CTG 2007-2008
Former Chief Adviser of the caretaker government of 1996, Justice Habibur Rahman, has given second class pass marks to the present caretaker government and he is ready to give first class after the government is able to hold fair, free and transparent national elections. There is no doubt that this is the best government which we had so far in Bangladesh. We had another good government of Justice Abdus Sattar. Ershad toppled his elected government and pushed the country into darkness for a period of 24 years.
The present government is trying to tackle the food problem caused by two successive floods and a severe cyclone. I suggest that grains, fruits and vegetables be transported by railway wagons attached to the passenger trains. This will not only reduce the cost and time of transportation but also generate additional income for the railways. Measures must be taken against the hoarders and profiteers engaged in the trading of food items.
The present government has eleven months at its disposal to implement the following programmes. A. Chittagong-Cox's Bazar fiber optic aerial route may be completed on a priority basis. B. Subject to the terms of PSA with foreign oil and gas companies all onshore gas exploration must be undertaken by BAPEX only. C. Tenders may be called for offshore gas exploration with mandatory provision of technology transfer to BAPEX. D. Persistent efforts must be made to reduce our banks' rate of interest to bring it at par with that of India.
E. Monopoly rights of the forest department must be abolished in teak plantation and trading,(India did it long back and is now reaping a good harvest).F. Borrow genetic technology from India or from WHO/FAO to control rat population in Chittagong Hill Tracts following the flowering of bamboo trees. G. Do not hurry to lease our coal mines till the technology is discovered to transform coal into methane.(The discovery is now a matter of time only). H. Following the crash of the Dhaka Stock Exchange in 1996, a case was filed in the court against the manipulators. Our learned High Court stopped the proceedings of the case for a period of ten years. The period is now over. The case must be revived to bring the manipulators to justice. A repetition of the incident (crash) must be averted.
Please do not relent in the struggle against the thugs and thieves who have looted our national exchequer. You have the support of the silent majority.
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