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Traffic jam is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is
characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queue. The
most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is
great enough that the interaction between vehicles slows the speed of the traffic stream,
congestion is incurred. As demand approaches the capacity of a road (or of the
intersections along the road), extreme traffic congestion sets in. When vehicles are fully
stopped for periods of time, this is colloquially known as a traffic jam.
What are the causes lie behind traffic jam:
There are various causes of traffic jam such as:
There are more private cars than any other vehicles, which is one of the main reasons.
The numbers of old transportation are still in Dhaka city. They are illegal. They don’t
have their fitness. But they are still running in the Dhaka city.
Besides there are big buses for highway travels. But now a day those buses also enter in
the city in day time and occurring heavy traffic jam.
Illegal parking is one reason for traffic jam. Cars, trucks and other vehicles are parked almost everywhere.
Faulty traffic signaling systems, inadequate manpower and narrow road spaces and overtaking tendency of
drivers create pro-longed traffic congestions. There are bus terminals not authorized by the traffic
department and drivers do not go by traffic rules. VIP protocol maintaining is another reason for frequent
traffic jams in the streets and divider problem in the city’s different important roads also causes congestion.
Eventually In order to have a smooth city transportation system we think Dhaka City Corporation should
consider expanding its public transport fleet-buses and double deckers. It has been proved very profitable in
cities like London and Moscow. As Dhaka has introduced lane system, it should also consider allocating a
tiny lane for Bicycles and it should launch a campaign to make it popular. If people start using bicycle for
commuting short distances, this can hugely reduce pressure on buses, taxies and rickshaws. Besides this,
cycling is good for environment as well as it can keep the city dwellers fit.
In August 2010, the Government of Bangladesh issued the Policy and Strategy for Public
Private Partnership (PPP) to facilitate the development of core sector public infrastructure
and services vital for the people of Bangladesh. The PPP program is part of the
Government's Vision 2021 goal to ensure a more rapid, inclusive growth trajectory, and
to better meet the need for enhanced, high quality public services in a fiscally sustainable
manner. Under this new national policy, the PPP Office was established as a separate,
autonomous office under the Prime Minister's Office to support sector line ministries to
facilitate identification, development and tendering of PPP projects to international
standards. A PPP Unit under the Ministry of Finance was established to foster an
environment of fiscal responsibility and sustainability in PPP projects.
The Policy and Strategy for Public-Private Partnership covers vital sectors of the
economy where the PPP construct will be applied in support of national development
objectives:*Roads and highways*Mass-
transit*Railways*Ports*Airports*Electricity*Tourism*Irrigation and agricultural
services*Industrial estates*Water supply and distribution*Wastewater
management*Waste management*Information and communications technology*Land
reclamation and dredging*Oil and gas down stream production*Mineral
resources*Health*Education*Public facilities, social infrastructure and other social
services*Other urban, municipal and rural projects that the Government views as priority
areas for development.
1. Good leadership
2. Moral firmness and anti-corruption
3. Supremacy of constitution and judicial system
4. Proper implementation of the rules of law
5. A neutrally elected parliament
6. Legality of the formation of the government
7. Accountability of the government to the parliament
8. Transparent and accountable administration
9. Decentralization of power
10. Relationship between the government and the opposition
11. Relationship between the government and the public
12. Relationship between Civil administration and military administration
13. Establishment of fundamental rights and human rights
14. Security of lives and properties of the public
15. Freedom of the Press
16. Freedom of speech and politics
17. Freedom of media
18. Participation of the people
19. Farsighted economic and foreign policy
20. Socioeconomic development
21. Development of education and healthcare
22. Environment protection and sustainable development
23. Exploration & utilization of natural resources for economic growth
24. Poverty reduction and human resource development
Sad but true, these indicators are quite absent in the governance of Bangladesh. Due to
the crisis of good leadership, our country became ‘champion’ in corruption consecutively
for five times. The supremacy of constitution was raped by the military government in
1975 and its validity is questioned due to its 15 times amendments. The legality of the
formation of the government is also in question due to annex and omission of the
Caretaker Government in our constitution. There is lack of accountability and
transparency among the politicos and bureaucrats of our country. Moreover, the
relationships between the government and the opposition, the government and the public,
the civil administration and the military administration are really shocking. There is no
proper implementation of the rules of law which violates human rights and terrorizes the
security of lives and properties of the public. There is also lack of freedom of speech,
politics and participation for the common people. What’s more? The rehabilitation of war
criminals, religious fanatism, criminalisation of politics, institutionalisation of corruption
and terrorism and the sway of black money turn us into a country with lax economy. In a
word, we must meet these indicators to ensure social, political and economic
development of Bangladesh.
Tension at the border
The unfortunate and clearly unwarranted incidents which have been taking place on the
Bangladesh-Myanmar border call for a cool, level-headed approach toward a solution. It
is in neither country's interest to have the situation rise to a point where the Border Guard
Bangladesh and Myanmar's Border Guard Police must face each other in a hostile
posture. The background to the current crisis, no matter how sensitive, does not warrant
such an escalation of tension.
The plain fact is that a BGB soldier had been missing since Wednesday. The Myanmar
border force, having made it known that a body was in its possession since the BGP fired
at a BGB patrol on Wednesday, did not seem to be ready to have the Bangladesh side
check if the body was indeed that of the missing BGB man. One needs to know why the
BGP opened fire when apparently there was no provocation. And there are other border
management mechanisms than resorting to an extreme measure.
Nothing must be done to have the situation worsen. Dhaka has already conveyed its
concerns to Yangon, which now needs to take the measures necessary for a cooling of
tempers. Additionally, a flag meeting between the BGB and BGP becomes important, the
objective being to discuss the various ways and means to employ all possible confidence
building measures to ensure that the situation is not only deescalated but also that such
incidents are not repeated.
Let cool heads prevail. And let diplomacy work out a solution.
The companies have to comply with some rules to get the benefit. The companies must
be tax-compliant and repay loans regularly. The firms will have to regularly pay salaries
to employees, and if the entity is engaged in industrial production it must have waste
treatment plant.
The eligible firms will have to obtain tax rebate certificates from the National Board of
Revenue by submitting their CSR-related work plans.
Microcredit : Pioneer of Development
Introduction : Money begets money. Adam Smith in his famous book Wealth of Nations
said, 'When you have got a little, it is often easy to get more. The great difficult thing is to get
that little.1 Microcredit is a small size of loan that is given to the poor for self employment.
Microcredit through institutional arrangement is a recent innovation for poverty reduction
among the poor. Today, Bangladesh is called the Sand of Microcredit revolution. The
Microcredit revolution started among rural women in 1970s. The revolution had its root in
the recognition that poor people needed credit and more importantly they could use credit
more efficiently and responsibly.
Features of Microcredit : In the microcredit system, service providers go to the door steps
of the poor based on the principle that the people should not go to the bank rather T.an bank
should go to the people. The other important features of mcrocredit are.
- Microcredit is given with minimum paperwork.
- Workers have to make regular visits to the borrower's premises to offer advises and
supervision.
- Small size of loan.
- It is collateral free.
- Recovery rate is above 90 percent.
- All loans to be paid back in installments on weekly or bi-weekly basis.
a. Funding to the NGOS : The PKSF (Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation) IS an apex public
organization providing credit and institutional services lo NGOs. Government set up PKSF
in 1990. Since then PKSF has not Icon about US$ 252 to 250 NGOs covering more than 3.8
million borrowers, As the biggest microcredit funding organization in the world PKSF
standards, guidelines and modalities are being studied by different countries in order to
develop their microcredit sectors.
The former secretary general of UN Kofi Anan opines that eradicating poverty is perhaps
the greatest global challenge. Out of 6 billion population in the world 2.8 billion live on less
than two dollars income a day. Of the 1 billion people 50 million live in Asia and 30 million
in Africa. Microcredit programs in these regions show that microcredit is a strong poverty
alleviating weapon. More than 64 million of the worlds poorest people have taken part in the
past seven years in microfinance projects with the purpose of' coming out of the vicious
circle of poverty.
High Interest Rate- A Dilemma : It is alleged that Microcredit distributors of are charging
high interest rate on credit. As a result, borrowers are becoming poorer. The critics say that
NGO credit is much costlier for a poor borrower than that of a commercial bank. But the
microcredit providers say that the existing
Interest rate is rational. Let us focus on the both sides of this controversial issue.
15% flat interest rate on NGO credit is necessary for its long term sustauiabuity. NGOs bring
services to the doorsteps of (he borrowers which reduces to mowers transportation costs and
time.
An NGO credit programme can never be sustainable if it fails to cover the ftillrusls of its
operation, particularly the following: * Staff salary costs * Annual costs of funds *Annual
costs of bad debt* and cost of inflation
We cannot deny the positive impact of intensive supervision and monitoring 0f NGOs
operated credit on the household incomes of poor borrowers. Cost of supervision and
monitoring make the present interest rate rational.
Microcredit is not charity. The interest rates must match the cost of microlenders. Qtherwise,
these bodies would cease to exist. So let the market determine the rate.
Interest rate on Microcredit is really high : NGOs are charging high rate of interest
on microcredit. They are doing business in the name of poverty ltilion. According lo a study,
the microcredit system charges interest as high as 30% to 40%. In this situation, credit
receivers take the opportunity of taking fresh loans from which they give the installments.
The reality is that microcredit prepetuate poverty of the borrowers. Incidentally the people
who administer programs are better off and have turned even rich.
Other Criticism:
The pros and cons of Microcredit system, its efficacy are a matter of debate.
THE COST of microcredit is very high. Microcredit operations can be labeled Kabuliwalah's
business.
- Microcredit has serious procedural problems and do more harms than good. "- There is no
good governance and transparency in the microcredit providing orgonisations.
- The weekly recovery system creates pressure on the borrowers.
- There is no legal framework to control and oversea the operation of the microcredit
providing organisation. As a result, many unauthorised NGOs are cheating the poor people.
- Many unregistered local NGOs are doing business in the name of microcredit and poverty
alleviation.
Recommended Policies : Microcredit system has some procedural and functioiml problems.
Some recommendations have been placed to overcome these problems.
- Micmcredit practitioners should concentrate on reducing poverty rather than using it as
business.
- They should cut interest rate on credit. In doing this they should reduce operational costs.
- The size of loans should be enlarged so that the poor people can come out from the poverty
cycle.
- Microcredit banks under Government initiatives can be established in nird areas to
streamline microfinancing.
- Every financial institutions needs supervision and monitoring. A regulatory commission
should be set up to oversea the functioning of microcredit program:,
- Good governance and transparency are crucial factors that should In ensured in the
microcredit operation.
- In Bangladesh, most of the people are Muslims. We can see the Island economic system and
Islamic banking system in Islam. So microcredit system should be in line with the principles
of the ideals of Islam.
Conclusion : In spite of some limitations, microcredit has been accepted us. effective too! for
poverty alleviation and as approach to development. It in | matter of pride that Bangladesh is
a global centre of excellence in microcredit and home to many successful microfinance
providing institutions. Madam Mbeki, the first lady of South Africa has rightly termed
Bangladesh as the 'University Microfinance. The poverty of the world can be rooted out
through effect] microcredit program that originated in a poor country tike Bangladesh.
Green Banking
Different stakeholders can minimize the degradation of environment by "green practice."
In Bangladesh, as one of the key stakeholders, banks can play a vital role in development
and response to the environment through "Green Banking" practice.
Green banking considers social factors with environmental aspects. It has already started
working well in the developed countries. Fundamentally, green banking keeps away from
as much paper work as possible and relies on electronic transactions for processing.
Green banks adopt and implement environmental standards for lending. The interest of
loan of green banks is comparatively less with those from normal banks.
In Bangladesh Bank's Recent Reform Initiatives, it has been written that green banking
products are those that help create a favourable impact on environment. From green
banking operations four key stakeholders namely customers, management, employees
and shareholders can be benefited.
The banking sector can play a significant role in protecting the environment by financing
support to high impact environmentally sensitive sectors. As part of the Rio+20 Summit,
Bangladesh and Vietnam jointly organised a side event on June 19, 2012, in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil to discuss how to ensure green development in the backdrop of rapidly
changing climate. In this summit the Governor of the Bangladesh Bank Dr. Atiur
Rahman drew a presentation on green banking informing his audience on the
development of green banking in Bangladesh. He pointed out that banks have entered the
2nd phase of green banking policy guideline.
According to their reports, as of May 2012, 40 banks have formed Green Banking Units,
29 banks have introduced Green Office Guides, Environmental Risk Rating has been
done for 4,394 projects; 4,315 rated projects have been financed, Tk.271.0 billion has
been disbursed for rated projects, 171 branches have been powered by solar energy and
2,567 branches have been facilitated with online coverage.
On February 27, 2011, Banking Regulation and Policy Department of the Bangladesh
Bank issued a circular to all scheduled banks to take necessary steps towards initiating
and implementation of green banking in each bank. The entire implementation process is
divided into three years sessions as Phase 1 contains policy formulation, incorporation of
environment, initiating in-house environmental management, introducing green finance,
creation of climate risk fund, introducing green marketing, on-line banking, supporting
employees training, consumer awareness and green event, and reporting green banking
practice.
Phase 2 involves sector-specific environmental policies, green strategic planning, setting
up green branches; improve in-house environment management, formulation of bank
specific environmental risk management plan and guidelines, rigorous programs to
educate clients and disclosure and reporting of green banking activities.
In Phase 3, whose deadline is on December 31, 2013, banks will accomplish Designing
and Introducing Innovative Products and Reporting in Standard Format with External
Verification.
Banks that comply with green banking practice will have the several preferential
treatments like points will be awarded by the Bangladesh Bank to banks on management
component while computing CAMELS rating, where there will ultimately be a positive
impact on overall rating of a bank.
Top ten names of banks will be declared by the Bangladesh Bank for their overall
performance in green banking activities in the BB websites and the Bangladesh Bank will
enthusiastically consider green banking activities of a bank while granting permission for
opening new branch of bank. In such banking, green financial products and services are
categorised as Retail Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking and Asset
Management.
Retail banking will include green mortgage, home equity loans, green commercial
building loans, green car loans and green cards. Under corporate and investment banking
banks can offer green project finance, green securitisation, green venture capital and
private equity, Green Indices and Carbon Commodities and finally banks can deal with
green fiscal funds, green investment fund and carbon fund under asset management.
This idea is in the nascent-stage through the world. In Bangladesh, this concept starts its
journey through circulation of policy guidelines by the Bangladesh Bank. At present,
green banking practice exists in the second phase after ending of the first phase keeping
in mind that the third phase of policy guidelines will be implemented within December
2013.
Banks should set environmental standards for lending and disburse loans to
environmental project at a lower interest rate compared to traditional banks.
To implement green banking in Bangladesh, scheduled banks must follow the policy
guideline issued by the Bangladesh Bank. Specific deadline should be followed
mentioned in the policy guidelines for effective implementation of green banking.
Deadline of Phase I has been executed.
As part of the green banking strategies, banks in Bangladesh should come forward to take
the initiative for a number of social responsibility services like tree plantation campaign,
park development, pollution check up camps and so on.