Sat 5 Jan 2008
Is the current regime doing a good job? If elections are held immediately, will that help or hurt the country? Who is to blame for the fiasco with our ancient treasures? Should the DU teachers under arrest be freed unconditionally? On these, and many other issues, we debate a lot. And if nothing else, we learn how to conduct such debates in a respectful manner - a desirable end in itself. That all of us spend time here despite hectic daily lives is a testament to our concern for Bangladesh and her people. As such, here is an opportunity for all here. If you have a practicable idea that can improve the lives of low and middle income Bangladeshis, then here is your chance. And there is a cool US$25,000 along the way for you to keep.
The Anwarul Quadir Foundation promotes economic development and social justice in Bangladesh by fostering discussions that may lead to relevant innovations in governance, commerce and technology, contributing to the country’s social and economic progress. In collaboration with Harvard’s Centre for International Development, the Foundation runs an annual essay contest.
The essays asks for an “innovative and practical idea that would improve the lives of low- and middle- income people of Bangladesh (everyone except the top-third of the population in terms of annual income).” Four Harvard University faculty members, in consultation with scholars familiar with Bangladesh, judge giving equal weights to: innovative nature of the idea; clarity and cogency of argument and writing; ease and practicality of implementation; and the size of impact. The prize money, as noted, is US$25,000. The deadline is 30 June. Details at:
http://www.cid.harvard.edu/quadir_prize/index.html
In 2007, the winners were: Saifuddin Ahmded from Dhaka, for suggesting how to improve the productivity of absentee-owned land; and Anastasia Telesetsky of San Fransisco for suggesting the cultivation of moringa leaves in small gardens to improve nutrition.
So dear reader, whatever your ideas are - improving management efficiency of public corporations, or using of IT-based inventory management, or something in public health, or whatever - please write it up.
January 6th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Dear Admin, I would request to open a new topic to cover corruption and illegal activities taking place under current Army backed caretaker government. I had posted earlier a comment with some information, I saw that it was posted, but later it was removed, perhaps there was too much political slogans in that comment. In the following, I will present alleged facts that need to be verified by the public, journalists and relevant authorities as these allegations are serious (for valid reasons I cannot reveal my name, please feel free to edit and post relevant parts from this comment):
Shena Kalyan Sangstha is running illegal voip call termination sites for the last several months using most (upto 80%) of the voip equipment confiscated by Joint Forces. Spare internet bandwidth from the BTTB submarine cable is being used in these sites for free without paying any money to BTTB or Bangladesh govt. Shena Kalyan Sangstha with help from Army backed caretaker govt. has obtained required number of mobile SIMS at a specially discounted rate of Tk. 0.35/minute as compared to Tk. 1.40 charged to general public. The concerned party is essentially extorting the mobile companies to get a share of their profit and this extra expense is probably being passed on to the public. This is not a small matter as it involves tens of millions of dollar every month.
We need thorough investigation for the above allegation and exemplary punishment for the parties involved if the alleged crimes are found to have factual basis. We also encourage the public to come forward and speak bravely and openly about other misdeeds that this Army backed caretaker govt. or other bodies under them are engaged in.
As the above is possible proof that this govt. is proceeding towards Pakistani style army-led direction, where the economy and politics is controlled by the army, then we need to raise the question why election should not be given now to arrest the nation from falling into this vicious cycle.
January 25th, 2008 at 8:18 am
How does VOIP work? People calling Dhaka (say) from the US will be routed thru the phone n internet system and finally thru a mobile ph to their desired destination number?
If it is to be thru the voip i/o the regular land phones, then, are the callers required to call a particular service number/code (in the US) and then make their (long-distance) calls to get the special (discount) rates?
If so, then the special (US) service number and rates are provided by the voip services at both ends (US n BD)? If so, the two voip services must have a service agreement, payments, transaction and transfers?
If so, then these must be an electronic international trace? on the phone system, internet, mobile services as well as the money transfer systems?
If so, then any illegal operations anywhere should be identifiable and therefore prosecutable?