Latest from Bangladesh

By: Sunita Paul

News from Dhaka does not show anything positive. Rather it leaves a very clear signal to everyone that the country is becoming gradually agitated and it may ultimately witness sudden explosion either in the format of mass movement or even civil war. Political pundits are even predicting a 'November 7, 1975' style joint revolution by civilians and armed forces. And, very interestingly, authorities in Dhaka seem to be extremely reluctant or even unaware of any unwarranted situation.

The military emergency government in Bangladesh undertook massive drives to combat corruption. Initially such efforts received tremendous support from every citizen in the country. But, gradually, such actions are either becoming controversial or questioned. Authorities in Dhaka did not arrest or took investigative efforts against notorious corrupts like Sadeq Hossain Khoka (mayor of Dhaka City Corporation), Tofael Ahmed (leader of Awami League), Barkat Ullah Bulu (former state minister in BNP-Islamists Coalition government), Major (Retired) Kamrul Islam, Amir Hossain Amu, Suranjit Sen Gupta, Ruhul Amin Howlader (Jatiyo Party), Kazi Jafar Ahmed (Jatiyo Party), Shahidul Huq Jamal, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu (Jatiyo Party), Abu Hassan Babla (notorious criminal in Jatiyo Party), Fakhrul Islam Munshi, Shwafiqul Ghani Swapan, Major General (Retired) Mahmumudul Hassan (known as thief of Baghdad), Tajul Islam (Jatiyo Party), Zeenat Musharraf (Ershad's girl friend), Bidisha (Ershad's former wife) and many others, whose names are in circulation as most corrupts in Bangladesh. Such silence of the government is leaving an impression on the minds of people that the regime in Dhaka must have reached into any 'compromise' with these people in exchange on substantial compensation.

The government declared a state of emergency after it took power and began an anti-corruption drive that resulted in the arrests of leading politicians, including former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina Wajed. An estimated 400,000 people were detained during the campaign. The arrests created a "climate of fear in the country,'' the group said. The government's poor handling of the economy and natural disasters have " aggravated underlying skepticism over its real intentions.''

There are numerous rumors in the air of the capital anticipating any sudden 'political upset' in the country any time although big powers have already warned Dhaka that intervention by army shall not be taken lightly by the donor countries.

Meanwhile, there is news of campus unrest in Dhaka. According to agency reports, at least 50 people were injured and several vehicles were damaged in Bangladesh's capital on Tuesday as police clashed with students protesting over a bus fare increase due to a jump in the cost of gas, witnesses said.

Police fired blank shots and teargas shells to disperse stone throwing students near Dhaka University.

"The situation is under control, following an hour-long disturbance," said a police officer, who declined to be named.

The government although has been claiming that it is not intervening freedom of press, it is learnt from various sources that a number of newspapers in Dhaka may face immediate closure under the existing law. As per the provisions of Special Powers Act of 1974, no one is allowed to continue as the publisher of any newspaper in Bangladesh if he or she is convicted in any case of moral turpitude. Janakantha publisher Atiqullah Khan Masud, Khoborer Antoraley publisher Sigma Huda, Khabarpatra publisher Hafiz Ibrahim and his wife, Desh Janata publisher Salauddin Ahmed are already convicted in several cases, which falls under the provision of the law of closure. It is also learnt that declaration of Weekly Bichitra owned by Sheikh Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana may be cancelled anytime as she is staying out of Bangladesh for more than six months which is also falling under the law for cancellation of the permission. Journalists in a large number of newspapers are not getting salaries for months as those newspapers are facing severe financial crisis.

Meanwhile, a local think-tank named International Crisis Group (ICG) said, Bangladesh's government risks ruining its anti-corruption drive and plans for democratic changes unless it wins the trust of political parties before elections this year.

"The government's honeymoon is over,'' the Brussels-based ICG said in a report. ``There is now fear the government is undermining the very democratic institutions it set out to rescue. There is an urgent need for all sides to negotiate a peaceful and sustainable return to democracy'' it said.

On the other hand, Bangladesh energy situation is in the grip of serious crisis with no possibility of immediate improvement. Power generation and supply crisis is seriously impacting industrial production. The trouble toned national economy is getting severely stressed. Government is struggling to pay the import bills for food and oil. In this situation the export oriented industries are suffering to continue capacity production. Many are failing to meet export commitments and losing competitive edge. Industrial growth has come to a virtual halt. In some areas like Chittagong the authority can not provide gas and electricity connection to any new industries for the next couple of years. In this situation no new entrepreneurs are interested to risk investment. This situation will soon lead to higher level of unemployment, drastically reduce export earnings and cause serious economic depression.

General Citizens are suffering from massive load shedding in the sweltering heat and humidity. Students finding it extremely difficult to prepare their lessons for examinations, patients are suffering in the hospitals. Power load shedding has impacted upon water pumping and delivery. The major fuel for power generation natural gas supply is also in crisis. Power, water and gas supply crisis or in other words the entire energy situation is in terrible mess. Energy crisis in this magnitude were not experienced during the tenure of any of the previous government. Chittagong region is in terrible crisis. The present gas supply volume can not simultaneously support fertilizer production and power generation. Many investors who set up industries in the recent past have been denied energy connection. There is no way that the situation may significantly improve in the next 2-3 years at least.

Only about 35% of the total population is under power supply coverage .Yet national production and delivery hardly capable for about 60% of the suppressed national demand. Gas supply constraint also restricts power generation significantly. It is often reported that the peak national daily power demand is about 5000-5200MW. The total effective capacity of national production is about 3800 MW. Many of the generation plants have outlived their normal economic life and are being run through cannibalizing. These fuel inefficient plants very often go out of production compounding miseries. So, even consistent generation of 3800MW is not achieved. Consequently massive nation wide load shedding is having devastating adverse impact on everything.