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Books on Bangladesh
REPUBLICAN REFERENCE
Area (sq.km)
144,000
Population
144,319,628
Capital
Dhaka
Currency
taka (BDT)
President
Iajuddin Ahmed
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Update No: 005 - (30/05/06)
POLITICS
Leaders of the Awami League-led 14-party opposition combine have argued that
the government in power has done little to remove widespread corruption,
politicisation, religious militancy and terrorism during its four and a half
years' rule. The opposition party demanded the resignation of the government as
it has not been accountable to the people. Many political leaders are of the
opinion that unless reforms are introduced, they would do everything to stall
the elections. They further demanded cancellation of the new voter list, removal
of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and a reduction in the price of
essential commodities. If the government failed to meet the demands of the
people, street agitation and protest demonstrations would continue in order to
ensure a free and fair election to establish people's rights. According to an
Awami League member, Motia Chowdhury, an action such as transferring the
minister of state for power is not enough. Instead the prime minister should
also resign as she also happens to be chief of the power ministry. The Awami
League city unit General Secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said there is
no alternative but to reform the Election Commission to ensure free and fair
elections.
On December 12, 2005, three opposition leaders and Awami League lawmakers, Abdul
Jalil, advocate Rahmat Ali, and Asaduzzaman Noor, filed two writ petitions in
the High Court challenging validity of the Chief Election Commission's unitary
decision of preparing a fresh voters' list and appointments of enumerators by EC
secretariat on political consideration to prepare the voters' roll. Now, the
Bangladesh Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission (EC) to prepare
the voters' list taking into account the existing electoral roll made in 2000
excluding the names of dead, insane and non-Bangladeshis. The full bench of the
Appellate Division comprising Chief Justice Syed JR Mudassir Husain, Justice
Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Justice MM Ruhul Amin, Justice Tafazzal Islam and Justice
Amirul Kabir Chowdhury dismissed the appeal filed by Chief Election Commissioner
(CEC) Justice MA Aziz against the High Court judgment over preparation of the
electoral roll. Aziz, who is now heading the Election Commission (EC), is also a
judge of the Appellate Division. The Appellate Division upheld the High Court
verdict with minor changes in the preparation of the voters' list. According to
Dr Kamal, the Supreme Court judgment has freed the nation from the uncertainty
over making the electoral roll for the next general elections. The Election
Commission will now be forced to consider the verdict of the apex court.
Barrister Rokauddin Mahmud said the draft electoral roll prepared by the EC is
not legal, acceptable and effective and no election can be held on the basis of
this list. Barrister M Amir-ul Islam said the EC has committed contempt of court
by making and publishing the draft voters' list.
Bangladesh's relations with Myanmar
Myanmar authorities this month assured the Bangladeshi government that they
would never encroach into Bangladesh territorial waters, saying that they are
keen to maintain goodwill with their neighbours. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary
Hemayetuddin visited Yangon where he held first formal Foreign Secretary-level
consultations with his Myanmar counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu on
May 19. The two sides also agreed on a number of issues of cooperation.
Bangladesh earlier had lodged protests to both Myanmar and India against
exploring for hydrocarbon within Bangladesh's maritime boundary in the Bay of
Bengal. As a result of the talks, the two sides have agreed that all bilateral
issues, including repatriation of Rohingya refugees, border security, road
connection and bilateral trade and investment will be taken to the next level of
negotiation. Myanmar has agreed to repatriate the remaining 21,172 Rohingyas
sheltered in Cox's Bazar. They expressed readiness to take back 8,000 already
cleared by Myanmar authorities. After the repatriation of 8,000 through UNHCR,
the remaining Rohingyas will be taken back.
The two sides further agreed to strengthen border security by stopping the
illegal movement of drug peddlers and gunrunners. They also agreed on holding
frequent meetings between the border guards of the two countries -- BDR and
NASAKA -- to maintain a secure and peaceful border. With regard to foreign
trade, the two sides have decided to increase the volume of trade through border
and coastal trade by improving the banking system and shipping line. Two-way
trade favours Myanmar as Bangladesh has a major stake in their products.
Bangladesh imported US$32.43 million against its export to them of US$4.18
million in 2004-05 fiscal year. The Myanmar government also agreed to ease the
visa regime for businessmen by extending visas for at least 15 days. The two
sides have also decided to a construct a 25 km road connecting both countries
which will later be linked with Kunming of China. The broader objective behind
the construction of this road is to establish greater connectivity in the
region. The two sides also discussed cooperation in defence in the form of
training of military personnel. Finally both countries will exchange cultural
delegations from time to time. The Myanmar Prime Minister is expected to visit
Dhaka soon.
Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has assured the Bangladeshi government that
it will recruit more Bangladeshi workers, provide development assistance and
supply oil at cheaper rates. This agreement was reached during formal talks
between Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and UAE President Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al
Nahyan at Al Batin Palace on the first day of the prime minister's two-day tour
of the UAE. The talks covered all aspects of bilateral relations. The
Bangladeshis are seen as an industrious lot and have contributed immensely to
the development of the UAE according to President Nahyan. Currently, 4 lakh
(400,000) Bangladeshis work in the UAE. Bangladesh provides cheap labour for
construction and other such activities. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia also pointed
out an increasing demand for power and energy in Bangladesh to which President
Nahyan was more than responsive. Nahyan said he would encourage both public and
private sectors of his country to find ways of cooperation and set up power
plants in Bangladesh. The UAE president also responded positively to Prime
Minister Khaleda's proposal for establishment of an oil refinery in Bangladesh.
On cooperation in trade and investment, President Nahyan said that the countries
would benefit immensely through increased trade in pharmaceuticals, knitwear and
footwear from Bangladesh. During the meeting, planned investment by the Dhabi
Group in major ventures was also discussed. Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin said
the UAE side was satisfied with the investment opportunities in Bangladesh and
encouraged further cooperation in telecommunications, real estate and banking
sectors. Both the leaders emphasized continuous contacts at high political
levels to strengthen the bilateral relations. They recalled the role of late UAE
president Nahyan and late president Ziaur Rahman in cementing the bilateral
ties. The Bangladeshi has extended an invitation to President Nahyan to visit
Bangladesh who has accepted the invitation.
BUSINESS/ECONOMY
Bangladesh's mobile telecommunications industry has made a significant
contribution to the country's economic development by adding US$650 million to
Bangladesh's gross domestic product (GDP) and creating nearly 240,000 jobs.
"The mobile phone industry in Bangladesh employs 237,900 people directly
and indirectly. As witnessed in other developing countries, mobile phone
services are doing exceedingly well in Bangladesh; even more so than land lines
run by the state government's Telegraph and Telecomm Board. The number of mobile
phone users has risen from 200,000 in 2001 to 11 million in early 2006. The
number of mobile phone users in Bangladesh is expected to nearly double to over
20 million by 2007. In a recent economic update prepared by the Asian
Development Bank, the report indicates that "despite rapid growth in the
subscriber base in the past three years, there is still substantial scope for
growth in the mobile industry as some 93 per cent of the population still do not
subscribe to a mobile phone service." Bangladesh has also joined the global
information superhighway after a submarine cable was laid recently. The cable
connects Bangladesh with Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka,
Pakistan and a number of Middle Eastern countries and France. Bangladesh now has
five mobile phone carriers -- GrameenPhone, a subsidiary of Norway's Telenor,
Aktel, majority owned by Telekom Malaysia International, Egyptian Orascom
Telecom, Banglalink, CityCell, a venture between SingTel and Pacific Bangladesh
Telecom and state-run Teletalk. A sixth operator, Warid Telecom International of
the United Arab Emirates is set to start its operation soon as the sixth mobile
phone company in the country.
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