15-08-2018

EDITORIAL
wEDnESDAy,
AUGUST 15, 2018
4
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
Telephone: +8802-9104683-84, Fax: 9127103
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur rahman
T
oday,
Bangladesh is observing the 43rd
anniversary of rememberance of the very
tragic death of the founding father of
Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman. Bangabandhu, if he had lived would be
98 years old today. But he died prematurely at
the hands of heinous killers on August 15, 1975.
Thus, he lived only 55 years to serve the country
for the creation of which he made matchless
personal sacrifices.
The killers probably thought that killing him
and his family members would wipe out or
tarnish his legacy. But they have been decisively
proved wrong. For the party which he led
triumphantly came back to power in 2009 and in
the next year tried his killers and hanged five of
them. Six others are absconding abroad from
justice.
Why the name and fame of the Banghabandhu
remains is because he was not merely an
individual. Through his unflinching dedication to
his cause, matchless patriotism and self sacrifice,
he has lived through the decades in people's
memory as an iconic personality. Thus, today, he
is romanticised and described as a revolution, an
upsurge-the essence of epic poetry and history.
Contemporary history has recognized him as the
greatest Bengali of the past thousand years.
The rememberance of him is the culture and
society that Bengalis have sketched for
themselves. His possibilities, the promises
thrown forth by him, are the fountain-spring of
the civilized existence of the Bengalis. He was a
great friend to the masses. To the nation he is the
Father. In the view of men and women in other
places and other climes, he is the founder of
sovereign Bangladesh.
Journalist Cyril Dunn once said of him, "In the
thousands of years of history of Bangladesh,
Sheikh Mujib is the only leader who has, in terms
of blood, race, language, culture and birth, been
a full-blooded Bengali. His physical stature was
immense. His voice was redolent of thunder. His
charisma worked magic on people. The courage
and charm that flowed from him made him a
unique superman in these times." Newsweek
magazine called him the poet of politics.
Embracing Bangabandhu at the Algiers Non
Aligned Summit in 1973, Cuba's Fidel Castro
noted, "I have not seen the Himalayas. But I have
seen Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In personality
and in courage, this man is the Himalayas. I have
thus had the experience of witnessing the
Himalayas." Upon hearing the news of
Bangabandhu's assassination, former British
Prime Minister Harold Wilson wrote to a Bengali
journalist, "This is surely a supreme national
tragedy for you. For me it is a personal tragedy of
immense dimensions."
The liberal democratic politics of Sher-e-Bangla
A. K. FazlulHaque and Huseyn Shaheed
Suhrawardy contributed to the moulding of
Mujib's character. He was committed to public
welfare. But he distinguished himself soon in his
political career as the strongest advocate of
Bengali nationalism. It was this particular
passion that led to the rise of his ideology based
on Bengali nationalism and democracy leading
to his brilliantly steering the course for the
achievement of independent Bangladesh
At the United Nations, he was the first man to
speak of his dreams, his people's aspiration, in
Bangla. The language was, in that swift stroke ,
recognized by the global community. For the first
time after Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel
achievement in 1913, Bangla was put on a
position of dignity.
The multifaceted life of Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman cannot be put together in language or
colour. The reason is :Mujib was a larger than life
titanic figure. It is not possible to hold within the
confines of a frame the picture of his greatness.
He was the supreme leader in the struggle for
national independence .The greatest treasure of
the Bengali nation is preservation of his heritage,
a defence of his legacy. He has conquered death.
His memory should be an everlasting guide to
his countrymen.
It was because of Bangabandhu Sheikh
MujiburRhman that his countrymen today live
completely free in the air of freedom and enjoy
unfettered all the opportunities for theirself
development and progress and their collective
advancement as a people and nation.
Bangbandhu's activities of a lifetime bestowed
these great gifts on his people and the country.
Let us protect women agricultural workers
Women are making essential
contributions to our agriculture
and rural economy. Rural
women often manage complex
households. Their activities typically
include producing agricultural crops,
tending animals, processing and
preparing food. Many of these activities
are not defined as "economically active
employment" in national accounts but
they are essential to the wellbeing of
rural households.
According to labour force survey of ILO,
2013, there are 1.20 crore women workers
in Bangladesh. Of them, 92 lakh women
are engaged in agriculture sector like fish
cultivation, rearing of poultry birds, cattle
head and social afforestation.
Agriculture is women-centric since the
ancient time. Males are now leaving
agriculture profession and joining other
profession finding it more profitable.
Hence, women are taking agriculture
management ahead.
According to Labour Force Survey
(LFS), participation of female labour in
agriculture compared to male also
increased over time. For agriculture,
there had been absolute decrease in
male labour force. Agricultural male
labour force decreased from 16.2 million
to 15.1 million during the period from
1999-2000 to 2005-2006, a decrease by
about 7%. On the other hand, during the
same period, female labour force in
agriculture has increased from 3.8
million to 7.7 million, an increase by
about 103%.
Though playing an important in
agriculture, women are victims of
discrimination. A number of studies
conducted during 1980s found that
women's contribution to socioeconomic
development were not visible,
perhaps due to a set of social norms that
For quite some time during the
primary season for the 2016
presidential race, Democratic party
leaders were delighted that Donald
Trump was leading the Republican pack.
They assumed the brash reality TV star
would expose the bigotry of the
Republican base before flaming out and
leaving a more plausible candidate
beholden to an energised mob, and
consequently unelectable. Trump won.
The first and probably most important
development is that the Republicans are
consistently down. Way down. In a
Congressional by-election in Ohio, the
Republicans appear to have eked out a
narrow victory with just a one
percentage-point margin (postal votes
have yet to be counted). Trump, of course,
claimed this as a triumph. But this was in
a white, mostly suburban district that
Republicans have held since 1982.
Trump won it by 11 percentage points in
2016; the previous Republican
incumbent enjoyed margins three times
as great. It shouldn't have been close. But
the Republicans threw everything at it,
including visits from the president and
vice-president. The Democrats need to
win 23 house seats in order to win control
- according to the Cook Political Report
there are 68 Republican-held seats as, or
more, vulnerable in the lower chamber.
Strong Democratic showings in three
enabled men to dominate women (Bose,
et. al., 2009). Women face severe
discrimination such as appointment
without due process, long working
hours, less wage, wage discrimination
and various type of repressions.
According to Agriculture Information
Service, women agriculture workers do
not get any wage for their 45.6% services
in agriculture while they get wage less than
the market rate for 54.4% services.
A woman agriculture worker gets 43%
less wage than a male counterpart in the
rural area because of only gender
discrimination. Women are more
involved in 13 agri-related important
works than male, while the number is 11
for male. Money earned through
rearing of domestic animals and works
in other side of agriculture, is not given
to the women. Hence, contribution of
women in agriculture sector is not
included in the national income. In most
Asian countries the number of women
employed in agriculture as a percentage
of the economically active population is
higher than that of men. However,
women's contribution to agriculture,
which is considered as unpaid family
labour, is grossly underestimated. In
fact, if unpaid work were included, the
congressional primaries in Washington
state, some in districts where
Republicans were thought to be quite
safe, further illustrated that this was no
one-off. But while they are down they are
by no means out. Trump's approval
ratings are only marginally lower than
Barack Obama's were at this stage in his
presidency, and trending up. The
proportion of Americans who think the
country is moving in the right direction is
also growing, and is at a considerably
higher level than at this point during
Obama's first term.
Support for Trump is intensifying even
as it shrinks. This makes sense. Trump
has slashed taxes for the rich, significantly
relaxed regulations for business and will
soon have named two conservative
supreme court justices. He is delivering
for his base - which is overwhelmingly
wealthy, white and suburban or rural.
MD. SAzEDUL ISLAM
figures for female employment in
agriculture would be even higher (FAO,
2003). The agricultural sector in many
developing countries, including
Bangladesh, is underperforming, in part
because women, who represent a crucial
resource in agriculture and the rural
economy through their roles as farmers,
labourers and entrepreneurs, almost
everywhere face more severe constraints
than men in access to productive
resources.
Sources said, women are engaged in 17
out of 21 types of work in agriculture, but
they have no recognition because of
basically having no ownership over land.
Hence, they are being deprived of
getting facilities offered by the
government for the farmers. If the
women famers have received such
facilities, their contribution to
agriculture would have increased more.
There is no organization working for
female agriculture workers. Steps
should be taken for recognizing them as
powerful working force.
As women in Bangladesh find more
comfortable engaging in agricultural
activities within the boundary of
household rather than in the field for
crop production activities, home-based
And with every gratuitous attack on a
black sports star or the media, and every
xenophobic aside or outburst on the
global stage, they love him more. It's not
that they don't know how it looks to the
outside world or his opponents; it's that
they don't care.
Democrats have, so far, been the
passive beneficiaries of the outrage that
has ensued. The large marches in the
capital, demonstrations at the border and
gun-control protests all illustrate
significant enthusiasm for combating the
Trump agenda. But there is a disconnect
between these electoral gains and this
political energy. The Democratic
leadership has decided to stand not so
much against Trump's agenda as in the
way of it. A Washington Post poll last year
showed a majority of registered voters
thought the Democratic party stood for
nothing other than being against Trump
ABDEL AzIz ALUwAISHEG
agricultural activities like livestock and
poultry production as well as homestead
gardening should be encouraged
through providing more credit and
training facilities to women. Women's
participation in agricultural production
should be facilitated through access to
agricultural technologies and loans
given for agro-processing, homestead
gardens, nurseries, bee-keeping and
other activities.
Article 345 of Labour Law, 2006 asked
for providing same wage for male and
female for the same works. Our National
Women Development Policy 2011 also
called for the equal rights of men and
women and proper evaluation of
women workers. If women workers get
recognition to their works in agriculture
and get fair wages, they would be
interested in agriculture. As a result,
production in agriculture sector would
increase and agriculture's contribution
to GDP would also increase. Hence, all
concerned must come forward to
properly evaluate the contribution of
women engaged in agriculture.
Women empowerment is the
reflection of gender equality, which is
precursor to moving the country
forward towards inclusive and
sustainable development.
If we want to speed up the forward
march of development, it is necessary to
evaluate works of women economically
and give proper recognition. If they get
the recognition, their economic
empowerment will increase, which help
reduce discrimination and violence in
the society. The rights activists said
several steps need to be taken for
making women's works visible
regarding distribution of agriculture
materials, seed, fertilizer, farmers' card,
and loan.
Democrats must do more than oppose Trump
GAry yOUnGE
A top Democrat recently lost his seat in
a primary to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a
28-year-old activist, in one of the greatest
political shocks of the year. Ocasio-Cortez
is one of a record number of women
(overwhelmingly Democrats) running
this year, including 11 gubernatorial
nominees for major parties, Sharice
Davids in Kansas, who would be the first
Native American woman elected to
Congress, and Rashida Tlaib, in
Michigan, who'd be the first Muslim
Congresswoman (there is also a record
number of Muslims running). Ocasio-
Cortez is a self-described democratic
socialist, ran on a platform of free
education and health care, ending the
privatising of prisons and the abolition of
ICE - the Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agency responsible for
implementing family separation at the
border. "We have to stick to the message:
'What are we proposing to the American
people?' Not, 'What are we fighting
against?'," she said after her victory.
For now, letting Trump talk every single
day, virtually uninterrupted, appears to be
the official Democratic party game plan.
With three months to go until the midterms
they have proved they can provide
opposition; they have yet to indicate they
are willing to provide an alternative.
Source : Guardian
Saudi-UAE partnership can promote and strengthen the GCC
When the Saudi-UAE
Coordination Council met in
Jeddah in June, it reiterated its
two main goals: Enhancing economic
welfare internally and countering threats
to Gulf and Arab security. It also stressed
that its work is consistent with Gulf
Cooperation Council objectives. Some
critics have raised doubts and I will try to
put those concerns to rest.
Consider the first goal. The two
countries are a formidable pair: They
represent the two largest GCC economies,
and indeed the two largest Arab
economies. Their combined GDP is about
$1.1 trillion, equal to about 70 percent of
GCC GDP and 43 percent of the
combined economies of the 22 members
of the Arab League. By way of
comparison, Saudi-UAE GDP is equal to
50 percent of the combined GDP of the 54
countries of the African continent. The
two countries already have thriving
economies, generous welfare systems,
and ambitious diversification programs.
They have well-educated, mostly young
populations. In partnership, Saudi Arabia
and the UAE could do more to carry out
fundamental transformations from a
dependence on natural resources to more
diversified and viable economies. And
they could do it faster. The Saudi-Emirati
strategic partnership is not just the sum of
the two countries' capabilities but,
through creative synergies, it could
produce more than their arithmetic total
in most areas, including the economy and
security. The first step toward this
In most Asian countries the number of women
employed in agriculture as a percentage of the
economically active population is higher than that of
men. However, women's contribution to agriculture,
which is considered as unpaid family labour, is
grossly underestimated. In fact, if unpaid work were
included, the figures for female employment in
agriculture would be even higher (FAO, 2003).
But while they are down they are by no means out. Trump's
approval ratings are only marginally lower than Barack
Obama's were at this stage in his presidency, and trending up.
The proportion of Americans who think the country is moving
in the right direction is also growing, and is at a considerably
higher level than at this point during Obama's first term.
partnership was taken in Abu Dhabi in
May 2014, when a meeting was held
between Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, who is
also the deputy supreme commander of
the UAE's armed forces, and the late
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-
Faisal. A "joint high committee" was set
up, chaired by the two officials. The two
countries announced their commitment
to confronting regional challenges
"anchored on a strong cohesive
structure," and vowed to "enhance
strategic relations between the two
countries in all areas."
In May 2016, the Saudi-UAE
Coordination Council was set up and its
formation was enshrined into law in the
two countries over the ensuing 18
months. The council is headed by Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman and
Sheikh Mohammed. The first meeting in
Jeddah in June 2018 announced the
establishment of a "strategic partnership"
in all areas. The twin objectives of security
and economic growth were also spelled
out in more detail. On security, the
council aims at achieving full integration
between the two countries, politically and
militarily, to preserve Gulf security and
work toward the security of all Arab
countries. The economic partnership
includes developing a joint vision toward
In May 2016, the Saudi-UAE Coordination Council was set
up and its formation was enshrined into law in the two
countries over the ensuing 18 months. The council is
headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and
Sheikh Mohammed. The first meeting in Jeddah in June
2018 announced the establishment of a "strategic
partnership" in all areas. The twin objectives of security
and economic growth were also spelled out in more detail.
full economic integration, innovative and
optimal use of their resources, and
effective and integrated educational
systems.
Implementation and monitoring
mechanisms were set up and 32
ministers will take part in the
implementation process through various
committees that deal with specific areas
of the partnership.
Despite the two countries stressing that
their partnership derives from the GCC
system and its objectives are consistent
with those of the GCC, some observers
have claimed that the Saudi-UAE
Coordination Council could undermine
the GCC, and even replace it.
But, in fact, the GCC permits the
formation of such bilateral arrangements
and has encouraged them at times. For
practical reasons, the GCC allows its
member states to work in various
formations, not just the six members as a
whole. For example, to speed up
implementation, the GCC power grid
integration started with only four
countries, with the remaining two joining
later. Similarly, when the GCC decided to
drop the use of passports for travel
between member states, the system was
introduced bilaterally first. Also, the GCC
monetary council is now composed of
only four countries.
In 2006, the GCC provided a general
rule for member states to enter into
integration arrangements that go beyond
the minimum benchmark set by the GCC
as a group. In December 2015, the GCC
adopted a new directive that explicitly
encouraged member states to go for
greater integration steps, bilaterally or
multilaterally, that go beyond the
minimum standards set by the GCC. The
rule is that the goals of such integration
steps should be consistent with those of
the GCC and should aim at greater
integration than that provided for by the
GCC when acting in full.
Source : Arab News