Bangladesh often appears in the western media in the context of news stories about flood-stricken people. Such stories often neglect the courage of its people against the fury of nature and the spirit of its cultural diversity.
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Image by: G.M.B. Akash
Nov 12, 2008
A Brief History of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Elections 2008 - The Dilemma
Seen on: YouTube
Political parties in Bangladesh say they will boycott December's general elections if corruption charges against their leaders are not dropped. Supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have also condemned the Electoral Commission's decision to ban religion-based parties.
Related Post: When Things Fall Apart
My Desh: General Moeen U Ahmed
Shubro writes: My say on an issue like this would not make much difference, however, in the collective-sense it might have some meaning in the end. Here's my opinion of Bangladesh's incumbent ruler General Moeen.
I remember the morning I woke up to find a complete blackout surrounding me. I had unwillingly become the slave of the much-hyped communication media, or this is what I realized. Nobody knew what was happening.
Then in the evening when the president Iajuddin Ahmed (Piyajuddin; Onionuddin - according to Sheikh Hasina) read out a predetermined script from his unknown masters. He was sweating in his expensive suit.
He approached the nation with caution, advising them of the dire circumstances that had led to the emergency-rule in Bangladesh. As a matter of thought the military came into the scene as a group who could guide the nation to prosperity after years of naked-corruption by the ruling elites.
It is noteworthy that an army-enterprise called 'Sena Kalyan Sangstha' had set a precedent by running profitable businesses in so many sectors like cement, oil etc.; A citizen like me had hoped this profitable venture might also send of its good managers to the rescue, so we could at least drop the charge of being a lame nation. Since then, advisers have come and gone.
On to the real matter: Do I really believe that General Moeen is a saint?
Sometimes, maybe I think he is better than all those greedy-pigs we have had in the past. I remember one taxi-driver telling me how the prevalence of drugs were the cause of few greedy-ministers. I believe General Moeen will not drop to those levels. My final conclusion about General Moeen is, he will fail to make a lasting impact, because corruption is so-much rooted in our thoughts, it is hard for the most organized to shape this nation to a perfect mold. The influence of his foreign well-wishers is not going to help his cause.
His most dangerous issues however, lie within the country. An example of this is the constant patronization of some politicians. The worst example is the scarcity of basic necessities in the market. While people starve, this sorry nation is joining the world economy with pride.
Mama says:
I found these interesting comments on Rumi's blog, just thought they were amusing & interesting. They actually provide some real insight. >>>
Initially some may have had an utopian belief that it was Fakhruddin Ahmed. Then someone kept thinking of Masud U Chowdhury. And lately the name of Zahangir Alam, a Lt general and the Quarter Master General of Bangladesh Army is coming up as a major power broker. Despite all these speculations, General Moeen U Ahmed has successfully managed to look in control.
In fact this powerful quarter is the facilitator of 1/11. General Moeen is the embodiment of a combination of figures like Kamal Hossain, Rehman Sobhan, Mahfuz Anam and Debapriya Bhattacharya.
Drafted from Bangladesh Social Network: My Voice
Oct 9, 2008
Banker to the Poor on Wall St.
If Wall Street's investment banks need help easing their financial woes, they would do well to look to the world's humblest lenders, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has said.
Nicknamed "banker to the poor," won the Nobel in 2006 for inspiring a global microfinance movement that has lifted millions out of poverty by granting tiny loans. Started 30 years ago with a $27 loan to women in Bangladesh, his Grameen Bank has mushroomed by providing credit to the poor.
Unlike Wall Street, which is reeling from a flood of loans that may never be paid back, Grameen bank has a recovery rate of more than 98 percent.
"Today, if we are prepared, we could buy some of those falling banks in the United States, no problem, it's possible," Yunus said semi-seriously at former U.S. President Bill Clinton's philanthropic summit, the Clinton Global Initiative.
"Don't ignore them (the poor) ... we lend over a billion dollars a year," he said. "We have to get out of the mindset that the rich will do the business and the poor will have the charity."
Via Reuters
Sep 1, 2008
Hilton-Prize Of $1.5 Million Goes To BRAC
Bangladesh's BRAC, the largest aid and development organisation in the developing world, has won the 2008 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize.
"BRAC's approach to creating sustainable programmes on a massive scale has blazed a trail for development organisations," Steven M. Hilton, president and chief executive officer of the Hilton Foundation, said in a statement.
Launched in Bangladesh in 1972, BRAC has disbursed $5 billion in micro-loans and helped nearly 4 million students complete primary school.
Via Reuters
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