Politics of gobbling up everything
The present government seems determined to create one crisis after another for themselves. On the pretext of taking over a bank-looter company, the authorities now propose to amend the Companies Act. With such amendment the government can take over any business enterprise with impunity. Even courts of law would have little to do against it. As the first reports were published, the business community was shocked. They registered serious protests against the government move.
Public memory in Bangladesh is proverbially short and we have learnt nothing from history. We may recall that ruling party, in its first stint in power had gone for a spate of nationalization and taking over of financial institutions, the media, the industries and even small private businesses in 1971-75 period. Administrators in droves, committees, down to individuals were appointed to run them. This actually turned out to be a scheme for the 'legalized looting' of running businesses to provide the chamchas, camp-followers, etc. Within a short while, everything in sight was gobbled up. There is no trace of the flourishing private businesses of the Adamjees, Bawanys, Amins, Dadas, Adams and thousands of large, medium and small industries and businesses today.
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