FOOD SECURITY IN SOUTH ASIA
Introduction
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a contagious block of countries, started journey with seven countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka when it was established in 1985, but extended to include Afghanistan as eight members in 2006. The region contains cultural similarities including similar food habit exists in the region, e.g. rice is the common food grain around the South Asia.
Policy and Diplomacy Climate Entrepreneurs on Climate Finance
Climate Vulnerabilities
Climate change has the potential to undermine development of countries like Bangladesh and vulnerabilities could be increased. Please read the story of Hosne Ara, women of Kollatoli village situated at very adjacent of Cox’sbazar sea beach. She lost her own home 3 times due to seashore erosion. Losing everything, she has built a small room at other land and go to sleep in each night keeping a fear to submerge her last destination. As like Hosne Ara, millions of people of coastal districts of Bangladesh fear to lose home, land and properties hearing the forecast of submerging of coastal districts under sea due to global warming from the climate scientists. A shadow climate tribunal held at Dhaka before COP 16 where audiences wept hearing the story of testimonies and the juries blamed the riches for climate change and demanded compensation.
Solidarty Economy for Employment Generation and Equal Growth of the Naiton
The global leaders is facing crucial challenges and effects of widespread job losses, increased underemployment and unemployment, growing informal economy and increased vulnerable employment worldwide. Most of the policy leaders globally are seeking a sustainable solution within the free market economy, a very few are thinking about alternatives. ” Alternative Development Strategies for Job Creation” under this caption the second committee panel of of Economic and Social Department Affairs under United Nations has searched a solution of increasing unemployment situation and given importance on small and medium sized enterprises for job creation.
Rice Brand is at your doorstep! What’s your response?
The profit hunger, the Corporate controls the daily lives of consumers through branding its commodities and changes the lifestyle and behaviors of millions of people of the globe as per their choice. People, worldwide is protesting unethical business practices of global corporates and fighting to bind them under ethical code of conducts. Violation of these agreed code of conducts is a normal practices of global brands, you will find if you follow the world-famous brand like Nike, Mark & Spenser’s, Levi’s, Sony etc! Lower prices for suppliers and higher prices for consumers – this is the motto of the brands. Hungry for profit, the corporate mafia’s invests millions of dollar for advertisements, but very skeptical in paying fair wages of the millions of labor of the globe. We are now in the dilemma of struggle in policy change and counter-struggle of corporate to make a loophole of the policies for making more profit. This is the common scenario of global trade, the campaigners faces this challenges in their daily lives. Beneath the dilemma, it is created a survival threats to millions of labour particularly and low income group like consumers as a whole.
National Agricultural Policy 2011: Dilemma with Context and Text
Recently the Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh has published a draft policy on agriculture, “National Agricultural Policy 2011″ for discussion which has created dilemma with context and text of the policy. At the very beginning under the context, the draft policy has recognized the importance of agriculture to reduce poverty and to increase employment. It has also recognized the importance of small farms in agricultural development.
But the text of the policy has undermined the above context described as principles. As principle, the draft policy has intended to introduce the commercial and competitive agricultural system in the near future. But the urgency of competitive commercialization of agriculture is not described at the context or the draft has hidden the context.
Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding for Development
The Facebook generation is showing a growing resolve to change our world and a capacity to make things happen. They are bringing their energy and courage to some of the most difficult issues we face.
- Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of United Nations.
“Failing to invest in our youth is a false economy; Conversely, investing in young people will pay great dividents for all”, Ban Ki Moon stated and asked, “International community must work to expand the horizons of opportunity for young women and men and answer their legitimate demand for dignity and decent work, nothing that global economic crisis and austerity measures in many countries are contraining these opportunities”.
Citizen Statement against Report of Daily Household Essentials
Observing the market situation of daily household essentials in different markets of Dhaka City, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce Ministry has expressed their satisfaction in a press conference at Media Centre of National Parliament Building, held on 26 June 2011. A B M Abul Kashem MP, the Chairman of the standing committee said at the press conference that they have prepared a report on daily household essentials through visiting the Mohammadpur Townhall Market, Mohammadpur Krishi Market and Karwan Bazar Market and got a satisfactory results on market situation.
Put People before Profit in UN LDC-IV Conference
Representing 880 million people, more than forty heads of governments and high officials of 48 least developed countries (LDCs) gathered in a weeklong (9-13 May 2011) conference, UN LDC – IV at Istanbul, Turkey for adopting news measures and strategies for sustainable development of LDCs into the next decade through assessing the Brussels Plan of Action. Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina also with hundreds of delegates participated in this conference where she called upon the development partners to intensify their efforts in lifting the LDCs out of poverty. The development partners have a clear responsibility towards the LDCs development. Much could have been achieved if most of them had kept their commitments made most recently in the Brussels Plan of Action for LDCs, she argued.
Solar Home System
Modern energy technology can help combat poverty, I read this article today and tried to visualise Bangladesh in the context of the article. Yes, really it is a great idea!
Climate Change impacts: Knocking your door
Hosne Ara lives at Kolatoli, just adjacent village of Cox’sbazar Sea Beach. She lived here for last 20 years with his family. Sea is coming near to the village day by day, she said. She has to change her home 3 times during last few years due to erosion of seashore. All the land of her family has been submerged to sea. Now she is living at others land at Kolatoli, but she assumes that it will submerge to the sea very soon. Many of families left the village due to continous erosion of seashore. She don’t know, what should she do?
Agricultural Science and Technology for Development: An Assesment
[i]Agriculture and Development: A summary of the International Assessment on Agricultural Science and Technology for Development
What challenge does agriculture face today?
For decades, agricultural science has focused on boosting production through the development of new technologies. It has achieved enormous yield gains as well as lower costs for large-scale farming. But this success has come at a high environmental cost. Furthermore, it has not solved the social and economic problems of the poor in developing countries, which have generally benefited the least from this boost in production.
Right to development and fulfillment of potentialities!
By virtue of being born to humanity, every human being has a right to the development and fulfillment of his potentialities as a human being.
- Ashley Montagu
The student of junior school certificate examination (Grade-V) were asked to write an essay on common bird this year, said of the guardian of an examinee while I read news on expelling the students for giving proxy of the examination. Dangerous news is, most of the proxy students have come from Ananda Schools facilitated by NGOs under ROSK project. When I heard about the question on essay writing on common bird, I tried to remember my childhood and tried to get an answer, if me or my friends were asked to write an essay on bird in Grade V examination, could we able to write it? I got answer, No! Then I tried to remember about the students of rural examinee of Secondary School Certificate! I got answer, yes, they should able to write it. But if they were asked to write on Common Bird, then I became confused and I got answer, most of the examinee hardly able to make distinguish on essay on Bird and Common Bird, but they tried to write! So, why did the question was made complicated by tagging Common?
My colleagues answered that the child are able to distinguish it, because they just capture any reading like poem. Most of the student capture essay on bird, common bird, a crow etc, because these are included in syllabus! Then another question came in my mind, who have made these syllabus for child and what are the objectives of the syllabus? Have we wanted to give an environment to our child to capture the basic skills in primary education or Have we wanted to give an environment to our child to show their artificial skills in primary education?
Unethical Business Practices of Grameen Phone (GP)
Grameen Phone (GP), the leading mobile phone operator of Bangladesh, charged Tk.7 (USD 0.11) per minutes for a phone call at the beginning and they are charging highest call rate (USD 0.04 per minute) compared to other operators exists in Bangladesh. But why are people subscribing GP till now? People are subscribing, because they have fallen in trap of GP.
Focusing on Change!
Change! a buzz word now a days, is using frequently by the development practitioners around the world. More and more theories and strategies are appearing every mintue to bring a change of fate of the people around the globe. But in the real world, hardly the majority of poor people gets any positive results from these initiatives taken by the change makers. Researchers are appearing with new agenda to indentify the rootscauses of failure of development initiatives. But the outcome never bring any change of the fate of poors!
We can indentify the rootscauses of failure as poor governance, lack of awareness of people, corruption, illiteracy, poverty…… But we never indentify, the power relation which requires to be balanced. Power relation among the among the people, community and state is an integral part of strengthening governance, increasing awareness, reducing corruption and illiteracy from the society and state.
Wihtout changing the parttern of power relation, we could not bring any positive change of society. The initiatives are taken without taking account of power relation fails frequently. This is the time to re-think it!
Riches are Responsible!
Riches are responsible!
Riches are responsible! For what? Riches are responsible for climate change. An angry campaigner said, `only climate change, tell me please, for which they are not responsible? Each citizen of the globe is suffering for their unlimited economic growth which have given them strengths to put their finger in global governance. They are creating environment only for them. The rest of the people of the globe are living under their control. Millions of the people of the world are living in hunger, just striving for survival. The riches are responsible for these!’
The indusrialists nations as well as riches are emittings billion of tons green house gases in every second, it increases tempreture of the globe, consequently the sea level is rising. Scientists are forecasting, 30 million of people of 17 coastal district would be bound to migrate another places due to submerge the district under the sea. Poor nation are not polluters, but they are becoming victim of climate change. Riches are responsible, but they have technology to adapt with it. What will the rest of people of economically poor do?
Experts in Shadow Climate Tibunal: Yes! Riches are responsible!
Mamtaz Begum had an unsettling feeling as she performed her morning prayers that day. Her husband Arif was about to embark on a long fishing trip and she sensed that something would go wrong. She buried the thought deep in her mind but weeks later, having heard no news from her husband, the eerie feeling resurfaced. In her heart, she knew Arif would not come back.
Thousands of fishermen in the region have disappeared at sea. Increasingly bad weather conditions are to blame. Dr. Ahsan Uddin Ahmed, a former Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scientist, is convinced that this is due to global warming. “The rising sea surface temperature is turning the Bay of Bengal into choppier and wavier waters, making it extremely difficult for fishermen to navigate.”
For most families living on the coast of Barguna, fishing is a way of life and a means of survival. A good catch from a fishing trip can generate enough income to sustain a family for quite some time, so Mamtaz was supportive when Arif and 20 other villagers borrowed $17, 000 from a local moneylender to rent a trawler and buy the fuel they needed for a two week journey out to sea. “A wholesome catch,” he promised, and enough money to support the family and more. With four children and an extended family to care for the young couple were in dire need of the money.
With their hopes set high, the men set off to brave the rough seas. But the sea was too violent to survive. A sudden storm hit the coast, taking away the men and their earnings, and plunging Mamtaz and her family into poverty.
As a widow, Mamtaz became the sole provider for two generations of her family. She has since has taken up domestic work but it brings her only a meagre income. Eleven years on, she still has not managed to pay back the interest on her husband’s debt.
Looming disaster
The international aid agency Oxfam believes that climate change is to blame for the storms that have claimed so many fishermen’s lives. They believe polluting countries should be held responsible for these losses.
“It’s a question of climate justice,” says Ahmed Ziauddin, a lawyer working with Oxfam. He believes polluting countries should be taken to court for the loss and destruction they have caused, and adds that “it’s a long shot but its possible”.
First he says that Bangladesh needs to build a legal case for climate change. Countries like China and the UK are making their promise to reduce carbon emissions a legally binding document. The more these agreements are codified in law, the greater the chances are for countries like Bangladesh to press charges against polluting countries or companies in front of an international tribunal.
Ahmed Ziauddin believes that creating a climate change tribunal will pave the way to a greater reduction of carbon emissions because it will compel polluting countries to act.
In Bangladesh, Oxfam has put together a mock climate change tribunal. Mamtaz is one of the four plaintiffs. She wants to know who is responsible for her husband’s death, and who will pay for the resulting loss of income.
Among the jury, which is made up of lawyers, politicians and economists, is Roshanara Ali, a British Bangladeshi MP. She has reiterated that the Labour party will ensure that the British government keeps to their stated commitment to devote 0.7 per cent of the country’s gross national income to climate change aid to vulnerable countries.
Despite promises made during the Kyoto and Copenhagen summits, only a few countries have stuck to their pledge. Oxfam’s country director Gareth Price-Jones hopes that the event “will leverage the negotiations and get real change”.
Bangladesh is one of the least polluting countries in the world, and yet is one of the hardest hit by climate change. It stands barely one metre above sea level and according to predictions by the IPPC at the current rate of rising sea levels, one third of the country will be submerged by 2050.
The country is currently seeking more than $10bn in compensation from polluting nations. The money will not stop the rising water, nor will it bring Mamtaz’s husband and hundreds of other missing fishermen back from the sea. However, it will give her and the millions of Bangladeshis facing the threat of climate change some means to cope with the looming disaster.
Courtesy: Report (Patial) in Al-Jazeera by Nicholas Haque
Returning back again
After a long days interval, I am returning back again here. But I have changed the name of the blog, Prodip K. Roy instead of Online Knowledge Centre. I have changed the name, because Online Knowledge Centre have her own address now. I am asking my appologies to the readers for making an confusion. But now, it is my personal blog and hope to satisfy the expectation of the readers of the blog which were not possible for me. Many of the readers asked questions about the posts, but I could not reply them timely due to maintain the forum blog. Hope, now I will come here at least once in a day to share my experience and observation.
Social Work! Is it possible without social commitment or with a commitment for serving self interest?
Many of people is coming in the social work, particularly in NGO activities. But they hardly remember the laws under their institution registered as non-profit organisation. They are coming, because a plenty example of success of NGOs they observed. They get inspiration from these example! But is it enough for coming in the world of social work? I have to discuss these at the forum and sometimes the members are becoming confuse hearing the different opinion about social activism. But we should get a solution first before starting the journey!
6th Fifth Year Plan: Some Development Concerns about Youth Employment
Bangladesh Bank achieves 11 billion dollar reserves in August 2010 which is a good sign of economic stability of the country, the governor said. But [1]ten million people, not assured of three square meals a day, suffer silent hunger. [2]About half of the child of the country is malnourished. [3]The country have unemployed persons now total 2 crore 44 lac which is 13.4 percent of total population. It is about 11 percent higher than 1990s. The rate of unemployment was 2.4 percent in 1990 which increases to 8 percent in 2002 and 13.4 percent in 2009. It means rate of unemployment has increased 11 percent in last 18 years.
Rural Economy is becoming weakened due to reducing agricultural lands day by day. So, the rural population migrated to urban areas for employment and livelihood. [4]The banks are investing 92.2 percent of their capital in urban areas whereas only 7.8 percent are invested in rural areas. It is a gap between policy and practice, but government is hardly taking necessary steps to minimize it.
The prime minister after gaining the power last year vowed continuously to build poverty free Bangladesh. But Development policy and action are yet to face up to this challenge in fighting poverty. Bangladesh have total population 1.6 million whose 64 percent youth. Total 1.37 million of youth is now unemployed.
The government privatized state owned enterprises as maintaining of neo-liberal economic order pressured by IFIs like World Bank and IMF. They said, privatizing state owned enterprises, employment would be increased. But in reality, 30 privatized state owned enterprises stopped productions which have reduced in the employment opportunities. But they are pressuring till now!
[5]Let’s see now the opposite picture. Rich people (assets limit above crore) was only 47 in 1975 in Bangladesh. But it increases to 23,310 in 2009. It means, rich people increases 492 times in last three and half decades. It means, policy supports only the riches to grown up day by day.
Recently [6]the government is formulating her 6th fifth year plan again focusing to equal development and income inequality, the preface of the document illustrated. This is the time to think about 2.44 million unemployed youths if we really want to reduce the income equality and equal growth in the practical world.
[1] Battle ground in rural economy by Manzoor Ahmed, published in The Daily Star, dated 28 October 2007
[2] Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2007.
[3] MDG Report 2009.
[4] Bangladesh Bank Report 2010
[5] Bangladesh Bank Report 2010.
[6] Daily Kaler Kantho, dated 11 August 2010
UN Secretary-General Establishes MDG Advocacy Group
On 23 June, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the establishment of an advocacy group of eminent persons to try to galvanize support worldwide towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by their target date of 2015. The MDG Advocacy Group will be co-chaired by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
The group is tasked with helping Mr. Ban to build political will and mobilize global action on the eight Goals ahead of the high-level summit on the issue that will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York in September. Mr. Zapatero will host the first meeting of the MDG Advocacy Group in Madrid in July.
“We need to emerge from the September Millennium Development Goals summit with concrete national action plans for realizing the Goals. These advocates can help us get there,” Mr. Ban stressed. Each of the group’s members have been asked to focus their advocacy efforts on specific Goals.
The members include:
Muhammad Yunus (Bangladesh);Nobel Peace Prize Winner, founder of the Grameen Bank
Focus on MDG 8 (global partnership for development)
Michelle Bachelet (Chile); Former President
Focus on MDG 3 (gender equality and the empowerment of women)
Stine Bosse (Denmark); CEO of TrygVesta Group, Chairman of Børnefonden (The Childrens’ Fund)
Focus on MDG 3 (gender equality and the empowerment of women)
Philippe Douste-Blazy (France); UN Special Advisor on innovative financing for development
Focus on MDGs 4, 5, 6 (child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDS and other diseases)
Wangari Maathai (Kenya); Nobel Peace Prize Winner, environmental and political activist
Focus on MDG 7 (environmental sustainability)
Dho Young-Shim (Republic of Korea); Chairman of the UN World Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism for Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) Foundation
Focus on MDG 2 (universal primary education)
Julio Frenk (Mexico); Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, former Minister of Health
Focus on MDG 4 (child mortality)
Akin Adesina (Nigeria); Vice President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Focus on MDG 1 (extreme poverty and hunger)
HHS Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser (Qatar); First Lady, Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development
Focus on MDG 2 (universal primary education)
Graça Machel (South Africa / Mozambique); Former First Lady, advocate for women’s and children’s rights
Focus on MDG 3 (gender equality and the empowerment of women)
Jan Eliasson (Sweden); Chair of WaterAid Sweden, Former President of the UN General Assembly
Focus on MDG 7 (environmental sustainability)
Ray Chambers (United States); The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria
Focus on MDG 6 (HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases)
Bill Gates (United States); Philanthropist, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Chairman of Microsoft Corp.
Focus on MDGs 4, 5, 6 (child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDS and other diseases)
Jeffrey Sachs (United States); UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the MDGs
Focus on all MDGs
Ted Turner (United States); Philanthropist, Chairman of Turner Enterprises Inc.
Focus on all MDGs.
Mr. Ban has indicated that distinguished personalities from China, India and the United Kingdom will also join the group soon.
Also on 23 June, Mr. Ban issued the latest UN assessment report on efforts to reach the Goals, which shows that there has been mixed progress in the developing world. Extreme poverty is falling rapidly but maternal health and sanitation are lagging and there are still large gaps between rich and poor, men and women, and urban and rural communities.
Failed State Index
Fund for Peace has published its six annual failed state index recently. The failed state are identified based in 12
indicators under three contexts such as Social, Economical and Political. Bangladesh, according to this index places at no.19 and others south asian countries places in Afghanistan in no 7, Pakistan in no.10, Sri Lanka in no.22, Nepal in no. 25, Bhutan in no. 48, Maldives in no.81 and India in no. 87. Highest score has gone to Somalia, places in no.1 failed state. According to this index, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal stands at alarming (alerts)situation; Bhutan, Maldives and India at warning situation. For making a comparison, here, we have put the index of USA (159) and UK (161) stands in moderate situation and Netherlands (169) and Norway (177) stands on sustainable situation.
Corruption Index of Transparency International (TI) is used to mobilise the people of least developed countries (LDCs) against power parties as well as national governments which creates destabilised situation and political turmoil in most of the cases. It creates a space for another parties to intervene in internal politics and govenanace of poor state. The Failed State Index is another serious tool which could used in the same purpose.
Funds for Peace wrote her history as follows:
The fragile nature of interdependence among nations, threatened by four lethal world conditions — overpopulation, unequal distribution of resources, deterioration of the environment and the chaotic status of human rights — is the context in which The Fund for Peace must operate.
Peace as the mere absence of war is not a sufficient objective. Our projects — whether they inform the American public about a crisis, testify before Congress on U.S. policy, or publish reports about dangerous arms races — confront issues that arise from the fact of interdependence and the conditions that threaten cooperation among nations. It isn’t enough, however, to note these conditions and to say vaguely that we are doing something about them.
The Fund exerts two principal efforts to affect decisionmakers. First, it promotes scholarship to define problems and to provide competent answers. Second, it uses the knowledge and information it obtains to participate in debates and inform the public of the facts.
It cannot be emphasized too strongly how much these two efforts — scholarship and public engagement — go together. The Fund’s primary task is to correct conditions that threaten human survival through a combination of scholarship and active civic education.
Every LDCs have a lot of difficulties and as a citizen of these countries, we should try to build a national political will among the political parties, peoples and government. Sometimes the hidden agenda of some intellectual works hinder to create a peaceful atmospheres for developing a common understanding of national development. So, we should analyse these popular tools and for these purpose, this article just indicate the indicators and results for justifing the judgements.
Ranking of Failed State Index (Focus on South Asian Countries):
| Rank | Country | I-1 | I-2 | I-3 | I-4 | I-5 | I-6 | I-7 | I-8 | I-9 | I-10 | I-11 | I-12 | Total |
| 1 | Somalia | 9.8 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 8.5 | 7.7 | 9.5 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 9.8 | 114.7 |
| 3 | Sudan | 9.0 | 9.8 | 9.9 | 9.0 | 9.6 | 7.0 | 9.8 | 9.5 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 9.8 | 112.4 |
| 7 | Afghanistan | 9.3 | 8.9 | 9.6 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 9.8 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 9.9 | 9.1 | 10.0 | 108.2 |
| 10 | Pakistan | 8.3 | 8.6 | 9.6 | 8.3 | 8.8 | 6.4 | 9.1 | 7.5 | 8.9 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 104.1 |
| 19 | Bangladesh | 8.9 | 6.9 | 9.4 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.6 | 8.0 | 8.9 | 6.5 | 98.1 |
| 22 | Sri Lanka | 7.5 | 9.3 | 9.8 | 6.9 | 8.5 | 6.1 | 9.0 | 6.6 | 8.5 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 6.1 | 96.7 |
| 25 | Nepal | 8.3 | 6.8 | 8.7 | 6.0 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.4 | 8.7 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 7.2 | 95.4 |
| 48 | Bhutan | 6.5 | 7.5 | 7.9 | 6.8 | 8.7 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 5.5 | 7.7 | 6.2 | 87.3 |
| 81 | Maldives | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 7.0 | 5.2 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 6.3 | 7.4 | 6.0 | 78.8 |
| 87 | India | 8.3 | 4.9 | 7.3 | 6.7 | 8.9 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 7.1 | 6.0 | 5.1 | 77.8 |
| 159 | USA | 3.1 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 5.3 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 34.0 |
| 161 | UK | 3.2 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 4.7 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 33.6 |
| 169 | Netherlands | 2.9 | 3.1 | 4.7 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 27.0 |
| 177 | Norway | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 18.3 |
SOCIAL INDICATORS
- Pressures deriving from high population density relative to food supply and other life-sustaining resources
- Pressures deriving from group settlement patterns that affect the freedom to participate in common forms of human and physical activity, including economic productivity, travel, social interaction, religious worship
- Pressures deriving from group settlement patterns and physical settings, including border disputes, ownership or occupancy of land, access to transportation outlets, control of religious or historical sites, and proximity to environmental hazards
- Pressures from skewed population distributions, such as a “youth or age bulge,” or from divergent rates of population growth among competing communal groups
Points under Indicator 1: Somalia (9.8), Sudan (9.0), Afganistan (9.3), Pakistan (8.3), Bangladesh (8.9), Sri Lanka (7.5), Nepal (8.3), Bhutan (6.5), India (8.3), USA (3.1), UK (3.2), Netharlands (2.9) and Norway (1.9).
Highest demographic pressure occurs in the southern least developed countries due to natural causes. This could not be a common indicator for LDCs and rich countries. That why, this could not also be an indicator of failed state. Bangladesh as well as other south asian countries and african countires mountings highest points while Netharlands and Norway mountings lower points under this indicator which have made south asian and african countries as failed state! This is totally injustice!
- Forced uprooting of large communities as a result of random or targeted violence and/or repression, causing food shortages, disease, lack of clean water, land competition, and turmoil that can spiral into larger humanitarian and security problems, both within and between countries
Points under Indicator 2: Somalia (9.9), Sudan (9.8), Afganistan (8.9), Pakistan (8.6), Bangladesh (6.9), Sri Lanka (9.3), Nepal (6.8), Bhutan (7.5), Maldives (6.5), India (4.9), USA (3.7), UK (2.8), Netharlands (3.1) and Norway (1.6).
We know the history of African War as well as Afganistan where have a direct influences of United State of America and United Kindoms as well as other European Countries. Trade of Arms is the major causes of these war which mounting movement of refugees and mountings the highest points under this indicator. Bangladesh has a negligable movement of refugee. Although Bangladesh have natural calamaties, but it never create humanitarian turmoil or violence. Bangladesh mountings points 6.9 under this indicator, which should places Bangladesh in no.19 in this index!
3. Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia
- History of aggrieved communal groups based on recent or past injustices, which could date back centuries
- Patterns of atrocities committed with impunity against communal groups
- Specific groups singled out by state authorities, or by dominant groups, for persecution or repression
- Institutionalized political exclusion
- Public scapegoating of groups believed to have acquired wealth, status or power as evidenced in the emergence of “hate” radio, pamphleteering and stereotypical or nationalistic political rhetoric
Points under Indicator 3: Somalia (9.7), Sudan (9.9), Afganistan (9.6), Pakistan (9.6), Bangladesh (9.4), Sri Lanka (9.8), Nepal (8.7), Bhutan (7.9), Maldives (5.2), India (7.3), USA (3.3), UK (4.3), Netharlands (4.7) and Norway (1.3).
South Asian Countries mountings highest point under this indicator. We know the history of black lived in USA, but USA mountings a lower point under this indicator. We should re-examine this indicator again, which would make USA is a failed state, not the South Asian Countries!
- “Brain drain” of professionals, intellectuals and political dissidents fearing persecution or repression
- Voluntary emigration of “the middle class,” particularly economically productive segments of the population, such as entrepreneurs, business people, artisans and traders, due to economic deterioration
- Growth of exile communities
Points under Indicator 4: Somalia (8.5), Sudan (9.0), Afganistan (7.2), Pakistan (8.3), Bangladesh (8.4), Sri Lanka (6.9), Nepal (6.0), Bhutan (6.8), Maldives (7.0), India (6.7), USA (1.0), UK (1.9), Netharlands (2.1) and Norway (1.1).
Bangaldesh mountings points 8.4 under this indicator. We should re-examine it again.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
- Group-based inequality, or perceived inequality, in education, jobs, and economic status
- Group-based impoverishment as measured by poverty levels, infant mortality rates, education levels
- Rise of communal nationalism based on real or perceived group inequalities
Points under Indicator 5: Somalia (7.7), Sudan (9.6), Afganistan (8.4), Pakistan (8.8), Bangladesh (9.0), Sri Lanka (8.5), Nepal (9.3), Bhutan (8.7), Maldives (5.2), India (8.9), USA (5.3), UK (4.7), Netharlands (3.3) and Norway (2.2).
We should examine the commitments of rich countries on MDGs along with the poverty, inequality situation.
- A pattern of progressive economic decline of the society as a whole as measured by per capita income, GNP, debt, child mortality rates, poverty levels, business failures, and other economic measures
- Sudden drop in commodity prices, trade revenue, foreign investment or debt payments
- Collapse or devaluation of the national currency
- Extreme social hardship imposed by economic austerity programs
- Growth of hidden economies, including the drug trade, smuggling, and capital flight
- Increase in levels of corruption and illicit transactions among the general populace
- Failure of the state to pay salaries of government employees and armed forces or to meet other financial obligations to its citizens, such as pension payments
We could work on this indicator. Knowlegeble persons are requested to fill this gap.
POLITICAL INDICATORS
- Massive and endemic corruption or profiteering by ruling elites
- Resistance of ruling elites to transparency, accountability and political representation
- Widespread loss of popular confidence in state institutions and processes, e.g., widely boycotted or contested elections, mass public demonstrations, sustained civil disobedience, inability of the state to collect taxes, resistance to military conscription, rise of armed insurgencies
- Growth of crime syndicates linked to ruling elites
We can work on it.
- Disappearance of basic state functions that serve the people, including failure to protect citizens from terrorism and violence and to provide essential services, such as health, education, sanitation, public transportation
- State apparatus narrows to those agencies that serve the ruling elites, such as the security forces, presidential staff, central bank, diplomatic service, customs and collection agencies
Analysis needed???
9. Suspension or Arbitrary Application of the Rule of Law and Widespread Violation of Human Rights
- Emergence of authoritarian, dictatorial or military rule in which constitutional and democratic institutions and processes are suspended or manipulated
- Outbreak of politically inspired (as opposed to criminal) violence against innocent civilians
- Rising number of political prisoners or dissidents who are denied due process consistent with international norms and practices
- Widespread abuse of legal, political and social rights, including those of individuals, groups or cultural institutions (e.g., harassment of the press, politicization of the judiciary, internal use of military for political ends, public repression of political opponents, religious or cultural persecution)
Analysis needed???
- Emergence of elite or praetorian guards that operate with impunity
- Emergence of state-sponsored or state-supported private militias that terrorize political opponents, suspected “enemies,” or civilians seen to be sympathetic to the opposition
- Emergence of an “army within an army” that serves the interests of the dominant military or political clique
- Emergence of rival militias, guerilla forces or private armies in an armed struggle or protracted violent campaigns against state security forces
Analysis needed???
- Fragmentation of ruling elites and state institutions along group lines
- Use of nationalistic political rhetoric by ruling elites, often in terms of communal irredentism, (e.g., a “greater Serbia”) or of communal solidarity (e.g., “ethnic cleansing” or “defending the faith”)
Analysis needed???
12. Intervention of Other States or External Political Actors
- Military or Para-military engagement in the internal affairs of the state at risk by outside armies, states, identity groups or entities that affect the internal balance of power or resolution of the conflict
- Intervention by donors, especially if there is a tendency towards over-dependence on foreign aid or peacekeeping missions
Analysis needed???
Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness: Bangladesh National Process
4th high level forum (HLF) on aid effectiveness will be held at South Korea next year. At this HLF, a multi-stakeholders debate with governments, donors and other development actors on CSO development effectiveness and enabling environment for CSOs would be initiated. A framework on CSO Development Effectiveness would be placed to the HLF for initiating the debate. Perhaps CSOs would get equal status on discussion of Aid Effectiveness along with governments, donors and other development actors if the debate satisfies all stakeholders that CSOs are capable to deliver a positive change.
An open fourm process began with a series of four regional training seminars in Europe, Latin America, Asia and Afria in 2009 and a outreach toolkit developed for initiating national level consultation on CSO Development Effectiveness as well as mechanisms, guidelines and indicators for implementation including minimum standards for enabling environment for CSOs. Bangladesh Consultation on Open Forum for CSO Effectiveness took place on 15-16 June at
HDRC of Proshika, Koitta, Manikganj where CSO leaders from different corners of Bangladesh participated to discuss mechanisms and guidelines for enabling environment for CSOs in development practices. Maria Thersa Lauren from APRN and Anil K. Singh from SANSAD participated in Bangladesh consultation as key personnel for Asia-Pacific region on CSO Development Effectiveness.
After 15 years long struggle (1975-1990) against millitary autocratic regime, Bangladesh regained democracy in 1990. During millitary regime, the autocratic governments were not accountable to the people while they have a sound relation with development partners as well as donors. But during democratic regime (after 1990), a few voice raised on foreign aid demanding accountability which is becoming stronger day by day. The budget analysts of Bangladesh have pointed out that 14% of total budget (2009-10) allocated for paying the interest of loans which is higher than health budget of Bangladesh.
Foreign Loan and Loan Payment
| Period | Foreign Loan Received by Govt. | Govt. Paid to Creditor | Remain (Net) Amount of Foreign Loan |
| First 6 Month 2009-10 | 130,40,00,000 | *45,58,00,000 | 84,82,00,000 |
| First 6 Month, 2008-09 | 107,00,00,000 | ** | 88,00,00,000 |
Source: Drivers of Economy
Not only debt burden, the development partners set a series of conditionalities with aid programme which reducing benefit of aid in development of the state; corruption is also inspired indirectly from these system. In the recent past, European Union ambassador to Dhaka, Stefan Frowein pushed that the World Bank should manage Bangladesh’s Multi-Donor Trust Fund on a temporary basis. The right activists termed this as neo-colonial EU position on MDTF which will create an unecessary space for World Bank to dictate Bangladesh.
In 1980′s, Bangladesh implemented Structural Adjustment Programme as prescribed by World Bank and IMF which spreaded out corruption at public administration and among the politicians and Bangladesh became number one corrupt country. World Bank and IMF were criticised worldwide for imposing Structural Adjustment Programme to the least development countries demanding compensation for derailing the development process of different countries. Then they again come up with another prescription like `Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)’. More and more countries like Bangladesh formulated Poverty Reduction Strategy for imposing conditionalities like PRSP for seeking loan and grants from the development partners. The recent government of Bangladesh criticised these practices of development partners and seeking development assistance from them based on fifth year plan which the earlier governments could not able to pressure the development partners as like!
CSOs come up in these point to bargain to both parties; development partners to show aid accountability and government to show implementation accountability. Bangladesh consultation hardly discuss these issues to provide input to the draft framework. Hope, the policy leaders of CSO development effectiveness will assert these missing issues.
Youth Agricultural Week 2010
Colourful Rally & Human Chain orgnised at Rangpur to observe Youth Agricultural Week 2010
Press Release (Bangla) ; Leaflet (Bangla); Memorandum to Prime Minister (Bangla)
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With participation of local students, youths, cultural activists, media personalities, political activists and farmers, a colourful rally and human chain organised at Rangpur on 13.06.2010. Famous folk singer Ranjit Kumar Roy described the suffering of farmers through his folk song. Shofia Shewle from CSRL; Mofakharul Islam Toufiq from Online Knowledge Centre; ; Goutam Kumar Roy, Famers Leaders and Political Activist; Sabbir Ahmed, Youth Leader; Marina Lavly, Reporters of Channel i; Rezwan Shatil from Online Knowledge Centre and Manjurul Islam Rubel, Organiser of Online Knowledge Centre, Rangpur spoke in the rally and human chain. Asking initiative to form Producers Cooperative and Marketing Cooperative with participation of farmers, a memorandum is submitted to Prime Minister through District Commissioner of Rangpur.
Online Knowledge Centre and Participatory Research and Action Network (PRAN) in association with Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL) organised this events as part of Youth Agricultural Week 2010.
Kanak Barman কৃষিপন্যের ন্যায্যমূল্য নিশ্চিতকরণ উৎপাদন সমবায় ও বিপণন কেন্দ্র গড়ে তোলার আহ্ববান জানিয়েছেন “অনলাইন নলেজ সেন্টার”।
০০ রংপুর দক্ষিণ সংবাদদাতা
কৃষিপণ্যের ন্যায্যমূল্য নিশ্চিতকরণ উৎপাদন সমবায় ও বিপণন কেন্দ্র গড়ে তোলার আহ্বান জানিয়েছেন বেসরকারী সংস্থা অনলাইন নলেজ সেন্টার। এই দাবীতে সম্প্রতি মানববন্ধন, স্মারকলিপি পেশ ও সাংস্কৃতিক অনুষ্ঠানের আয়োজন করেন। দুপুর ১২টা থেকে ১টা পর্যন্ত জেলা প্রশাসনের কার্যালয়ের সামনে অনুষ্ঠিত মানববন্ধন চলাকালে বক্তব্য রাখেন, অনলাইন নলেজ সেন্টারের কো-অর্ডিনেটর শফিয়া শিউলি, ছাব্বির আহম্মেদ, গৌতম রায়, সাংবাদিক মেরিনা লাভলি, সাজ্জাদ হোসেন বাপ্পি প্রমুখ।
জেলা প্রশাসকের মাধ্যমে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে প্রেরিত স্মারকলিপিতে উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে, কৃষিপণ্যের ন্যায্যমূল্য প্রাপ্তি নিশ্চিত করতে সরকার উত্তরাঞ্চলের ১৫টি জেলায় ১টি করে পাইকারী বাজার গোয়ার্স মার্কেট ও রাজধানীর গাবতলিতে একটি সেন্ট্রাল মার্কেট নির্মাণের কাজ সম্পন্ন করেছে। গ্রামে ক্ষুদ্র কৃষকদের নিকট পৌঁছাইতে হলে অবিলম্বে কৃষকদের মধ্যে উৎপাদন সমবায় ও বিপনন কেন্দ্র গড়ে তোলা প্রয়োজন যাতে করে ক্ষুদ্র কৃষকগণ সমবায়ের মাধ্যমে বীজসহ অন্যান্য কৃষি উৎপাদন দ্রব্যাদি সহজে পেতে পারে। রংপুর অঞ্চলে তরুণ কৃষক যুব ও ছাত্র নেতৃবৃন্দ অবিলম্বে কৃষকদের মধ্যে উৎপাদন সমবায় ও বিপণন সমবায় গড়ে তোলার জন্য সরকারের কাছে সহযোগিতা কামনা করছে। স্মারকলিপিতে বলা হয়েছে দেশের প্রায় ৮৯ জন কৃষকের মোট জমির পরিমাণ প্রায় আড়াই একর। অর্থাৎ কৃষিতে নিয়োজিত অধিকাংশই কৃষক ক্ষুদ্র ও প্রান্তিক। এই কৃষকরা খাদ্য শস্যের বেশির ভাগ উৎপাদন করে। কিন্তু দারিদ্র্যতার কারণে তারা যা উৎপাদন করে অধিকাংশ ক্ষেত্রেই তা অল্প দামেই বিক্রি করতে বাধ্য হন। ফলে খাদ্য নিরাপত্তায় তারাই বেশি ভোগেন।
জেলা প্রশাসকের মাধ্যমে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে প্রেরিত স্মারকলিপিতে উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে, কৃষিপণ্যের ন্যায্যমূল্য প্রাপ্তি নিশ্চিত করতে সরকার উত্তরাঞ্চলের ১৫টি জেলায় ১টি করে পাইকারী বাজার গোয়ার্স মার্কেট ও রাজধানীর গাবতলিতে একটি সেন্ট্রাল মার্কেট নির্মাণের কাজ সম্পন্ন করেছে। গ্রামে ক্ষুদ্র কৃষকদের নিকট পৌঁছাইতে হলে অবিলম্বে কৃষকদের মধ্যে উৎপাদন সমবায় ও বিপনন কেন্দ্র গড়ে তোলা প্রয়োজন যাতে করে ক্ষুদ্র কৃষকগণ সমবায়ের মাধ্যমে বীজসহ অন্যান্য কৃষি উৎপাদন দ্রব্যাদি সহজে পেতে পারে। রংপুর অঞ্চলে তরুণ কৃষক যুব ও ছাত্র নেতৃবৃন্দ অবিলম্বে কৃষকদের মধ্যে উৎপাদন সমবায় ও বিপণন সমবায় গড়ে তোলার জন্য সরকারের কাছে সহযোগিতা কামনা করছে। স্মারকলিপিতে বলা হয়েছে দেশের প্রায় ৮৯ জন কৃষকের মোট জমির পরিমাণ প্রায় আড়াই একর। অর্থাৎ কৃষিতে নিয়োজিত অধিকাংশই কৃষক ক্ষুদ্র ও প্রানিত্মক। এই কৃষকরা খাদ্য শস্যের বেশির ভাগ উৎপাদন করে। কিন্তু দারিদ্র্যতার কারণে তারা যা উৎপাদন করে অধিকাংশ ড়্গেত্রেই তা অল্প দামেই বিক্রি করতে বাধ্য হন। ফলে খাদ্য নিরাপত্তায় তারাই বেশি ভোগেন।
Campaign for Budget Democracy
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The Campaign for Budget Democracy begins from Khulna through conducting Khulna Regional Consultation Dialogue at Khulna Club on 08 May 2010. The consultation dialogue orgnises by Rupayan, Divisional Press Club Federation, Democratic Budget Campaign, Pat O Patshilpo Rakhkha Committee and ActionAid Bangladesh. Liakot Ali, Editor of Dainik Purbachal moderated the dialogue while local policy makers Noni Gopal Mondol, MP; Engineer Mohibur Rahman, MP; Babu Panchanan Biswas, MP; Nazrul Islam Manju, MP; Narayan Chandra Chando, MP; Abdul Khaleue Talukdar, Mayor, Khulna City Corporation; Leaders from Different political parties, citizen groups, academicians, trade unions, jounalists took part in the dialogue.
Bangladesh Krishi Camp, Noakhali
The youth group of Online Knowledge Centre participated at Bangladesh Krishi Camp at Noakhali, started from today. Shofia Shewle, Coordinator, Keep the Promises! End Poverty Now Campaign; Mofaq Kharul Islam Toufiq, Coordinator, My Rights! Our Budget Campaign leaded the team comprising Habib, Masum and Rezowan Satil.
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Mofaq Kharul Islam Toufiq updated the camp activities through online office post in Bangla which has been translated here in english. Toufiq briefed the activities of other members like Shewle, Habib and Jahid, because they have only one laptop to communicate the forum. The Briefing as follows:
06.05.2010: 1st Day of Camp
After registration of participants the camp activities began at 10 am by Welcome speech given by Nurul Islam Masud, Executive Director, PRAN. Ziaul Haque Mukta, Acting Country Director of Oxfam GB and Member Secretary of Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL) started camp discussion asking the participants about the expectation. Mr. Mukta then briefed about Agriculture, importance of agriculture, relation between agriculture and people, Food Security, Bio-Cultural System of People, Political influence in agriculture, agricultural reform, world policy of 96, agricultural system of European Union and proposed agricultural reform agenda of CSRL. After briefing, the participants are asked to identify the agricultural problems based on the proposed agricultural reform agenda declared by CSRL.After lunch, two parallel session began. Toufiq and Shewle participated in financing and investment in agriculture session; Habib and Jahid participated in access to general resources. Toufiq updated the session of financing and investment in agriculture as follows by the points: Relation between World Development and Agricultural Development, Role of IFIs, Food Distribution System, Food Security, Food Import, Employment, Poverty Eradication, Economic Growth, Investment in agriculture, Subsidy in Agriculture, Agricultural Loan. Toufiq will prepare a paper on this discussion after returning from camp.
Jahid and Habib updated about access to natural resources as follows by substances: Natural Resources means Khas Land, Water Resources and pond, hoar, rivers etc. But the poor people have to access to these natural resources due to lack of power. Some powerful people captured these natural resources which is against the national policy.
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