Travel-Blogue Day 3: Dhaka

What Bangladesh needs to take off economicaly is a stable democracy which has been eluding the country for years. The country is already is in a position to be a small economic engine and we are optimistic this time around we will get a better democracy to make our dream come true.

First off, Bangladesh should bring back its million+ refugees who reside illegally in India. Rather than Blaming India for all its problems, it should break free of its Islamic fundamentalist shackles and do something constructive for its people and coming generations. How conveniently they forget the food and relief efforts that India provides after every major disaster. Rather than blaming its neighbors (so very easy to do) for its self inflicted misery, The gov should try to work towards improving literacy amongst the masses and provide basic amenities. However all the govt does is to blame India for its problems (like Iran and other middle eastern countries) blame the US for all its miseries.

I'm hearing that US companies are beginning to pull some manufacturing out of Asia and closer to domestic markets. One big electronics firm I follow has moved heavily into Mexico and the Czech Republic recently. It would be interesting to know if you're seeing any similar movements in the countries you visit.

Is India Bangladesh's problem or is Bangladesh India's problem? Clearly Bangladesh is India's problem.

So many countries whose geographical locations are comparable to Bangladesh are thriving. If India is somehow holding Bangladesh back, the argument is not well articulated in this article. I might add that Bangladesh should learn to deal with its own problems instead of blaming others for it. Blaming the problems on others has not worked out to the advantage of any countries.

I think people like Zafar Sobhan are todays Nelson Mendela. The future is bright for Bangladesh because I believe there are many people out there like Zafar who are doing their best to fix things here in Bangladesh. Congratulations Zafar for being the Young Global Leaders 2005.

I don't get how Mr. Zafar Sobhan is helping by just writing. You have to think about your target audience. People who can read his work are not the audience, but its majority who are in the rural areas. Secondly, everyone complains about the military, but what good has awami league or BNP done, but play dirty politics? we were number one corrupted country when awami league came in power. Atleast, the military has tried, may have no been successful, but stop complaining, atleast they have done better than two parties! Atleast most people are commuting or living more peacefully without all the hartals and chaos the other parties created! Ofcourse, I want democracy, but the two parties claim they have been democratic, but everything was corrupt inside.

One day, India will reunite Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan under Indian rule. India is a superpower equal to the US, China and Russia. No one should try to mess with us, not even the US.

I certainly agree with the comment posted by Raju. Well said Raju garu.

Mr. Hamm,

"as we sat in the canteen on the top floor of the newspaper offices drinking sweet tea and dodging raindrops"

It's just tea not sweet tea. Not everyone drinks tea the way you do. ;-)

K

It is true that India playing a vital role for Bangladesh through geographically, politically and economically. India is surrounding all over Bangladesh through its large borderline. Everyday, we can see through newspapers that Indian BSFs (Border Security Force) killing Bangladeshi people like birds! This is really cruel. India is not allowing Bangladeshi goods to their market in the name of so called antidumping!. On the other hand, lots of Indian products are flooding across streets of Bangldesh.

India and Bangladesh was a same country before 1947. India has got opportunity to become a large country due to only religious and political reason the then from British!. Apart from religion Bangladesh and India has same culture.

Rather than undermining Bangladeh India can work together with Banglades as a friend for the well being of the two nations. I hope administrators should work for it.

It is clear that India plays a significant role in shaping bangladesh’s domestic and foreign policy priorities and therefore, it plays an important role in bangladesh's underdevelopment. Indian foreign policy and public imagery of her neighboring countries have been significantly shaped by a “big brother attitude” (it is quite clear in some of the reader’s comment: check out this one by raju, July 22, 2008 02: 34 AM or the one by Mahesh, July 21, 2008 04:20 PM) Mahesh poses the question “Is India Bangladesh's problem or is Bangladesh India's problem?” and his answer clearly is “Bangladesh is India's problem.” I reckon, in this globalizing world order these questions have become increasingly irrelevent and therefore they have to be scrutinized and replaced. Rather than considering questions of this kind, we should look at issues of mutual interests and in this process india must take more resposibilities, because of its geographical and economic position. Personally, I would like to see indian state formulating a more pragmatic/decentralised economic policy towards its neighboring countries by initiating a dialogue for the creation of new integrated cross-border regional economic zones (for instance, a economic zone covering the area between calcutta and dahaka or the one cover lahore and chandigarh or the one covering karachi and ahmadabad). In a globalizing world we should also try to imagine something beyond the traditional narrow-minded nation-state, otherwise we would be.....

To Raju You are good example of a myopic and delusional ill informed individual. Why do we in India want to inherit these problem countries when it is difficult o resolve the ones we face currently.

bangladesh is plagued with problems and nothing will work. Sad. Human rights problkems, discrimindation, violence against women and minorities, ethnic cleansing and an outflow of refugees, and extremism and terrorism with an export of it.

I don't know why 'from bangladesh' dreams about democracy. China never did to achieve economic success.

Indias has a hedge monistic attitude to every other nation in the region as more than displayed by its nationals comments here. Bangladesh unlike Nepal or Bhutan is not land locked as such India can not exert much pressure. In my Opinion Bangladesh needs to follow its own path independent of india. We must look to the east for economic integration.

It is rather strange what the editor of the daily star suggests. His policies reflect a subservient attitude to a foreign hostile power. How does what he proposes assist Bangladesh? Has he considered implication to Bangladeshs long-term security? Has he not heard of the Bay of Bengal which links us to the rest of the world. Why would we have to go through india for anything?

India is an unfortunate neighbour to have, but that is the reality. We must try to maintain a cordial relationship with it where feasible. However cordial relationship with anyone need not or should not ever be at the expense of Bangladeshs national interest.

Mindset, mindset, mindet...
Antagonistic politics, century old bureaucracy, blah blah blah...

I am truly surprised by Raju's comment re - 'under Indian rule' and that no one should try to mess with India. Mindset mindset mindset - that's the problem.

Many would say - no one needs to mess with India - India is messed up anyway.

Anyway Bangladesh is far more messed up than any country that I have come across. But there is hope..

There is a vibrant and young private sector thriving in Bangladesh and the young are energetic and generally out of the ills and mischief associated with the youth of the modern world.

Hope lives in quite a poor country - that hope lives in the likes of Mr Zafar Sobhan.

Bangladesh has all the talents it needs. All we are lacking of political sophistications in our political arena.We sure can be a part of global economy.

Harsh,
Look at your own country! we are not blaming it on you guys! we are talking abt reality! wheras you have terrorists in your own country..ltalk about islamic fundamentalists? look at BJP! a bunch of terrorists! Also, any act of terrorism in india, instead of blaming bangladeshis or pakistanis, be responsible for your own mistakes and faults! your own people are terrorists, we have our problems to deal with, and you deal with yours intead of blaming the neighboring countries.

Harsh quit being an idiot. Selling rice to Bangladesh for a profit during a disaster doesn't aid.

@ Jon

"ethnic cleansing and an outflow of refugees"

-What a ignorant idiot. ethnic cleansing???? Bangladesh is composed of 99.8% Bengali.

@Mahesh

Ohh trust me India is a BIG problem for Bangladesh and that majority consensus in BD.

@ M.Bokhari

-India is definitely an unfortunate neighbor to have. Too bad we are stuck in the subcontinent.

@ Harsh

India plays the blame game too. Any time an act of terrorism occur they point the blame at Bangladesh. Though never any Bangladeshi nationals were convicted. Try to fix the shortcomings of your security forces first.

Pakistan always changed the focus of its people towards "bad big" India whenever there was a domestic crisis. I presume Bangladeshi politicians do the same. When corrupt politicians are busy looting the country, a "big bad" neighbor is the best way to shift the peoples' focus. Does development flourish along with corruption? Lets change our mindset and work constructively.

Quit using Mandela to pimp your globalization agenda. Holding up India and China as "models" shows your degree of concern for poor people.

Bangladesh's problem is population. It truly needs to adopt the one child policy from China. It has one of the densest populations in the world. And it is increasing too fast.

Something went wrong with Bangladesh. The Bengalis were an intelligent breed but somehow forgot to put two and two together....Mohammed never forbid use of condoms, he could not have...they did not exist in those days.

Rise O' Bengalis ...use condoms and enjoy all day and night and you will progress. Try clipping the tubes...not a bad option. Unless you want to be washed to sea or find your children blowing bombs for the Mujahudin.

@Ram: you must be one of those narrow minded indians. You have the 2nd largest population in the world. Birth control is really needed in ur country. If it were not for IT and outsourcing India would not be anywhere. There is still a CAST system in INDIA it's 2008. THink about it!! Both countries have it's own problems that they need to take care of. They must solve it individually before the blame game starts.