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dinajpurbd – bd.economic indicators 2011

Dinajpur is a land of opportunity- economy PDF

With the start of the much hyped election campaign all candidates offering everything possible if they are elected. This is while natural, we should also encourage them to be realistic and promise what they can really deliver once elected.

Voters, this scribe also considers, should bear a kind of responsibility to express and ask for what is mainly required for their area’s development.

DIANPUR VOTE FOR YOUR DREAM CANDIDATE

With the start of the much hyped election campaign all candidates offering everything possible if they are elected. This is while natural, we should also encourage them to be realistic and promise what they can really deliver once elected.

Voters, this scribe also considers, should bear a kind of responsibility to express and ask for what is mainly required for their area’s development.

Few hundred constituencies in a small country like Bangladesh have dynamic needs as well as prospects. Once these are pragmatically identified, structured and campaign for voters expectations will rise accordingly no matter which candidate they pin their hope on its implementations..

What is important here, all effort should derived from the common goal of manifesting the expectation as common hope.

Mid December is past, winter did not arrive in Dinajpur with its usual shiver. The temperature used to be around 2 to 15 degree Celsius but this year it is much wormer. Weather become a global issue but its relevance with the tiny populace here beyond the scope of this write up.

However, Dinajpur attracts global attention of the energy companies. Blood and lives were given to establish legitimate rights on what is underneath our rice fields or bed rooms. There is no time to loose to bring up the hope of those killed.

With the history of famous aromatic rice, juicy lichy, mango and emerging tea industry it attracts more attention than any time before.

Considering the potentials the District (greater Dinajpur) if adequately financed, properly trained and effectively managed can provide more than 25 percent of national energy need, 20 % of its food basket, a sizeable portion in the export basket through tea export and a trained human capital for nation building.

What is required is a perspective economic and social development plans with its medium and long term goals. Among all the contenders who can focus on the prospects of this district in a manner would appear pragmatic and promising more voters will be attracted to him.

Following issues are highlighted here :

1.  Education

• Haji Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur Medical, College, Dinajpur Government College, Dinajpur polytechnic, BKSP, Vocational Training Institute, there should be fresh commitments for these institutions to bring them up to the national level to impart quality education, research and training to support local and national needs.
• With the new infrastructure and capacity building Government College, Polytechnic and Vocational training institutes should be upgraded within next three yea.
• All vacant teachers and technicians positions should be filled within 6 months from the first parliamentary session in all main colleges and high schools.
• Computer Training (IT) section in the Polytechnic should be included under the revenue budget and strengthen further- within 6 months.
• Capacity of vocational training should be doubled within one year with new lease of quality.
• All high schools and Primary schools performance and quality of classrooms should be monitored under a national and local initiative.
• Technology University should open a faculty on mining and minerals and Dinajpur Polytechnic should offer mining oriented courses.
• Government’s free education policies should be made effective so that all youths have a basic but quality education and training to take part in nation building to eradicate poverty.
• Literacy rate should be increased by another 5 to 10 percent within next five years with the slogan ‘Education for poverty eradication’.
• Public Libraries should get more funding and ‘Reading Books for Better Future’ program should be initiated. This is done to rid off the curse of illiteracy and poverty.

2. Energy Sectors

• Coal policy should be finalised within 7 months of the next elected government with a high priority.
• All Coal mines should be developed considering the greater benefits for the people around the mine fields and the country, within next two years.
• Madhya para and Boropukuria mining and electricity generation plants should be made more efficient.
• Fulbari coal mine and all prospective minerals in the districts should be put on development planning within next two years.
• Considering the sacrifice made by the people of coal mining area a special allocation from existing generation within the next irrigation period should be made.
• A dedicated  separate generation (at least 75 MW) plant should be installed within next 3 years to support the SME and irrigation in greater Dinajpur from its coal.
• Policies should be formulated to benefit local brick kiln, foundry and SME from local coal, rock, sand and electricity with a rebate on their purchases.
• All coal fired plants should be fitted with devices that lessens the pollutants.
• Contribution to national economy through energy production should be increased by another 15 percent within next 10 years.
• A complete overhaul of Grid Dristribution Plant at 10 (dosh) mile to utilised its installed capacity of 60MW.

3. Water resources

• Courses of Punarbhaba, Korotoa/Atrai and Kanchan rivers should be looked into and where possible reservoir should be developed to augment their flows and the surface irrigation. Doubling of irrigation acreage within next five years mainly from the surface resources.
• Ramsagar, Sukhsagar, Matasagar, Ananda Sagar and other big tanks should be developed (may be in partnership with private partnership) to increase irrigation to save the underground water level.
• Ways should be found to contain annual average rainfall of more than 2,500mm to protect the environment and provide cheap irrigation for agriculture.
• People should be made aware that environmental disaster is looming large in this populace and a corrective action plan should be initiated immediately.
• A million of sapling plantation(timber or fruit trees) within next 5 years should be initiated along with efficient water resource management.

4. Agriculture

• Agriculture being the main occupation, all efforts should be made to increase agriculture production and given a brand name for Dinajpur.
• Katharivog should be branded for Dinajpur, its production and marketing should be supported.
• Liches and mango production, preservation and marketing should be supported.
• The tea industry and its plantation should get further boost with fresh injection of capital and favourable policy to sustain its prospect.
• Local Agriculture Extension Department and RDRS should be expanded in terms of its capacity and strength to support the local agriculture from Tetulia to Birampur.
• Sugar mills should be put under new management to sustain an augmented production.

5. Health

• Sadar Hospital, Heart Foundation, Diabetic Hospitals should be given fresh injection of funding to upgrade their capacities and services.

• The charge hands, technicians, lab assistants and nurses should be trained in the above hospitals to provide better and efficient services.

• All health complexes and tertiary health providers should be placed under a national and local monitoring system.
• Sewage, and drinking water system should be facilitated either under local municipalities or with private partnership.
• Civic and general cleanliness drives should be made involving health care and sanitation staff, students, teachers and recidence.
• A general sense of basic hygiene and all important vaccination drive should be made effective through national and local programs.

6. Tourism

• Fresh effort should be made to attract more tourists to this district.
• Kantaji’s Temple, Rajbari, Ramsagar, Gour Gabindha, Baraduary, Aowkora (echoing) mosque, Shapnopuri should be included in the national tourist guide.
• Parbatipur Railway Junctions, Dinajpur Railway station should be enhanced with new capacity for effective and easy communication and logistic.
• High speed trains should be made available to Dhaka and Khulna for pessangers and goods.
• Parbatipur to Panchagarh rail truck should be overhauled for fast train service.
• Fulbari bridge (remain unfinished for last 4 years) should be completed within next 6 months as a priority project.

7.   Economy

A perspective plan should be put in place to increase the overall economic activity to impact upon its 4 million diverse population keeping its heritage and beliefs.

All the programs that are outlined above can not and would not be implemented unless a comprehensive planning process is initiated and equally supported with budgetary allocation year on basis. Yet, this can not be adequate unless , considering the economic status(just little above the lowest per capita income districts) and unique prospects, a substantial financial package with a specific fund and with supportive policies is initiated. Main features of the package may be as follows :

• A minimum of 500 million taka fund should be granted initially with incremental increase year on basis.

• This fund will mainly support private initiative or venture capital on programs in education, skill training, agriculture, SME, tourism, health, Banking and Financial services. This package should come with special characteristics to make it effective, these may be outlines as follows
• All new and existing initiative have easy access to the fund.
• Terms and conditions are simple
• Mark up charge is minimum – less or equal to DIBOR or BB’s interbank rate.
• This should support the equity – machinery and equipment, and current capital.
• All reputed banks local branches should be given the funds.
• A rebate is given as incentive for timely pay back and good performers.
• Special tariff (as a claimable discount) on capital machinery and equipment purchases, whether or not purchaged under this fund, should be given.
• Full financial package put under direct supervision of Bangladesh

Bank and a half yearly performance is made public.

Call for attention

Should the people of greater Dinajpur aspire the prospects and potentials of greater Dijanpur and vote for right candidates, within their tenure 5000 vocationally trained carpentars, masons, electricians, hardware technicians; 10,000 better trained diploma engineers, 10,000 doctors and scientists, 20,000 college graduates equipped with new vision, one millon tons of cereals, 100 tons of mangoes and lichy, doubling of tea productions, more primary and secondary goods, an investment of around 5000 billion taka (includes mine, power plants and tea industry) would be available for local and national economy. All these will transpire to half a million new jobs and a per capita income increase of additional 500 taka.

This scribe sees no reason why the voters shouldn’t vote for the candidates who would proved to be with their aspiration and dream.

Mostagousul Haque Mukul

20.12.2008

Patuakhali edges Rangpur as country’s poorest region

Courtesy – Financial Express

Shakhawat Hossain

Patuakhali and Barguna are the most poverty-stricken districts in the country, as 69.2 per cent people in the Southern districts are absolute poor and have to live on less than 2122 kilo calorie a day, a Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) study said.

Although greater Rangpur has long been considered as the poorest region in the country, the latest estimates by the BBS put the two coastal districts at the top of the poverty list, a senior bureau official said quoting the study.

The BBS said people living in Kalapara, Baufal, Galachipa, Mirzapur, Dasmina, Dumki, Amtali, Bamna, Betagi and Patharghata upazilas of the two districts eat less than 2122 kilo calorie per day.

People taking less than 2122 kilo calorie a day are absolute poor and less than 1805 kilo calorie are extreme poor, according to the government yardstick on poverty.

Jamalpur and Bandarban are found to be the second and third most poverty hit districts where 62.6 per cent and 60.7 per cent people are absolute poor and are unable to meet daily basic needs like food, education and medicare.

Contrary to the popular belief, people in greater Rangpur districts are now better off, with five districts in the region—Gaibandha, Kurigram, Rangpur, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat— jointly occupying the fourth position in the new poverty ladder.

Some 57.4 per cent people in the five districts are estimated to be absolute poor, according to the BBS.

People in the Rangpur region make headlines all the time because of the Monga — a near famine situation in October and November — and concerted campaigns by non-government organisations and local newsmen, the official said.

“But their fate has changed a lot in the recent years. Rangpur region has been benefited greatly by dry season irrigation facility. They can now farm three crops a day including the Boro in late winter,” he said.

But people in the Southern region, who mostly live on fishing and farming, could grow rice crop only in the rainy season, he added.

Besides the communication facility is now far better in Northern region thanks largely to the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge and huge investment in road network.

“Communication is playing a key role in helping northern people come out of poverty very fast,” the BBS official said.

Sarishabari, Melandah, Madarganj, Islampur, Dewanganj and Boxiganj the main poverty-prone sub-districts in Jamalpur while Royanchari, Thanchi, Ruma, Lama, Ali Kadam and Naikhanchari are poorest in Bandanban district.

Naogoan, Natore, Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi complete the list of the most poverty prone districts in the latest BBS survey. The percentage of poor people in the region is 44.6 per cent.

The BBS prepared the list after requests from the finance and planning ministry, which needs latest poverty data to devise development projects to address growing regional disparity in the country.