With Yunus, Without Bangladesh

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With Yunus, without Bangladesh

Published : Friday, 19 April 2013 Financial Express Dhaka

Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus speaks during the Congressional Gold Medal presentation ceremony after he received the award on April 17 in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC.

— AFP Photo

Mamun Rashid writes from Washington, DC

The Rotunda Hall at the Capitol at Washington, DC was full with Senators, Congressman and those who really matter in the field of global peace and fight against poverty in late morning of April 17, 2013. Incidentally, one country and a humble man from it Muhammad Yunus were the only focus of all. He made it again to become the seventh person in the world to receive one after another three prestigious awards - Nobel peace prize, presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, approved by two-thirds of the US Congressmen. 

Should we encourage foreign banks in Bangladesh

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Should we encourage foreign banks in Bangladesh

Mamun Rashid

The other day, I was attending a television talk-show on new banks, along with an esteemed legislator and a business leader. Though the legislator and the business leader did differ on many issues, they seemed to be of the same view about not encouraging any more foreign banks to operate in Bangladesh. They thought our banking sector, especially the local banks, have progressed a lot and more importantly, allowing foreign banks would at this mean allowing more profit to be remitted outside the country. Their principal concern, therefore, was over foreign banks making too much of money and a percentage of that going back to their countries of origin. They, especially the business leader, were not too sure about the ultimate 'value addition' by the foreign banks in Bangladesh.

Do we need FDI in Bangladesh?

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Do we need FDI in Bangladesh?

Mamun Rashid  published  12.04.24  FE

Many of the readers may be remembering the big `row' between the then Board of Investment (BOI) boss and an economist from a policy research organisation over the volume of foreign direct investment inflow in Bangladesh in 2006. The debate ended up with serious `below the belt' (dirty, unfair) hitting by both the parties- the BOI chief taking the economist to the dock, more undesirably, with three senior and respected citizens of the country, while the economist tried his best to undermine the social and family standing of the BOI boss, including adding some `communal repression' colour to this, since he was from minority community. The entire episode, `for reasons not explained in public' got three embassies involved into it, ending up with nobody less than the US ambassador playing the emissary role to reconcile and putting an end to the this 'mud slinging'.

Women’s empowerment: Demystifying myths and realities

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Women’s empowerment: Demystifying myths and realities

Published : Wednesday, 13 March 2013  FE

Mamun Rashid

I would give credit to the present government, especially to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for the commitment to -1) appointing an increased number of ladies to senior positions and 2) encouraging IT (information technology) driven solutions, though there could be some debates around this.

I listened minutely to her speech delivered on the occasion of the 'International Women's Day'. Sheikh Hasina said if voted to power next time, she would appoint more women to senior positions of the government.

Apparel sector: A 'laundry list' for next BGMEA leadership

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Apparel sector: A 'laundry list' for next BGMEA leadership

Published : Tuesday, 05 March 2013, FE  

Mamun Rashid

Be it the issue of human resources or industrial relations or labour standards or minimum wage or productivity improvement or safety and security of workers, Bangladesh got to address all issues in its apparel sector in order to maintain its `edge' in the global apparel 'supply chain'.

The country entered the apparel export market in 1978 with only 9 units in operation. During the last three decades this sector has achieved a phenomenal growth, mainly due to dynamism of the private sector entrepreneurs receiving government's policy support. Now the number of RMG units is around 5,000 and the export earnings have exceeded USD 19 billion with 145 countries using 'made in Bangladesh' knit garments and 126 countries using `Bangladesh' woven products. Analysts at home and abroad are convinced- Bangladesh apparel export can be more than doubled by 2020.