Most Read

Our economic policy

29 December 2005, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Ekram Belal, Look-East Club
29 December 2005, 18:00 PM
We could have taken the road of free economy in 1975 and make a switch to Look-East policy in 1990 but we did not. We are late but we are on the road to bright future due to the adoption of free economy and Look-East policy. The two major parties, the BNP and the Awami League, should and must keep the current economic recovery process going, no matter who wins the next election. We are looking East and following the path of free economy. The world is becoming a one giant soccer field and it is becoming so level that Bangladesh can play against even China.Wal-Mart buys from Dhaka not because they love Bangladesh but because they make more profit when they can buy cheaper goods from Bangladesh.

The countries of the world are interconnected by globalisation. The west needs us to supply cheap goods and also they need us to buy their expensive and technologically superior products. Airbus and Boeing will compete to sell few planes to Biman ( Biman does not have the money yet to buy or lease new planes. Biman can be in private sector and still be the national flag carrier just like Air France and KLM) and it is their imperative to see a strong cash flow from Biman to buy their aircrafts.

Ten years ago once I wrote that external players such as World Bank, Asian Development Bank and foreign investors will dictate our policies. Now we also realise that we have to look East and adopt a free economic policy like our neighbours in the East.

Google News LinkFor all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

When we were students of Dhaka University in the 70s we raised our voice for free economy but nobody gave it a dam. We were just a few then and now we are many. You will get attention from within and from abroad.

Let's connect the dots now and try to make prediction for the future. Here are some news of last one month:

1. Bill Gates in Bangladesh and will help to train teachers and students in Microsoft technology

2. Ted Turner in Bangladesh to observe how micro-credit is shaping the face of Bangladesh.

3. Hilary Benn in Bangladesh to deliver a strong message to Bangladesh business community.

4. ADB proposal for Bangladesh to be the transport hub of the region.

5. Bangladeshi garments are so competitive in the world market that they are not included in LDC privilege quota.

6. Over 2 billion dollars investment from Tata and Vulcan Energy ( By the way Paul Allen is the co-founder of Microsoft).

What else do we need? You name it.