30-10-2022

SUnday, ocToBeR 30, 2022
4
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Sunday, october 30, 2022
Shoring up
the reserve
I
t was reported that Bangladesh's foreign
currency reserve has depleted and now stands
at $ 48 billion which used to be comparatively
bigger two moths ago. Needless to say this is a
matter of concern though it is important to see the
fuller picture in the backdrop of the efforts being
made to shore up the reserve.
In this connection it is important to note that
Bangladesh is almost certain to get 4.5 billion
Dollars from the IMF fairly soon that would see the
reserve position substantially boosted and
steadied. The IMF is about to disburse this amount
of fund to Bangladesh as short term budgetary
supports to it sooner than later. Besides IMF
authorities have indicated extending to Bangladesh
greater funds as part of our special drawing rights
held with the IMF.
An IMF team has been visiting Bangladesh in
these connections. It is also expected that the
outcome would be relatively positive for
Bangladesh. In the backdrop of COVID 19 realities
faced by Bangladesh that justified its needs of
special external assistance to support its hard hit
economy, IMF is likely to adopt a more
understanding view and be lenient with
Bangladesh while extending their assistance to
Bangladesh. Thus, the terms and conditions or
conditionalities to be met for getting the IMF
loans are likely to be easier or favourable for
Bangladesh.
Notably, government of Bangladesh (GOB) has
been taking proactive steps to assure the IMF
about its right approach. GOB has taken cost
cutting measures to reduce unnecessary imports
and expenditures. Thus, it has clamped down on
non essential trips abroad by officials and also
pruned down from the Annual Development Plan
(ADP) projects or programmes that can be shelved
down for now without creating a slag in the growth
of the Gross Domesic Product (GDP). On the other
hand, Bangladesh's export growth in relation to its
major export destinations is noted to be improving
substantially. Bilateral trade with the USA has
been particularly good with export of readymade
apparel to the USA rising by some 230 % in the last
three months.
Bangladesh was granted during the on going
decade duty free access for some of its goods in the
markets of some developed and semi-developed
countries. In other cases, significant reductions in
tariff were declared . Some more concessions are
likely to come the way of Bangladesh very notably
from the pivotal US market and in relation to its
main export item, ready-made garments.
Undoubtedly, these preferential treatments for
Bangladeshi products have already met or are
going to meet considerably the needs of
competitiveness of a host of export products from
this country or enhance the potential of exporting
products that have not yet been exported.
However, to retain the competitiveness or further
improve on such competitiveness to create and
sustain market shares of export products of
Bangladesh origin to those countries, there is a
pressing need for the government of Bangladesh to
take a series of measures itself to consolidate the
competitiveness acquired or to increase capacities
to be able to export more on a sustainable basis.
The government with the help of donors
completed a capacity development programme for
exporters which made some positive impact . But
more capacity building for exports, be it in areas of
the government or among targeted ones in the
private sector, must go ahead apace to pave the
ground for greater exports.
Meanwhile, there is so much that the government
can do and must do directly to energise export
activities. It can take special measures to provide
uninterrupted supply of power exclusively to
export oriented industries. Some export items are
getting export subsidies ; similar subsidies in
varying degrees can be extended to a range of
export products to boost overall export volumes
although very scrupulous administration must be
ensured in the dispensation of the extended
subsidies. Government can also reduce , as far as
possible, the electricity bills of export-oriented
enterprises.
The nationalised banks can reduce their
interest rates on loans going to exporters.
Necessary infrastructures can be built in the public
sector which would be counted as useful and
supportive by the exporters.
The modernisation and expansion of the
Chittagong port can be particularly helpful. This
port is central to export activities but remains
handicapped now from various inefficiencies that
make its handling time the worst in the region
when very fast handling of export cargoes at least
possible costs are the keys to success in the export
trade. Thus, government can provide a major input
to increasing exports by further upgrading and
expanding the capacities of Chittagong port .
Then, there other activities, too, that should
indirectly aid increased export activities such as
improvement of the law and order situation, more
attractive fiscal and monetary policies in respect of
export oriented enterprises and also improving the
legal environment for exporters or those seeking
to establish export-oriented industries in
Bangladesh on joint-venture basis with foreign
partners.
The change of traditional and behavioral mindset
of police is a need of the time : Analysis
For the British,
the maintenance
of their rule in
India was the
prime
consideration.
Crime control was
only a secondary
objective to be
achieved through
fear of the police. The Penal Code, Criminal
Procedure Code and the Evidence Act put in
place a legal framework and a police force
equipped for the maintenance of British rule
by force. The Penal Code prioritizes offences
against the state and the maintenance of
public order. It begins consideration of
traditional crime only from Section 299
onwards. The Criminal Procedure Code
begins with the "arrest of persons" and the
"maintenance of public order and tranquility"
before getting to grips with criminal
procedure relating to investigation and trial.
We have to remember that the Police Act of
1861, despite its preamble, prioritizes
collection and communication of intelligence
affecting the public peace. The prevention and
detection of crime is included among the
duties of the police only in section 23 of the
Act. The Act further provides for punitive
policing at the cost of local residents in the
event of "disturbances" and for the
appointment of private persons as special
police officers.
The subcontinental police system, of which
we are a part, has been examined from the
perspective of crime prevention and public
order management. The system was
developed in the light of colonialism's need to
establish a relationship of control, coercion
and surveillance over a subject population. A
bureaucratic ideology was built to justify the
imperial civilizing mission. The Colonial Irish
Constabulary became the model for
subcontinental police system. A considered
view is that native politicians who came to
occupy positions of power, after the
departure of the colonial power, were
enamored by the administrative and police
system left behind by the imperialists and
enjoyed exercising power and authority,
oblivious of their own demand for farreaching
administrative reform. The above
background needs to be appreciated if indeed
we wish to transform policing into a
professional imposition of a coherent moral
consensus on society.
One needs to take a historical perspective to
understand this. The fact is, Bangladesh had
attained independence after a bloody
dR. FoRqan Uddin ahmed
independence struggle and then adopted a
liberal, democratic constitution while
retaining the colonial administrative, police
and judicial structures, without recasting
them to meet the demands of the changed
situation. How can you promote liberalism
with a colonial mindset? The colonial police
system operated in the light of the imperial
ruler's need to establish a relationship of
control, coercion and surveillance over a
subject population. The question is, how
would such a system fulfil the aspiration of an
independent democratic polity.
As far as basic reform is concerned, it is still
not too late to initiate action. Our politicians
know very well that policing in Bangladesh
has been by and large a one-sided affair, with
the communities having little or no say in local
policing plans and strategies that affect them
most. Our politicians, including legislators,
know very well that the Police Act of 1861, the
key police law, is silent on the issue of
community consultation. This law focused on
the responsibility of communities to ensure
order, and should any member steps out of
line, the whole community would face
vicarious punishment. The situation has not
changed much. The politician's mind has to
appreciate that the Police Act, 1861 was
principally aimed at administering a static,
immobile and backward rural society living in
villages and small towns. It envisaged exercise
of authority without local accountability. It
presupposed a society without any
constitution, basic and fundamental rights,
organized public opinion, and mass media
projecting the public interest. The need,
therefore, is to initiate informed debates and
ultimately enact a suitable police act, as has
been done in a neighboring country.
The organisational objective is important
because in the colonial model the policemen
are accountable to their superiors, rather than
the public or the law. Their duties are
tabulated for them, and there is little or no
room for discretion-clearly, such a police force
would dictate a very different relationship
between police and society. The distinction
between society and state and between state
and government gets blurred. We have to
remember that a police organization which is
controlled is a source of great power to its
controllers. Has there been any societal effort
to monitor police power carefully and harness
it for the good of all? It needs to be
remembered that to place police and their
power solely under the authority of the
executive government is to give that arm of
government power to enforce its will on
society and overrule opposition.
Political will is very important because it is at
the level of government that law is established,
and it is essential to evaluate this aspect when
considering the subject of human rights and the
police. The police is mandated to act in
accordance with the law that establishes the
conditions in which they operate. The police
service should broadly reflect the society from
which it comes. The service should be in touch
with the public it polices.In Bangladesh public
confidence will increase when the police
The subcontinental police system, of which we are a part, has
been examined from the perspective of crime prevention and
public order management. The system was developed in the
light of colonialism's need to establish a relationship of control,
coercion and surveillance over a subject population.
niGel NIGEL GReen GREEN
complaints system will provide for an external
body to supervise an investigation, or to review
the evidence and conclusions drawn by police
investigations, especially when this body shall
have the power and the will to carry out an
impartial review and order a re-investigation if
necessary. In Australia and Britain, statutory
bodies have been established to oversee internal
investigations of complaints against police. In
those countries there exist a review board with
non-police community representatives to make
decisions on the disposition of the complaints.
The society as a whole is deeply concerned with
the standard of behaviour such as police
integrity, the manner in which incidents are
generally handled including the amount of
force it finds acceptable and unacceptable in
carrying out police duties and the interpersonal
skills used by police in their dealings with the
public. It has a right to have its voice heard, and
the requirements of society with the regard to
policing method and standard must be
satisfied.
The need of an innovative approach in our
police management perhaps merits
consideration at this point of time. Can we
examine the whole problem of law and order
from a sociological angle? In Bangladesh,
political manipulation, especially between
1991 - 2006, led to decline in discipline and
senior officers were often unable to control
undisciplined juniors with political
connections. A situation developed wherein
intrusion of politics into matters of police
management led to solicitation of further
political influence. Pervasive disillusionment,
loss of pride and collegiality was the result.
The establishment has to realize and
appreciate that politicization of the police, its
unaccountability to the people and its
outdated managerial practices largely result
from lack of professionalism and
accountability within the organization.
Political misuse of the police has been the
direct result of internal organizational
problems and poor performance. One cannot,
however, lay all the blame on the political
class, ignoring the negative role of the police
leadership.
Is police only meant for crime prevention &
law and order management? Finally, we can
say that reforming and revitalizing
Bangladesh police is a prime need of state.
The traditional police must be changed.
Political will can ensure the transparency and
accountability in Bangladesh police. State will
function better and controversy free if the
police members are effective and efficient.
Nowadays in many cases the activities of
police have become questioned. People
cannot depend on them. So a case of distrust
and misunderstanding prevail side by side
among the people and police members. This
bad culture should not be continued. Police
must be pro-active and pro-people. Dealings
and behavioral attitude towards the people
should be very cordial and people must have
the easy access to police without fear and
hesitation.
Only the honesty and responsibility can
enhance a congenial environment in society.
It is only possible when relationship between
police and people gets a height of standard
and ethics. In Bangladesh, police do many
odd jobs, which are not meant for them.
Police have their respective job field. They
should not interrupt other peoples job. Police
force have their own charter of duties. They
cannot go out of track. If there is a need to
inculcate or assign more duties on police, it
must be done in proper way in the process of
reformation. However, Political will may play
a significant role for effective and modern
policing which ultimately can help and
promote achieving goals in 2030 and 2041.
The write is columnist and researcher and
Former Deputy Director General,
Bangladesh Ansar & VDP
The writer is a human rights expert
China's stock market turmoil is down to 'zero-Covid'
Overseas investors sold a record
US$2.5 billion worth of mainland
China shares on Monday, according
to Bloomberg data. This pushes the year-todate
level into a "net outflow."
It comes as foreign investors fled after the
twice-per-decade Communist Party congress
at which Chinese President Xi Jinping
appeared to cement a power grab with an
unprecedented third term and seemed
determined to fill his leadership ranks with
hardened and confirmed loyalists.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, a
gauge of Chinese stocks listed in Hong Kong,
plummeted 7.3% in its worst session after any
Communist Party congress since the
inception of the index in 1994.
Much has been made of the fact that
international investors are extremely
concerned that with so many Xi supporters
elected, his unlimited capacity to impose
policies that are not market-friendly is now
galvanized.They cite that one way this could
be experienced is unforeseen regulatory
crackdowns. Since last August, global
JUSTICE eludes most of us, wherever we
are. In Pakistan, it barely ever makes a
stop. Even when there is a glimmer of
accountability, it is ephemeral. Convicted
murderers flash victory symbols as they get
escorted out of prison into their homes.
Rapists return to the same communities
they violated with their heads held high. A
legally binding sentence that promises
retribution is met with cynicism. That
despite a conviction, perpetrators will walk
away; unpunished, unreformed.
The tragedy is the wide acceptance of
this as fact. That this is the entirely
predictable outcome of a criminal justice
system that is overburdened, resourcestrapped,
dogma-driven, corruptionriddled,
and beholden to bureaucratic red
tape that simply cannot be untangled. Some
investors have been carefully watching for
signs of a broader regulatory crackdown on
Chinese tech companies after Beijing in effect
issued a shock ban on the country's $100
billion private tutoring sector in July 2021.
That regulatory attack has been perceived
by many as highlighting Xi's new approach
and Beijing's increasing push for control of
private enterprise, including in the critical tech
sector.
It's clear from his speech at the congress that
technology remains of key importance to Xi,
as he offered support and focused on a
divergence from the West in terms of tech,
self-reliance and state-led initiatives.
But to my mind, the investor flight we've
seen this week from Chinese stocks is more to
do with Xi's controversial zero-Covid policy,
which he defended in his presentation, while
failing to set out a timeline on when the
strategy will be modified or scrapped.
This is bad news for foreign investors.
Indeed, China is the world's second-largest
economy, it has been branded the "factory of
the world," and the negative consequences for
the global economy of zero-Covid could be
significantly greater than those of Russia's war
in Ukraine.
This policy results in draconian restrictions
That regulatory attack has been perceived by many as
highlighting Xi's new approach and Beijing's increasing push for
control of private enterprise, including in the critical tech sector.
on movement, including total lockdowns that
have been imposed in several cities, with
Shanghai being the largest, which together
account for 40% of China's gross domestic
product.
Half of China's highways cannot be used,
and ports operate inefficiently with perhaps
A victory for human rights
point to the legal infrastructure itself. The
laws, meant to protect victims, are often
called 'too weak'.
Laws that enable the might of the state
are ironclad and inescapable. Laws, that are
the need of the hour, are often lost as
nascent draft bills, somewhere between the
Senate and National Assembly. Most never
resurface again. It is what it is, we whisper to
ourselves. Que sera sera, the state responds.
Only this week, 12 years after it
committed to do so, Pakistan finally passed
the Torture and Custodial Death
(Prevention and Punishment) Bill. Now it's
over to President Arif Alvi to sign it into law.
This is, by no means, a small feat. A
hard-fought win for rights groups, victims,
the National Commission on Human
Rights and leaders like Senator Farhatullah
Rimmel mohydin
Babar, Dr Shireen Mazari, Senator Sherry
Rehman, Maiza Hameed and Farooq Naek
who have helped push the boulder up the
hill. It is commendable and establishes a
clear, codified position against torture at
the very top.
The consequences of not having done so
until now have been deadly and the lack of a
specific criminal offence for torture over the
years, which reflects the gravity of the
violation, has been tantamount to an
unforgivable silence.
Silence that has doubled as an
endorsement of the violence that befalls the
most vulnerable, resulting in mass
desensitisation. We watch grainy videos of
victims, click our tongues, and keep
scrolling, hoping it doesn't happen to us.
This public apathy depletes the political
trillions of dollars' worth of goods caught up in
the saga. Shipping, manufacturing and
logistics firms are looking for alternative
routes and markets.
"A prolonged disruption of China's
manufacturing industry would be a major
shock to the global economy, as China exports
up to one-third of the world's intermediate
goods. This is in addition to potential
international transportation problems, which
are already becoming apparent in further
increases in shipping costs," according to
Santander.
All of this created a drastic reduction on
trade and commerce between China and the
rest of the world. Interactions among
countries' universities, non-governmental
organizations, creators, and tourists have also
declined.
In addition, the policy has ramped up a lack
of mutual comprehensions that will be to the
detriment of globalization and international
collaborations.
Nigel Green is founder and CEO of deVere Group
cost of letting torture continue, enough to
distract the many political leaders sitting in
Islamabad today, many of whom are no
strangers to torture and its rampant use. Some
have alleged being victims themselves.
Earlier this summer, Dr Shahbaz Gill was
seen howling as he was transported between
prisons, courts and hospitals. The current
minister of interior told journalists in 2003
that his head, eyebrows and moustache were
shaved in between beatings with rods, in a bid
to humiliate him. Most recently, Azam Khan
Swati says that the Federal Investigative
Agency stripped and beat him following his
arrest over a tweet.The widespread social,
political and cultural acceptance of torture
demonstrates the value we place on human
life and dignity. It is a cheap commodity,
misappropriated for political capital.