matter is handled – I suspect we shall find out when the news come out within matter of days.

The eye of the intensifying cyclone Nargis was positioned uncomfortably close to Bangladesh for almost a week. It hovered over the Bay of Bengal near our coast long enough for us to send all kinds of warning signals to alert lives on the storm’s path. On the flip side, it was long enough for us to subconsciously think about the potential loss of lives and livelihoods that this cyclone is capable of brining to our nation. Further destruction over the one that we are still recovering from that was left by a similar storm named Sidr six months ago in November of 2007 taking 3000 lives.
 
Thanks God, mighty nature spared us this time. It may have spared precious lives of thousands, bumper harvest, further spiraling cost of essential commodities and much more. It’s an uncanny sense of relief that’s mixed with pain as cyclone Nargis spared us but changed her course at the end and lashed on our neighbor Myanmar. The death toll is 4000 so far – most of these victims as well as the survivors already in a state of suffering from almost 5 decades of human rights abuse and suppression of civil society and democracy by the military junta. My heart goes out to those victims and the survivors.

Recently launched rail link between Dhaka and Kolkata was exciting enough for you? How about rail link between Dhaka and London which is set to open later this year? This tantalizing news is no hoax for the travel enthusiast and modern day adventurers.

I was very excited about the Moitree Express that connects Dhaka and Kolkata and I would definitely go on a ride next time I get a chance. Even though it is slow (roughly a full day) especially considering that a flight can take me to Kolkata from Dhaka in less than an hour, I can only imagine how much more exciting this trip can be on a train people watching and sightseeing.

The Dhaka London train journey as compared to Dhaka Kolkata sounds like a Moitree Express in a concentrated steroid. Though, I seriously doubt that I will ever have that kind of time to experience that enticing journey. The 23 day trip will cover about seven thousand miles of railway of the old Silk Roads through Istanbul, Tehran, Lahore and Delhi.

Related Links:
The Daily Star - Rail line to link Dhaka with London by this year.
Mark Smith - Train travel in Bangladesh.

প্রতি বছর পহেলা বৈশাখ আসে আমাদের ঢাকা শহরকে আনন্দ আর উৎসবে মুখরিত করে তুলতে। শুধু ঢাকা শহর কেন, পহেলা বৈশাখ আনন্দের বন্যা নিয়ে আসে প্রতিটি মানুষের দারপ্রান্তে – এপার থেকে ওপার বাংলাএ। কেন যেন মনে হয় পহেলা বৈশাখের রংরুপ প্রতি বছর যেন আরো বেড়েই চলেছে, নব বর্ষের ব্যাপ্তি যেন আরও বিস্তৃত হয়েই চলেছে। কালের বিবর্তনে চিরাচরিত উৎসবের সাথে যোগ হয়েছে নতুন উৎসবের কিন্তু বছরের এই সময়ে ব্যাক্তিগতভাবে আমাকে সবচেয়ে বেশি আকর্শন করে রমনার বটমুল আর ঢাকা ইঊনিভার্সিটির চারুকলা প্রাঙ্গন।

এ বছরের নতুন আকর্শন – মৈত্রী এক্সপ্রেস, দীর্ঘ প্রত্যাশিত ঢাকা-কলকাতা রেল যোগাযোগ। যদিও নামের সাথে এক্সপ্রেস শব্দটি বেমানান কারন ঢাকার সেনানিবাস থেকে কলকাতার চিতপুর পর্যন্ত ভ্রমন সময় ধরা হয়েছে ৮ ঘন্টা এবং তার সাথে যোগ করতে হবে অতিরিক্ত ৫ ঘন্টা অভিবাসন আর শুল্ক সংক্রান্ত কাজের কারনে। উপরন্ত এই রেলটি ধাকা-কলকাতা পথে যাতায়াত করবে সপ্তাহে মাত্র দুদিন। জানিনা এই রেল যোগাযোগ ব্যবসা-বানিজ্য সম্প্রসারনের জন্য কতটা লাভজনক হবে যেখানে সাম্প্রতিককালে বিমান আর নৌপথের ব্যাপক উন্নতি হয়েছে এবং আরো হতে চলেছে। কিন্তু বলাই বাহুল্লো যে এই রেল যোগাযোগ দুই বাংলাকে নাগালের আরো কাছে নিয়ে আসবে সাধারণ মানুষদের আনেকের জন্য।

বিবিসি আলোকচিত্র প্রতিবেদন – ঢাকা-কলকাতা রেল
আরো ছবি দেখতে চাইলে এখানে ক্লিক করুন

It is bad enough to have a problem and it’s even worse to deny that the problem exists. While watching the news last week, I unexpectedly caught a clip of general Moin touring the Dhaka’s Kawran Bazaaar market to survey the food shortage and price hikes that is widespread in the country and making a remark that there is no crisis. Of course, this is far from reality considering the price increase of essentials that we have seen in the last one year. Price of rice alone doubled in this period and the poor (which makes up the majority in Bangladesh) are ending up spending 70% of the income on food alone.
 
I recall another comment made by the general recently that advised his fellow countrymen to alter their eating habits and eat more potatoes (which had bumper production this year) with rice in order to alleviate the shortage. Though this statement contradicts the previous one – given one claims we have a problem and the others claims not, I will leave that argument out for now. The argument here is that, it not easy to alter food habit for anyone. The poor people in Bangladesh have one luxury of having rice with their two meals and for many that is the only thing that they can afford on their plates – please don’t take that away. We ought to exhaust all options before suggesting to give up the only luxury for millions of Bangladeshis. How about rechanneling the food distribution and putting all energy in the short-term to make sure the ‘Jono Shadharon’ have the highest priority on food at an affordable price. Yes, BDR Najjo Mullo stations are one way but way more needs to be done.

For long-term solution, enough resources and necessary attention for the growth of the agriculture sector needs to given priority. If India with economic growth rate of over 8% for the last five years only had meager 2.5% growth in agriculture in the same period in a free flowing democracy; what chance we have under ‘democracy on-hold’ to overcome this problem in the long-term?

News 1
 
Biman's board has decided to procure four Boeing 777-300ER and four 787-8 aircraft as part of the fleet overhaul.
 
Boeing will hand over the 463-seat 777-300ERs between July and August 2013 and the 294-seat 787-8s between July-December 2017.
 
It's the first time in Biman's 35-year history that the national flag carrier is purchasing aircraft directly from the manufacturer and it's being done transparently.
 
Civil Aviation Minister Mahbub Jamil said – BBC News.
 
Comment - One of key things needed in order thrive in a very competitive but lucrative aviation industry in Asia is newer and more efficient planes and Biman is finally making the right move in this regard. We will have to wait and see how transparent the transaction and procurement goes as the Mahbub Jamil claims it would.
 
News 2
 
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd has taken out a lease on a Boeing 747-200 from a Nigeria based airlines in a bid to minimise the disruptions in flight schedules – The Daily Star.
 
Comment – I am not sure where Nigeria as a nation ranks as far as aviation safety but I do know that it is one of the worst. Nigeria’s freewheeling aviation culture and industry is synonymous to words like rampant crash and poor maintenance. I read somewhere that your heart is in your mouth when flying by air in Nigeria. I don’t understand why Biman is opting to meet their interim need of aircraft from a nation with one of the worst aviation records when they have decided to buy brand new aircrafts from one of the best aircraft manufacturers.

After 4 months of mobilization and procurement and 8 months of rigorous data collection, the voter registration and ID cards are done!
 
Obviously we all know that the above statement isn’t true based on the latest report on voter ID preparation status. It’s not a wishful thinking but that’s exactly what all the newspapers reported based on what was projected exactly a year ago.
 
You have to love the online news archive that most of our newspapers implemented few years ago. You can find this news from the archive here and here and also here.
 
Based on the report submitted by the eight-member committee formed by the interim government to assess the cost and time it would take to achieve this important task, the voter list would be done by now. At least, we would be very close to being done but the reality of course is far from it.