Re-Thinking International Trade Paradigms

One of my Bangladeshi American friend, a computer engineer by training, and, and an entrepreneur by heritage (dad used to own a printing business in Bangladesh) , recently has inititiated a process of exporting round log from Canada to Bangladesh. After listening to this, I didn't waste a second to shoot my naive question ' but, won't it be cheaper for a business in Bangladesh to import logs or timbers from neighboring Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), instead of imorting them from the West?'
He replied, 'not necessarily'. Then he explained, there are three main components that makes an internatonal trade happen. One, the good to be imported must have to meet the necessity of import. If I need to import a printer for my windows-run computer, then I can't import a mac-compatible printer, no matter how cheaper it is. Two, the cost of the product (or service) has to be competitive holding the quality constant. The good has to be identical, and, of required quality, only then price comparison will be meaningful. Three, if the product is found to be of identical quality and price in multiple counries, then the cost of shipping will be considered. By the same token, if the product quality and shipping cost are identical, then the importer will focus on importing the stuff from the exporting country offering lower prices. So, it turned out in my friend's case that, the kind of log / timber is required in Bangladesh for a certain purpose, is cheaper to import from Canada than from any other log exporing countries known so far. No doubt, Akiab port of Myanmar is much closer to Chittagong port of Bangladesh. But, after considering all the three points, the Bangladeshi importer found it more profitable to import log from Canada (via port Vancouver).
So, it is time to rethink our good, old international trade paradigms.

Road Ahead : From Accidental Giant Killer to Consistent Winner

It was nice that the Tigers tamed the Lions. Bangladesh Cricket team also showed some sporadic success in beating some other world cup victors in the past. India, Pakistan, Australia and, now, Sri Lanka.

It would be nice to take time to diagnose and follow through a program that would ensure that these vitories are consistent rather than accidental.

The best fruits of this vicotry is that regional sports grounds will be rejuvenated and there will be inter-regional competition to build international standard sports grounds and to host international matches. It will also inspire local young cricketers to aspire for big games.
I congratualate the members of the cricket team and the sports lovers. This winnings can boost a nation's morales-which has long been questioned to be in hybernation. Let's wake up Bangladesh, claim your fair share in the world in all branches of human accomplishments through hard work, imaginaiton and fair play.

Syaed Rana Moostofee-The Profile of A Pioneer

Today, I will introduce one of my friends, Philosophers and guides-who, has pioneered & I believe, has been instrumental in elevating the financial journalism to a new level in Bangladesh both in the print and electronic media. I know Sayed Rana Moostofee as my Rana Bhai (Bhai means brother in Bangla language). He is the editor-publisher of the National Financial Fortnightly ‘Arthokotha’ (which means money talk in Bangla language). He anchors a popular talk show on economic and financial issues-'Moneytalk' on Satellite TV Channel and serves as the Chairman & Managing Director of Motherland group-a multi-dimensional business house in Bangladesh.

He pioneered many visions in Bangladesh press. As a young journalist he was the first to introduce the daily press coverage of the much talked about, month-long "Ekushey Book Fair" that holds in each February in Bangladesh.

It was his vision that prompted the then daily newspaper “Dainik Janata” from Bangladesh to begin this daily media coverage of this most significant book fair of the nation, his daily write-up used to be published as by-line item on the back page of “Dainik Janata”; which later quickly was followed by other newspapers. At the time, coverage on “Ekushey Book Fair” was hardly seen in a negligible manner in the inner page of of the print media. Now-a-days, daily coverage of the “Ekushey book fair” is a ‘must go’ item in all mainstream newspapers on the front page and television network & channels.

In the very beginning of 21st century, Rana Bhai started fulfilling the much realized need of taking financial journalism to the electronic media so that common people can be outreached with what the socio-economic stakeholders are currently thinking and acting upon that would matter for the entrepreneurship and economy of Bangladesh.

His management style, in his words, is ‘benevolent dictator type’. However, it can be said that he is a groomer as well, and a keeper. I recall, some of his employees/colleagues have been working with him for quite a long time now, which indicates that there is a human side of his management that prevents the turn over rate to be disruptive.

Rana Bhai also works as a consultant in both local and international spectrum. Phuket Air, Marium Tower 1 & 2, Habib Hotel International Ltd, Eunus Trade Centre, Bangladesh Hotel & Guest House Owners Association are some of the projects bearing testimony of his successful consulting services and loan negotiation skills. Interested entrepreneurs and business leaders are welcome to contact his consulting firm ‘Motherland Consultants Ltd.’ By Emailing at moostofee@gmail.com OR motherlandgroup@gmail.com.

Rana Bhai has a great journalistic, educationist and politician family heritage. His mother Khaza Selima Khatun (popularly known as Mina Apa) was a commissioner of Jessore municipality and was the Editor of weekly 'Banhi' (meaning, Flame). She was also the publisher of weekly 'Matribhumi' (meaning, motherland), which came out in 1970. She had a pioneering role in journalism as vice-president of Jessore Press Club. Khaza Selima Khatun was the member of National Social Welfare Council, one of the founder directors of national women cooperatives and the chairman of the Jessore branch of Jatiya Mohila Sangstha. She was one of the founders and head teacher of Jessore Sheba Sangha Girls High School and also served as the head teacher of Kuada Girls High School.

Rana Bhai’s Father late Sayed Abdus Salam was a brave freedom fighter in Jessore sector during the great war of independence of Bangladesh. He took active part in many operations in direct fight with the occupying Pakistan force. Prior to joining in the liberation war Mr. Salam was a central leader of National Awami Party (NAP) under the able leadership of great leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani. Sayed Abdus Salam was the founder and editor of weekly "Matribhumi". This weekly was published with the inspiration of Maulana Bhashani to create awareness of freedom among the people. Later researchers confirmed that “Matribhumi” was the first news paper in Bangladesh that published the news of victory of Bangladesh in her war of independence in a banner heading in its independence issue dated 23rd March, 1971. Mr. Salam, a profound patriot, after having a long career of a national politician & editor died on March 1st 1991. Rana bhai’s grand father Sayed Arshad Ali was one of the great organizers of the war of liberation in Bagharpara (southeastern part of Jessore District) later the collaborators of the occupying force had killed Mr. Arshad & his elder brother Sayed Aziz Ahmed brutally.

Now, with all these heritage, along with all these years of sincere hard works, no wonder Rana Bhai will be able to leave behind a great trail.

Let's talk about a softer side of Rana Bhai that I was a witness and an 'accomplice' of. I recall, over the last year of the last century (1999), we used to catch up with almost every full moon. A team of about six boys who would go out of the Dhaka city to enjoy the full moon! It was like our version of ‘Aronner Din Ratri’ (meaning 'Days and Nights in Forest'-the famous novel of Sunil Ganguly which was later turned into a movie by famous film director Satyajit Ray). During those golden days, no matter how hectic life used to get, we all would manage some time to drive away…far from the maddening crowd of Dhaka city. A car pool of friends (oh, down the memory lane…), sometimes a convoy of three or four cars, We would go to Ashulia-a quite rural palce in the outskirt of the Dhaka City, would sat on the bank of River Turag and would watch the full moon. Most of those moon-sighters are now scattered around the world. Rana Bhai travels a lot between Dhaka and Dubai. Another moon-sighter Palash is now in London. Yusuf is in Canada. I am in USA. Recently when I was watching the bangla movie ‘Abar Aronney ‘(Again In forest’-the follow-up movie of ‘Aronner Din Ratri’), I felt that time is approaching in our lives the same way …some day, some year…some decade down the road to get together with all those good, old buddies-those golden heart boys. Little modification, this time, we would rather talk more among ourselves, and, let the full moon be the witness. A mystic, a gifted orator and singer, Rana bhai has lot more to offer to Bangladesh and to the World. Guys, let's wish a happy, healthy, long, workaholic life for Rana Bhai !

[ Footnote: 'Ekushey' meaning 21st. Ekushey Book Fair of Bangladesh commemorates the language movement of 21st February of 1952 that led Bangladesh eventually to be independent from Pakistan in 1971 at the costs of pools of blood and sweat. 21st February has now been declared as ‘International Mother Language day’ by UNESCO (http://www.unesco.org/education/imld_2002/ ).]

Reflections on Valentine's Day

As we may recall, St. Valentine volunteered to be the wedding-priest for Roman soldiers required by the job rules to remain bachelor. So, so what it is that used to prompt employers to impose marital restrictions on workers of different professions-soldiers, air hosts and hostesses, nurses, athletes etc.? Why do various religious establishements continue the legacy by requiring clerics to 'officially celibate' . It is understandable that a profit maximizing employer would prmiarily care about profit maximization. So, I always wondered, is a bachelor soldier more employable, because, he is supposedly "more productive" (possess a higher level of killer instinct?!) than a married soldier? Is a bachelor nurse or air hostess is more employable because she seem to be more caring and pateint than her married colleague? Or, because she is less likely to get pregnant and be off-duty? Now, it is hard to tell about the impact of relationship on spiritual motivation. Do married clerics consistently show less focus on god and more on home-goddess? I do not know. But, if a married soldier become more domesticated and so, become lesser of a killing machine, I would like to be the devil's advocate to promote necessary modifications in the recruitment policies that would require all subnational, national and international defense forfces' to recruit only married people as soldiers I know, it sounds discriminating. It will reverse the traditional course where marriages are being followed by jobs. But, for world peace, I believe the social burden of this 'positive' discrimination will not be unbearable.

Impossibility of a Paretian Liberal-Amartya Sen

Recent win of Conservative party in the Canadian general election and many other recent wins in the conservative parties in many European countries in 'free' and 'fair' elections are just democratic verdict of people. Although, there is a section of pleople who think, democracy, as a decision philosophy, and, majority voting as a decision rule, tend to be bent more towards Liberalism than towards conservativsm. But Sen has sowed in this 1970 article that, in a Pareto-ensuring democracy, Liberalism can not be maintained. So, Pareto or Liberalism? The answer seems to be the recent poll results in North America!

Two Films-Man on Fire and The Bridges of Madison County

I have watched two films over the weekend-one was starring by Clint Eastwood and another one by Danzel Washington and others (there were defintely other great co-actors and actresses, but unfortunately I do not remember their names now, please take no offence guys!).Hey, I know, these are quite old movie, but, remember, most of my movies are borrowed from school library, so don't expect me to write on current releases.

The man on fire is quite famous since when the novel it hit the market. It has been well translated in different languages and recently bollywood also produced a film on its light (the same way as 'the magnificent seven' became bollywood buster movie 'Sholey'). A tough retired serviceman of U.S. was hired as a gunman in a rich family in Mexico. The job is to protect the little girl of the house from kindnapping for ransom which plagued in Mexico in that time. The rough and tough bodygurd develop a wonderful friendship with that little girl and when she was kindnapped, and tough to be killed, Danzel unleased his wrath agains bad guys. Action and emotion packed tense and dynamic story line.

The bridge on the madison county is a romantic film. Clint got a chance here to show that he can come out of that 'cowboy cocoon' if he is asked to do so. This movie will fall in the genre of Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenia' or Tagore's 'Home and Abroad' category. It can also be branded as 'desperate housewives'. See it for yourself to appreaciate soft version of Clint.

A Tribute to Dental Hygienists

Dental hygienists are doing a great job. We are not much aware about the importance of oral health in the overall public health. In developing countries, most of the people suffer from various oral deseases from a very young age and eventually, many people lose their teeth by there late 50s or early 60s. Although, in the north american countries, the quality of dental health care services are much standardized and the access to those services are more widely avilable to people via job related dental insurance plan or personal dental care plans, a growing number of people are suffering from oral health problems due mainly to their food habits and life styles. Chocolates, candies, dairy products, coffee, smoking all these takes their toll on a consumer's oral health status. So, we should be careful abour our oral health, and should try to brus, floss and, use mouth wash atlest twice a day (once in the morning, and once before going to bed at night). Meantime, my tributes are to dental surgons, doctors and hygeienists. They are doing a great job and more can be done increasing awareness of oral health in developing countries. One hygeienist Ms. Melinda is going to graduate in spring 2008, I would like to take this opportunity to wish her and all her past, present and future colleagues in the profession. Let's keep up the good works!!