Opinion
Vegetarian Excuses!
The Bangladeshi agricultural scientists are valiantly trying to be in the limelight. As reported in the media from time to time, they have succeeded in producing better HYV rice; and are not at sea when it comes to penetrating the mysteries of hybrid or genetic seeds whose RNA or DNA have been willfully tampered (it is too technical for this writer). Foreign imported patented seeds observe FP (family-planning) and sprout only once. It is a good example in 'over-populated' countries.
Over-populated means the natural environment can support but human administration and governance cannot, as the cynics would point out. Black money is ever surplus, but the majority of the honest are not well off financially or economically; only God knows why.
The production of corn has increased, but the local corn oil for cooking is not seen in the market (the shopkeepers do not know about it), and offer the well-known international brand (Mazola) at Banani prices. The authority is silent about the marketing aspects. The market is flooded with soybean oil, but the impure grades are over-flooded (the Inspectors are well-oiled perhaps). Hundreds of fishing and poultry farms have sprung up, so have the prices. Vehicular traffic has 'developed' to eye-sore level, but the policing is poor, (army brought in to fill the gap). We are living in a contradictory world.
Tomatoes are said to be grown round the year, but the vendors deny all knowledge about it, and the prices rocket up during the off-season. There is plenty of honey in the country, but what is sold in the market are mostly adulterated. The local sour grapes are passed off as imported ones, at double the legitimate prices.
The products are there but the marketing is poor due to lax monitoring. The government is sadly unable to do business itself, nor monitor it to the consumers' satisfaction. QCC or quality control culture is alien in this part of the world. Adulteration and black-marketing are invisible to the regulatory agencies. The latter must be getting inspiration from high sources (it cannot be 'inferior sources') for adopting such a philosophical attitude towards prosecution. Consumer-service is an unknown practice in this country; even the popular ministers so not talk about it.
If it is too narrow a service to be taken into notice, expand it to include basic services to the citizens and voters in 101 different areas. Traffic rules come to mind, as also the boom in the field of education, talking of private schools and coaching centres and note-books. The private medical services (highly 'clinical'!) are bursting at the seams, but only one per cent of the patients can afford the expenses (the public hospitals are having garbage disposal problems, even with imported apparatus). The property and estate sector is suffering from more supply than demand; and money is circulating in the wrong channels; the legitimate channels having silted). The DSE is full of humility, and is keeping a very low profile (austerity exercises?). The river banks are shifting, and some professions are taking the cue from such practice. Erosion (of values) has become a way of life.
Goods and services are available, but not at 'popular' prices. Who are denying that the government is not a popularly elected one? So what? This type of letter to the editor should not appear in the press!
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