Business scene
When I get the morning newspaper, I turn to the Business Page for new developments in new products, and opening of new export markets; the challenges before the SMEs. Without entrenched corrupt practices at almost all vertical and horizontal levels, today we could have easily reached the base level of a newly developing country. Our workers are hard working and sincere, but the godfathers have no fear of God!
Our human resources are not a problem, but an asset, but our vocational training schools are far short of requirement, especially in the rural areas and small towns.
One glaring example: our furniture sector has no institutional base: no formal and theoretical training; the apprentices learn from the semi literate ustads; and QC [quality control] is abysmal. Some of the wooden furniture I purchased in Dhaka 17 years ago were eaten up by white ants; and I lost quite a number of my home library books kept on these local bookshelves. Now synthetic boards of various types have come up, which are treated chemically, but the prices are high for the students, while the manufacturers concentrate on 'luxury items', and some are falsely branded as imported items! There should be DIY kits (do-it-yourself) cheaper kits for the students, who could assemble their own furniture from standard packages, [I assembled abroad my plywood bookshelves--much cheaper].
Now it is good news to read that the authorities have decided to set up furniture villages at different points in the country. Considering the huge population density in Bangladesh, the number of vocational centres for primary and school-level students is far too low to tap the natural resources of the country. We can produce a huge number of mechanics, technicians and craftsmen/women, equipped with proper qualification certificates in many fields in the cottage and small industries sectors.
The point is that the small informal sectors should not be ignored (such as leather goods). But monitoring has to be widespread, and the inspection has to be honed. Here comes in E-governance. We are waiting for the fabulous $100 student computer. The price of solar cell units have to be reduced for the LDCs. Consider the tremendous social impact of cell/mobile phones in Bangladesh--who doesn't have it: the kajer bua, the rickshaw driver, the student, and the fisherman. [A few days ago I noticed how a shopkeeper in the bazaar drove away a female beggar pestering the shoppers, with the sly remark 'He [identified him] wants your mobile number'. She fled instantly!]
The black market could be controlled using the mobile phone. The cell phone has its evil offspring; but the authorities have to be IT oriented; discarding imperialistic bureaucratic practices, [remember the name Writer's Building in British Calcutta? Keep the natives busy with pen in hand, while the decisions are taken over whiskey and soda at the club!
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