Dhaka an effective partner: US envoy

[Maira La]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Well everybody had to go through these phases of industrialization. These are abc of economics. Technology is not free. You need money to buy it or invest in R&D. Garments and textiles are the least technology driven industry and employs a huge number of workers. It helps two ways.

1) Gives the opportunity to gain initial capital which will be later invested in technology once labor cost grows higher.
2) It changes the complexion of the society by bringing the bare footed uncivilized people to the main stream industrial economy. Also it is the first step towards a disciplined society.

So we are on the right track. This textile and garments, once brought fortune to England and as a whole Europe then United states, then Japan, Korea, Taiwan etc. The latest was China. BD just started the race and I am very optimistic.

Bit off topic but I always say BD will have far better future than any other country in the sub continent as it maintained the basics and did not miss any steps. It did not go to invest in Rocket science and wasted money while millions still remain as bare footed. Those bare footed will remain as bare footed in this sub continent except Srilanka of course for this century for sure.

Great post! Factually correct info and accurate assessment of the RMG driven growth. Some people believe in jumping straight to rocket science from stone age. *sigh*

 

[Sheikh Shakib Ahmed]

Bangladesh should remove any type of terrorist for its interest only. Other matters should not get any concern. Ke ki bollo tate kisso ashe jai na.

 

[integra]

And Bangladeshis are so proud, SO PROUD, of our "Garments Industry!!!! Yahoo!!!", despite it being one of the lowest value adding, lowest skill, labour intensive industries, which only fatten the wallets of the owners, who spend it on foreign holidays, imported goods, and only pay their labourers enough to survive and maybe pay the marriage dowry. Bangladeshis will not learn, Bangladeshis are not the race to learn. Only to jump up and down over trivial matters, and celebrate, and believe in fairy tales. Especially fairy tales narrated by white persons.

40 years since independence... Not a single bus industry, not a single tractor industry, 12% interest rates from banks, no infrastructure, no finance institution, nothing at all.... Still so proud. WooHoo America called us a "Moderate Muslim Country"!!!! GO BANGLADESH!!!! I Hear from my cousin's driver's friend's relative that a Buet student was allegedly offered a job by Google! WoW GO BD!!!

Let's bring out the drums and guitars and play some more Songs of '71, Songs of Freedom, Patriotic Songs, whatever you call it, curse the Razakars, read the Daily Star, etc...

Wow!! Remains of Ancient Civilization found in BD!!! WooHOO! We Are So Great!
I once asked a friend, a typical Bangladeshi fairy tale believer friend, what there was to be proud of being a Bangladeshi. He told me that "We stopped Alexander". Yeah, great thing to be proud of, will defo help us today.

Chill down amigo,
Heres some candy for starters

Atleast something in 40 yrs right?

World’s largest sugar refinery now in Bangladesh
City Group has now set up the world’s largest sugar refinery in Bangladesh. This new unit, City Sugar Industries Limited, has been set up in Rupshi, Narayanganj.

This factory, with the world’s latest technology, will produce 5000 metric tons of sugar per day.

The latest City Group venture will reduce and eventually stop the dependence on import on the one hand, and meet the ever increasing demand, for sugar on the other hand.

“The establishment of this largest sugar refinery in the world in our country is a pride not only for City Group but for the entire nation,” Fazlur Rahman, Chairman and Managing Director of City Group said.

Talking to newsmen, Mr Rahman stated that the conglomerate could successfully complete the project and go into production because of the support they have received from the Government of Bangladesh, relevant Ministries and Government departments, commercial banks and their business partners and consumers.

He thanked Almighty Allah for giving them this honor and opportunity and he hoped they would be able to successfully meet the demands of the country.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Agree about the terrorism part.

Having doubts about the climate change part. For anything to happen, there must be commitment from the top level in Bangladesh. Right now, other than NGOs and foreign missions, that just isn't there now.

As far as micro-credit goes, I agree with Dr. Akbar Ali Khan's assessment. Micro-credit alone cannot eliminate poverty. What Dr. Yunus said about sending poverty to the museum just because of micro-finance is factually incorrect. Many other factors come into play when eliminating poverty. Right now, Bangladesh has the highest below poverty levels (as percentage of population) in South Asia alone. And that really isn't something to be proud of.

And Bangladeshis are so proud, SO PROUD, of our "Garments Industry!!!! Yahoo!!!", despite it being one of the lowest value adding, lowest skill, labour intensive industries, which only fatten the wallets of the owners, who spend it on foreign holidays, imported goods, and only pay their labourers enough to survive and maybe pay the marriage dowry. Bangladeshis will not learn, Bangladeshis are not the race to learn. Only to jump up and down over trivial matters, and celebrate, and believe in fairy tales. Especially fairy tales narrated by white persons.

Toyota started out as a weaving factory

40 years since independence... Not a single bus industry, not a single tractor industry, 12% interest rates from banks, no infrastructure, no finance institution, nothing at all.... Still so proud. WooHoo America called us a "Moderate Muslim Country"!!!! GO BANGLADESH!!!! I Hear from my cousin's driver's friend's relative that a Buet student was allegedly offered a job by Google! WoW GO BD!!!

You are right about the industry part. In the past 40 years, countries like India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc have made tremendous advances in industry. The problem in Bangladesh is lack of infrastructure and energy. Other potent problems are slow and inefficient bureaucracy and corruption.

Foreign investors always want to invest in Bangladesh, but the conditions must be right. Also, political instability can hamper the economy as well. And when I am saying industry, I am talking about automobiles, aerospace and defense, etc. Big ones that is.

Much of the privately owned Bangladesh industries are doing pretty good now. Used to be worst before.

I have known a colleague of mine who had a Master's Degree in Artificial Intelligence from the US. When he came to Dhaka, he couldn't find any job. He found a job that pays very little, but after, he went back to the US.

I have noticed the general lack of corporate culture within Bangladeshi companies. Lack of professionalism is also there. Only a small handful of Bangladeshi companies actually have corporate culture. I have even known many MDs who don't even have a Bachelor's Degree, and yet they make millions. There are those 'unknowingly rich' folks as well. There are 'people' in Bangladesh who have so much money, that they don't even know what to do with so much money!

As I have similarly explained, it is all about commitment from the top levels. We just don't have that now for the most part.

But despite all the problems we face, I think that we have done very well for ourselves and for the domestic industries, that is excluding the government-run ones.

Let's bring out the drums and guitars and play some more Songs of '71, Songs of Freedom, Patriotic Songs, whatever you call it, curse the Razakars, read the Daily Star, etc...

The Daily Star's editor of current affairs is a die-hard AL man. But it is still the best English-language newspaper in Bangladesh. They can come up with very good articles coming from highly qualified sources. Their only problem is their editor. Every newspaper in Bangladesh generally must have some form of political connection.

Wow!! Remains of Ancient Civilization found in BD!!! WooHOO! We Are So Great!
I once asked a friend, a typical Bangladeshi fairy tale believer friend, what there was to be proud of being a Bangladeshi. He told me that "We stopped Alexander". Yeah, great thing to be proud of, will defo help us today.

Let me ask you something. Can we blame our nation's father for this? For some reason, I never really had much respect for that man. But I commend him for his courage and being vocal for the rights of ethnic Bengalis.

This country has an abundant number of naive people. It is just that way, and will be for a very, very long time.

 

[TopCat]

You are right about the industry part. In the past 40 years, countries like India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc have made tremendous advances in industry. The problem in Bangladesh is lack of infrastructure and energy. Other potent problems are slow and inefficient bureaucracy and corruption.

But you missed the number one factor here. The lack of capital and enterpreneur which was the main impedement of industrialization in this country. We did not inherit a single Bengali muslim enterpreneur in 1947 and kicked out most of the hindu capitalist by 1971. We even enacted a law called Enemy Property Act which forced most of the remaining hindu enterpreneur to flee after 1965.
A good example, when Abul Monsur Ahmed became the commerce minister of Pakistan, he waived all the fees for Bengalis for indenting and import lincense in East Pakistan so that they can get a ground in business. But alas, instead of doing businesss Bengalis started selling those indending linceses to the West Pakistanis. That was the status of our enterpreneurs by 1971.

 

[Zabaniyah]

^^^When Pakistan was created, it didn't have much industry or resources to begin with. All of the main industries and military facilities were in mainland India. East Pakistan was a big source of agriculture for Pakistan. Even the income generated from agriculture wasn't enough to spur industrial growth in all of Pakistan.

And of-course, there were wars with India, limiting industrial growth further.

 

[eastwatch]

To this day stupid Bangladeshi idiots are shouting "microocredit microocredit dr yunus dr yunus nobel prize nobel prize" while it has not achieved a single result in 30 years. But wait, the answer for these idiots is... "More Microcredit!!!". Actually having a good "image" in the eyes of the West is more important to most Bangladeshis than self-development. In that case I don't think it is surprising that BD is so backward. After all, our goal was to stay in the "good books" of America instead of building up our institutions and corporations, and we got the result we wanted.

I find you are one of a few stupid Bangladeshis who are not willing to appreciate the help USA extends towards our country. Why are you here to spit towards the sky when it comes down to your own face? Learn the basics and do not behave lile a spoiled child.

What is here in this thread to do with your MICROCREDIT? Check the title of this thread, will you?

 

[eastwatch]

And Bangladeshis are so proud, SO PROUD, of our "Garments Industry!!!! Yahoo!!!", despite it being one of the lowest value adding, lowest skill, labour intensive industries, which only fatten the wallets of the owners, who spend it on foreign holidays, imported goods, and only pay their labourers enough to survive and maybe pay the marriage dowry. Bangladeshis will not learn, Bangladeshis are not the race to learn. Only to jump up and down over trivial matters, and celebrate, and believe in fairy tales. Especially fairy tales narrated by white persons.

40 years since independence... Not a single bus industry, not a single tractor industry, 12% interest rates from banks, no infrastructure, no finance institution, nothing at all.... Still so proud. WooHoo America called us a "Moderate Muslim Country"!!!! GO BANGLADESH!!!! I Hear from my cousin's driver's friend's relative that a Buet student was allegedly offered a job by Google! WoW GO BD!!!

Let's bring out the drums and guitars and play some more Songs of '71, Songs of Freedom, Patriotic Songs, whatever you call it, curse the Razakars, read the Daily Star, etc...

Wow!! Remains of Ancient Civilization found in BD!!! WooHOO! We Are So Great!
I once asked a friend, a typical Bangladeshi fairy tale believer friend, what there was to be proud of being a Bangladeshi. He told me that "We stopped Alexander". Yeah, great thing to be proud of, will defo help us today.

Hey, rotten idiot, just stop your idiocracy. Since when Alexander is an US citizen? Hell with you, you are trolling here in an indecent manner. Hemayetpur or Ranchi in India will look after you.

 

[LaBong]

Don't us gives subsidy to bangladeshi products as opposed to india or pakistan? Asking because some guys have said us imports bd products because it's cheap. What stops middle east to import cheap bangladeshi product?

 

[BanglaBhoot]

But you missed the number one factor here. The lack of capital and enterpreneur which was the main impedement of industrialization in this country. We did not inherit a single Bengali muslim enterpreneur in 1947 and kicked out most of the hindu capitalist by 1971. We even enacted a law called Enemy Property Act which forced most of the remaining hindu enterpreneur to flee after 1965.
A good example, when Abul Monsur Ahmed became the commerce minister of Pakistan, he waived all the fees for Bengalis for indenting and import lincense in East Pakistan so that they can get a ground in business. But alas, instead of doing businesss Bengalis started selling those indending linceses to the West Pakistanis. That was the status of our enterpreneurs by 1971.

then after 1971 the AL nationalized many industries further destroying whatever entrepreneurship existed amongst the Muslims Bangladeshis......

 

[monitor]

Out of our 40 years history we lost first 5 years due to the wrong policy of Sk mujib govt . Actual development start for Bangladesh after 1975 and get the boom in last 20 years .

 

[eastwatch]

then after 1971 the AL nationalized many industries further destroying whatever entrepreneurship existed amongst the Muslims Bangladeshis......

This is exactly what happened after 1971. Suddenly AL changed its philosophy towards socialism. In that name it nationalized almost all the industries and destroyed the prospect of further industrialization by the private sector. Moreover, AL cronies at the top of these nationalized industries stole randomly and furher destroyed them.

Only after RMG sector was developed by the private initiative, the country is seeing a bright future prospect. Now, some ignorant troll comes here and criticizes USA for buying our cheap products. `Abir` is right to ask why then the rich Muslim nations do not also reciprocate the US gesture by buying our cheap products?

 

[Avisheik]

^^^When Pakistan was created, it didn't have much industry or resources to begin with. All of the main industries and military facilities were in mainland India. East Pakistan was a big source of agriculture for Pakistan. Even the income generated from agriculture wasn't enough to spur industrial growth in all of Pakistan.

And of-course, there were wars with India, limiting industrial growth further.

We bangladeshis do not have the genes of enterpreneurship in the first place. Even west bengalis face the same problem. Its mostly because of culture, when we were young our parents tell us to study hard to become doctors and engineers, but they rarely encourage us to become enterpreneurs. Furthermore with corruption and extortion, its very hard for a young enterpreneur to set up business

Anyway here is a clip of the story of Abul Kalam Azad, a bd businessman who had the guts to become successful.

 

[Urbanized Greyhound]

We bangladeshis do not have the genes of enterpreneurship in the first place. Even west bengalis face the same problem. Its mostly because of culture, when we were young our parents tell us to study hard to become doctors and engineers, but they rarely encourage us to become enterpreneurs. Furthermore with corruption and extortion, its very hard for a young enterpreneur to set up business

Thats too much of a generalization ,

For example :

Sake Dean Mohammed , Jawed Karim , Amar Bose , Subroto Roy . are well known entrepreneurs . But Bengalis would choose a settled life with a salaried job and family rather than take risks. Further a certain amount of miserliness is required to hoard up capital , Bengalis by nature can be quite spendthrift.

Among the sub -continental diaspora , Bengalis do quite well when they set up their own companies . After all its the brains that count mostly

 

[LaBong]

Being rich and affluent was never the x-factor for Bengali girls(and even Bengali moms), rather proletariat have always been portrayed in romantic hue, therein lies the problem!