an ordinary citizen

Ranking system should be introduced for our universities. I have got many request to my blog asking the rank of the universities. But so far no ranking or rating for the universities and technical educations have been introduced in our country.
Recently in a round table conference Dr. Akbar Ali Khan, Ex- Adviser of the last caretaker government and Chairman of the Regulatory Reform Commission has urged to introduce rating of all universities in our country.

This rating must be from a competent authority. University Grant Commission(UGC) could took up the job. It may develop a means to develop the rating. (more…)

The Government has taken major decisions to achieve excellence in ICT to create the required environment for business, education and reseach.
We appreciate the government decision and hope it will be implemented as soon as possible.
The details of the news is here[...]

An ordinary citizen

Recently Chief Adviser said, ‘Form of this Government has no relation with the price hike of the essentials’. On the other both AL and BNP top leaders are claiming that they would have bring down the price of rice if they be in power, one claiming even to Tk 10 per Kg.

Dr. Ali Akbar Khan, ex Adviser of the last Caretaker Government told that usually famine occurs during the period of non-elected government.. (more…)

The world is passing through a critical food crisis which has not affect the world for many decades. Already social uncertainty, political unrest and riots start off in many developing countries. [...]

World Bank has warned that the present crisis will deepen and will create further deterioration in law and order situation in those countries. But the pity is that the warning from the World Bank came when the situation is already exposed. World Bank has failed miserably in forecasting the situation earlier and more significantly to suggest measures to offset the crisis early. (more…)

I first came across about Prof Hans Rosling in a post of Sabine in yunusphere.net and then Lilashana, her coauthor, more exposed Hans Rosling’s observation on Bangladesh in her following post. I couldn’t control myself to republish it here: (more…)

Bangladesh is passing through a very critical food crisis. To overcome the food crisis and to control the price of essentials, the government has introduced many programs which include OMS(Open Market Sale), sales through BDR shops , VGF, Work for Food Program etc.

There were suggestions for introducing rationing system also. But the government didn’t give much heed to the suggestion and give more importance to the OMS. But within days OMS service also proved to be inadequate. (more…)

Paying Income Tax is one of most cumbersome and embarrassing jobs in Bangladesh. Though the National Bureau of Revenue (NBR) at different times expressed its good intention to make the system of tax return simplified but people are to depend still on the middlemen of the system. These middle men are the income tax lawyers and at times the officials of the Income Tax office itself.

Income Tax office is one of the most corrupt offices in Bangladesh. TIB should make an inquiry into the corruption of the Income Tax offices in Bangladesh. (more…)

The advisers of the caretaker government started the preparatory talks for the dialog with the political parties though there was much hesitation and speculation regarding the dialog among different individuals, groups and political parties earlier.

AL initially responded coolly putting a bar on getting a written invitation but they ultimately attended the meeting with the advisers through a SMS call for dialogue and both the parties express their hopefulness on the outcome of the dialogue.

The advisers have started meeting and will meet with the other political parties and come to a consensus regarding different issues the nation is facing now.

(more…)

Chief Adviser of Caretaker Government Dr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed unveiled the women’s developmental policy on International Women’s Day on 8^th March 2008 .[...]

It set aside one-third of parliamentary seats for women and suggested arrangment for direct election to the reserved seats. It also suggested appointment of an adequate number of women, if necessary, under the related section of the constitution to the highest-level of Cabinet Division and the policy-making level of the administration

(more…)

When asked he said there is no famine but the country is going through a hidden hunger. Cross Talk examines the play with the words.[...]

National Security Council is about to be formed to ensure national security, accountability in the government and to strengthen the crackdown on corruption.[...]

But some cited the dangers of forming the national security council[...]
Some urged for public debate among the politicians, constitutional experts and civil society members before it is imposed as an ordinance.[...]

Forum discussed the formation and function of the NSC.[...]

Some opined that it is both risky and attractive[...]

An ordinary citizen

The report of the Judicial Inquiry Committee has been published which was the demand of the many over the last months after the committee completed its inquiry on the Dhaka University violence of August 2007.

The Committee suggested for reviewing the student and teachers politics in the 1973 DU ordinance. It also suggested to revise or to remove the 1976 regulation to stop the blind following of the political parties by the student organizations in the campus. (more…)

To overcome the price hike, the government is introducing widespread employment opportunity for the poor people. For this, Food and Disaster Management Ministry will maintain projects of 100 crore throughout April. In parallel. Local Government Department have sanctioned 20 crore for the 168 upazillas identified as the extreme areas of poverty. The programs will stat within one or two days.

Food Ministry informed that under this program unemployed labourer will get TK 150 against work.

(more…)

Draft ordinance of the ‘Right to Information’ as it is placed in the site of Information Ministry

http://www.moi.gov.bd/RTI.doc

Daily Star in ‘by the numbers’ on Right to Information ordinance

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=28952

Real test will be in implementation of the law

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=26271

Commendable moves but do with the impediments

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=28182

Exemption to be specific to stop misuse

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=28593

Shorten exemption list

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=28134

Few words at the last moment (Prothom Alo)

http://www.prothom-alo.com/mcat.news.details.php?nid=OTE2ODA=&mid=NA==

A short note on the ordinance:

The Government has floated draft ordinance of the “Right to Information’ in the website of the mininstry of information.

To be informed about the government and non-governmental activities is a right of the citizens of a country. In Bangladesh also people are also eager to have an act/ordinance which will provide them with the power to get the information.

None of the past government took any initiative in this regard though they never ciontradict with the need of such an act.

(more…)

Dr. Akbar Ali Khan, ex Adviser of the last caretaker government cries over the fate of the freedom fighters and their children in a meet with the Reporters’ Union. He cited a report in a newspaper that the wife of a freedom fighter was collecting left over food for her children at the invitation at Bangabhavan(president house) on the last 26th March on the occassion of Independence day. He declared that he who himself was a freedom fighter will not take any food in the Bangabhaban if a single child of a freedom fighter remain unfed. (more…)