13-05-2022

FrIDAY, MAY 13, 2022
4
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Friday, May 13, 2022
Retention of human
resources
Like a parrot every government in Bangladesh has harped on the
theme of developing human resources for economic growth and
development. But nothing is said about the other side of the issue
: the crucial 'retention' of the made human resources for the country's
own use.
In some countries which have been declared already as failed states
like Somali and Sudan with a hopeless future and where even the basics
of survival are found to be in very short supply for well educated or
trained persons, the migration of educated and professionally qualified
persons from them in search of a better life and opportunities may be
justified.
But for well educated professionals in Bangladesh, this country is not
such a wasteland. It offers them-at least in start up cases like junior
doctors and engineers-not so much perks and privileges but gradually
these professionals can expect better income and higher living
standards. Certainly, many of them can point to less job satisfaction or
working conditions and less stimulations at their places of employment.
But all of these things are not very great hurdles to absolutely
demotivate them about Bangladesh and create in their minds the
longings and a sense of desperation to seek employment abroad.
While comparatively less income, non recognition of merit and
insufficient opportunities for research and other things, are usually
cited as the propellers that drive out well educated Bangladeshis and
professionals with the expectation of higher income abroad, the real
reason is transparent greed and self-seeking and the utter lack of any
decent values. We may live in a world where exhortations such as ' ask
not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your
country', such words uttered by one of America's most remembered
President, John F Kennedy, may no more inspire, but surely patriotism
continues to be a factor behind national strength and a sought after
quality even in this age of globalisation
These educated Bangladeshis will not be able to hide their lack of
character and values in most cases in betraying their country in the
most foul manner. They get government subsidized education in many
cases to acquire technical or professional qualifications but instead of
repaying what the get at the taxpayers' expense, they most heartlessly
and insensitively decide to stab their country in the back by settling
abroad and serving foreign masters. The state and the people make
great sacrifices for their education and upkeep but get nothing in return.
Many of them jeer at their countrymen from their overseas homes as
slobs without a future. But their consciences which they do not possess
in the first place, are never pricked by a thought of their criminality in
cheating and betraying the cause of their motherland.
But look at the sharp contrast between these so called educated and
talented Bangladeshis and the great number of Bangladeshis of
uneducated, little educated or humble rural origin who are going abroad
in large number to do menial jobs in most cases. They are a helpful lot
who go abroad with the sole purpose of aiding their families. The
monies they unfailingly send home cushion the country's foreign
exchange reserve, help in the consumption needs of the families they
leave behind or in the education and upbringing of dependents, get
invested in small enterprises and businesses and in the buying of real
properties. Besides, these humble people return home at the end of their
employment with their accumulated earnings.
Thus, the lifestyle and activities of these relatively non affluent ,
uneducated or little educated people, are very approvable because they
help out with employment, bring resources into the country and aid in
the alleviation of poverty at the individual and family levels. The
resources they acquire are generally invested in the country and stays in
it. Nothing can be more useful or patriotic for the country than such
behavior.
What behavior do we see from the well educated professionals or
students from the middle and upper classes who go abroad ? In most
cases of immigration, they sever all ties with the country. As the family
members leave in most cases with immigration, there is no need to send
money back to Bangladesh. Nor is there any intention to do so. On the
plea of the uncertain investment climate in Bangladesh, most of them
also do not attempt any investment of their resources here.
The students who go abroad on completing their education behave
the same like the immigrants. They take up jobs in the foreign countries
and at a later stage are seen bringing their parents and other
dependents into those countries and doing everything to end their
relationship conclusively with Bangladesh. Finally even family homes in
Dhaka and at other places are sold and the money obtained, thus, are
transferred overseas through the illegitimate hundi system from which
the country gains nothing.
So, the moot question is whether such behavior should continue to be
overlooked or casually responded ? If not, then what should be done
about it . According to a recent report in a national daily, the flight of
human resources from Bangladesh has acquired alarming
proportions. Every year about 4 thousand information technologists,
doctors, engineers, teachers, researchers, accountants, etc., are leaving
Bangladesh as immigrants.
The state and the taxpayers had done much for their education and
career but they would be lost forever by the country. Bangladesh would
get ultimately no services or resources from them and increasing
hazards will be faced to fill up their empty ranks here and countrymen
will suffer from yet further reduced services delivery to them from the
thinning number of the professionals to discharge these services.
Of course, government should recognize and do whatever it can
within its limitations such as giving them enhanced salaries, funding for
research and other facilities at work places, to motivate them to remain
in the country. But this writer for one, does not believe that more income
or facilities is the reason for their leaving. It is mainly the very
unpatriotic and very uncaring attitude and complete lack of a sense of
responsibility to the country, which are fueling the brain drain.
Time is more than ripe to make a list of the professionals in the
country and regulate their foreign employment and settlement. At
least, every professional on passing out from a government subsidized
study center, should be required to sign a bond that he or she would stay
and work in the country for a minimum of 10-15 years.
Hard attempts must be made to bring back teachers and others who
left their publicly run institutions with scholarships to foreign
organizations but are overstaying. They should be made to suffer
appropriate penalties for dereliction of their duties.
Of course government can have a policy of producing in its
educational institutions and training centers a 'surplus' of skilled
manpower for overseas jobs after carefully ascertaining the demand in
each sector locally. The surplus can then be sent out under a policy of
exporting skilled persons to earn more. Bur without creating this
surplus first but recklessly sending out en masse the skilled workers
means creating their fatal dearth for home employment and its
consequent adverse results.
Why Bangladesh is being called a 'donor country' now?
The subject of 'why Bangladesh is being
called a 'donor country now' has been
raised. Bangladesh celebrates its 51th
year as a sovereign nation in South Asia in
2022. It inherited a devastated economy and
a fully destroyed infrastructure after a fullfledged
independence war. Bangladesh's
phenomenal economic growth and
achievements were discussed globally as it
commemorated its 51th founding
anniversary. Bangladesh, on the other hand,
inherited a shaky economy when it was
founded in 1971. Bangladesh was been
described as a "bottomless basket" by US
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.Many
economists and world leaders regarded it as
a hopeless economic disaster. Nobody
thought it could make it as an independent
country economically. The phoenix
emerging from the ashes has amazed and
charmed the world today.
Medical support to Sri Lanka
At a simple ceremony held at the State
Guest House Padma in Dhaka this week, the
government of Bangladesh gave muchneeded
medical supplies to the people of Sri
Lanka at the request of the Sri Lankan
government. The emergency medical
supplies provided have a total value of BDT
200 million ($ 2.32 million).
Bangladesh's recent medical and financial
aid to Sri Lanka improves the country's
image and standing. Bangladesh was once a
"bottomless hole" in need of aid. It is now
both a donor and a lender. It demonstrates
how all South Asian countries can rise from
the ashes.
Bangladesh has the honor of standing by
Sri Lanka in every way it can during times of
distress as a friend and neighbor.
In this regard, a ceremony was organized
on Thursday at the State Guest House,
during which Foreign Minister Dr. A.K.
Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid
Maleque presented Prof Sudharshan D.S.
Seneviratne with a few cartons of
pharmaceuticals as a gesture.
Bangladesh has not been seen as a source
of financial aid to other countries in the past.
But, during the last two decades, the country
has effectively transformed from a poor
country to the economic powerhouse it is
today, but Dhaka had to travel a long way to
get there. The country routinely
outperformed India and Pakistan in terms
of exports, particularly in the clothing
New EU-China strategy made in Washington
In a pretty surprising move, on
September 16, the European Parliament
published a resolution on a new EU-
China strategy. This 18-page document,
which mentions "China" more tha 160
times, was released immediately after US
President Joe Biden, along with his faithful
Anglo-Saxon brethren from Australia
(Prime Minister Scott Morrison) and Britain
(Prime Minister Boris Johnson), struck a
new Cold War-like deal, commonly known
as "AUKUS." Why surprising?
What both developments have in
common is that they aim to boost Western
powers' presence in the Indo-Pacific region
in an effort to counter China's rise.
Setting the stage for 'la grande gaffe'
Either someone was really quick and
prepared the EU resolution overnight
(which is impossible), or it was already
waiting in the queue to be spectacularly,
with theatrical dramaturgy, announced once
the main perpetrators of the anti-China
foray finished their leadership bit so that
Europe could go ahead and follow.
"We must survive on our own, as others
do," the EU's foreign-policy chief Josep
Borrell said during the announcement of the
bloc's grand strategy for the Indo-Pacific
region, recalling French President
Emmanuel Macron's "strategic autonomy"
mantra.
Borrell also referred to the Naval Group's
loss of a US$40 billion contract canceled by
Prime Minister Morrison favoring nuclearpowered
submarines built with US knowhow.
"I understand the extent to which the
French government must be disappointed,"
the diplomat concluded.
The EU's chairman, Charles Michel,
further asserted that AUKUS "demonstrates
the need for a common EU approach in a
region of strategic interest."
So what exactly is the EU's "strategic
interest" in the Indo-Pacific region, and
what "common approach" does it want to
embrace to achieve it?
Reviving Yellow Peril narrative
"China is asserting a stronger global role
both as an economic power and as foreignpolicy
actor, which poses serious political,
economic, security and technological
challenges to the EU, which in turn has
significant and long-lasting consequences
for the world order, and poses serious
threats to rules-based multilateralism and
core democratic values," we can read under
Point B of the resolution.
The Point C of the document expresses
regret over China's one-party system and
the Communist Party of China's
commitment to Marxism-Leninism, which,
allegedly, precludes it from embracing
industry. The country is hailed as a South
Asian development model, similar to South
Korea, China, and Vietnam, all of which
have prospered thanks to export-led
economic strategies. As a result, its economy
has literally pulled itself up by the bootstraps
and will be the fastest growing in South Asia
by 2020. Now the country is being called 'a
donor country'.
Amazing story
How is it that Bangladesh continues to
astonish us? Exports, social advancement,
and economic foresight, according to
economists, are some of the reasons behind
this. Three other aspects must be
considered: sympathy, economic
diplomacy, and political will.
When Bangladesh offered Colombo $200
million in aid, the Sri Lankan media
remarked, "If Dhaka can be self-sufficient,
why can't we?"
Bangladesh gave Sudan 65 crore taka in
June to relieve the IMF's debt burden. The
IMF loaned the government Rs 510,000
crore taka. The country's economic situation
was so severe that it was unable to service its
debt.The government of Bangladesh thinks
that the investment will help Sudan battle
poverty.
Financial support to Sudan, Somalia, and
Sri Lanka
Somalia, another African country,
received more than 80 million takas from
Bangladesh.
This was also for the purpose of repaying
an IMF loan.
Sudan is a debt-ridden and impoverished
country.
Bangladesh has stated that it will assist Sri
Lanka in every way feasible to help the
island nation overcome its greatest
economic crisis since independence in 1948.
Bangladesh promised humanitarian
assistance to the Afghan people in
December 2021, while also expressing
"democratic values such as individual
freedom, freedom of speech and freedom of
religion," as it takes place in more civilized
parts of the world like Europe and the US.
The core part of the resolution relates to
the recommendation provided to the vicepresident
of the commission / high
representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and the
Council on the importance of developing "a
more assertive, comprehensive and
consistent EU-China strategy that unites all
Member States and shapes relations with
China in the interest of the EU as a whole,"
which can be found under Article 1 (a).
Each pillar is rich in multiple articles, so I
will pay attention only to the most important
ones.
While it has to be admitted that some of
the pillars do have merit in advocating for
much-needed cooperation on "preventing
Afghanistan from becoming a new terrorist
base and discouraging North Korea from
continuing its nuclear program," or tackling
issues like the environment and climate
change, the economic recovery after the
pandemic, and the fight against global
health crises, it has to be admitted that the
overall tone is highly condescending, not to
say neocolonial.
Divide et impera 2.0
Among several complaints and
outrageous demands, we can see the
ongoing pattern of applying what Antony
Anghie, a professor at the National
University of Singapore Faculty of Law and
secretary general of the Asian Society of
International Law, calls the "dynamic of
difference."
In this case, we are dealing with the
"difference" between civilized democratic
European values and non-European
communist authoritarian values, with
human rights being portrayed as the crux of
the matter.
While human rights are the most precious
reward being obtained by the formally
colonized world during the ongoing struggle
with the Western colonial powers, in this
document, according to Oxford University
political theorist Jeanne Morefield's article
"When neoliberalism hijacked human
FuMIKo YAMADA
ADrIEL KASonTA
serious worry about the country's economic
and humanitarian problems.
Food and medical aid have been
announced by the country.
Bangladesh has previously demonstrated
its humanitarian ideals by cordially
welcoming about 1.1 million Myanmarese
Rohingya refugees.
Despite several diplomatic efforts, the
repatriation of Rohingyas has taken a long
time.
Taking in refugees
Despite the significant strain on the
economy, food management, limited
In this regard, a ceremony was organized on Thursday at
the State Guest House, during which Foreign Minister Dr.
A.K. Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque
presented Prof Sudharshan D.S. Seneviratne with a few
cartons of pharmaceuticals as a gesture.
resources, and other situations, Bangladesh
continues to generously welcome the
world's largest and expanding refugee
community.The question now is: if
Bangladesh can be self-sufficient, a donor, a
lender, and a South Asian economic miracle,
why can't others? Bangladesh can teach
South Asia a lot.
Bangladesh's transitionsfrom
internationalbeggar country to a donor
country
Leadership, creativity, planning, and
ownership are some aspects that helped
Bangladesh turn from an "international
beggar" to an "economically vibrant
country.Bangladeshi people have innovative
and creative skills, as evidenced by increased
garment exports, overseas remittances,
population control, higher literacy rates,
poverty alleviation, and women
empowerment.Bangladesh's administration
is focused on the economy, governance, and
social and human development.
The world has been surprised by this tiny
country's meteoric rise and economic
progress. Economists and political leaders
around the world are astonished, and this
remarkable progress and development
strategy is now being closely monitored.
Some countries are considering
implementing the Bangladesh development
rights" published in Jacobin magazine on
May 1, 2020, they serve as "a weapon to be
used against anti-colonial projects" like, for
example, the Belt and Road Initiative.
It is worth mentioning that Brussels
perceives the BRI as a "threat stemming
from China," among other initiatives like the
"dual circulation strategy, 14th Five Year
Plan, and Made in China 2025, China
Standards 2035 and 16+1 policies, including
The Point C of the document expresses regret over China's one-party system
and the Communist Party of China's commitment to Marxism-Leninism,
which, allegedly, precludes it from embracing "democratic values such as
individual freedom, freedom of speech and freedom of religion," as it takes
place in more civilized parts of the world like Europe and the uS.
its military modernization and capacity
buildup" - as we can read under Article 22 of
the resolution.
"We want to create links and not
dependencies," said Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen while promoting the
"Global Gateway" project aimed at
competing with the BRI. "We want to create
links and not dependencies," she continued
with a jab aimed at Beijing.
"We are good at financing roads. But it
does not make sense for Europe to build a
perfect road between a Chinese-owned
copper mine and a Chinese-owned harbor.
We have to get smarter when it comes to
these kinds of investments," von der Leyen
concluded, adding that priority would be
given to connectivity endeavors expected to
be discussed at a regional summit next
February.
Her comments fit the narrative of an
ongoing smear campaign accusing China of
practicing "debt-trap diplomacy," which for
those familiar with the subject is nothing
more than a "meme" invented by Indian
propaganda in 2017, as Deborah Bräutigam,
the Bernard L Schwartz Professor in
International Political Economy and
director of the China Africa Research
Initiative at Johns Hopkins University's
School of Advanced International Studies
(SAIS), argues in an article published in the
journal Area Development and Policy on
December 9, 2019.
To put it simply, "The Chinese 'debt trap'
is a myth," as an op-ed in The Atlantic
magazine co-authored by Bräutigam with
Meg Rithmire, F Warren McFarlan
Associate Professor at Harvard Business
School, puts it.
Human rights and convenient double
standard
model in their own countries.Many of the
world's best economists have now urged all
developing countries to adopt and
implement the Bangladesh model for
economic growth, advancement, and
development.
Covid-19 aid to India, Indonesia
On Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's
orders, the Bangladesh government sent the
delivery of medicines to Indonesia in its fight
against the Covid-19 outbreak in
2021.Bangladesh is one of the 40 countries
that has supplied Covid relief aid to India
twice as the country fights the second wave
of the tsunami.
Prior to these aids to India and Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh has been seen to stand with
other countries in providing humanitarian
support.
Bangladesh is committed to treating its
neighbors with respect and reaching out to
those who require assistance. Bangladesh
has begun to display its economic progress
and utilize it to forge deeper ties with
neighbors, from giving India with Covid
relief goods to extending financial aid to Sri
Lanka in its hour of distress.
Announcing humanitarian aid for Afghan
people
During the 17th Extraordinary Session of
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers on
Afghanistan, held in Pakistan in 2021,
Bangladesh announced the relief packages.
Prabir De, a professor at the Research and
Information System for Developing
Countries (RIS), has remarked that
"Bangladesh is the new Royal Bengal Tiger
of Asia" in reference to Bangladesh's
emergence as a donor state. John Rozario,
India based researcher said that
Bangladesh's transitions from aid seeker to
aid provider is really praiseworthy! Thus,
Bangladesh's transitions from international
aid seeker to a donor country is governance
lessons for others.
The author, Fumiko Yamada specializes
in 'Bangladesh Affairs'. She is a research
fellow in 'Bangladesh Studies' at the
'University of Melbourne', Australia. She is
a graduate of South Asian Studies,
University of Toronto, Canada. She can be
contacted at fuyamada14@gmail.com
Moving further with its weaponization of
human rights, the entity that
"underdeveloped Africa" in the first place, to
recall Walter Rodney's famous book of the
same title, the resolution also calls for "the
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
to launch independent legal investigations
into alleged genocide, alleged crimes against
humanity and human-rights violations,
including forced-labor programs taking
place in several regions in China," namely
Xinjiang.
While the White Savior complex visibly
emanates from almost every point of this
neocolonial resolution, Europe, which
pledges to seek a separate trade deal with
Taiwan, wants to meddle in Hong Kong's
internal affairs (a clear departure from the
"one China" policy) and deploy (no matter
how cynical that may sound, bearing in
mind its naval potential) more ships in the
South China Sea to keep the rising non-
Caucasian power in check, demands from
China to put "the principle of reciprocity at
its core" when it comes to their bilateral
trade and investment relationship.
But this "Western political concept … is a
non-starter," to quote a Hong Kong-based
private investor from France, David
Baverez, whom I interviewed for Asia Times
in March.
"If I am Chinese, how can you offer me
reciprocity when I open to you a market of
1.4 billion consumers?" Baverez asked.
Doomsday Clock is still ticking
Despite allegedly seeking "strategic
autonomy" grandeur, the EU insists on a
policy "to develop and promote an
ambitious and dynamic trans-Atlantic
relationship with the US government, based
on our shared history, values and interests,
in the framework of a Transatlantic
Dialogue on China."
What that means in practice is that
Brussels not only wishes to align its foreign
policy toward Beijing with that of the US in
an attempt to support its quest to maintain
global hegemony but, in doing so,
dangerously exaggerates any potential
threat that may emanate from China and its
political system.
Being driven by trade and economic
motives, Europe tries to justify Western
expansion and its alleged moral dominance
by starting a new "civilizing mission," yet
this time aimed at the Chinese communist
barbarians, whose wealth is so tempting but
whose mere existence is despised.
Adriel Kasonta is a London-based foreign
affairs analyst and commentator, and
founder of AK Consultancy. You can follow
him on Twitter @Adriel_Kasonta