Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
In our country, we have 25% of rich people whom we may categorize as the solvent of our total population. 30% of our populations are the poor. They belong to very low-income group have not and the floating class. The rest belong the low mid leveled, mid leveled income group. But in our country, there is an aristocratic class. We do not know them. Particularly the poor are not aware of them. Now the question arises who are they? What is their identity? What do they represent? During Pakistan regime, we heard about family group-22. They were the richest section of the society and the society was ruled or dominated by them. They were treated as the special class as VIP, CIP etc. They are no more. But today a neo-colonial group is emerging. Today, this figure may stand group 2022 or more. Why did I try to depict them or disclose them? I had a wish if those come towards and look go the down trodden family during this crisis of Covid-19. Actually, they remain hidden; they do not want to be disclosed or opened up before general people. However, they are part and parcel of the society.
During or after Covid-19 crisis, if famine breaks out and if there is severe food crisis and, hunger prevails there no aristocratic can survive. Because, there will be a different picture. No one can fly to somewhere else, as killer of Bangabandhu flew to other countries. So, everybody will have to suffer for scarcity of food and shortage of daily necessities. Supply and demand chain will be blocked. So, nobody will get rid of panic or tension. Nobody can hide from society. It will be a matter of threat for a long time. At any moment, everybody may be infected, and die. So, this is time when those aristocrats must come forward with honesty and sincerity. On the safety and social security of the poor people specially the marginalized section of the society otherwise it will be really challenging to survive. We will fall 50 or 100 years behind.
It is evident that the world economy will collapse due to Covid-19. We do not know what will happen in the world with this Covid-19 issue. The world may be divided, leadership will fall, and people will be crazy and critical. A different world will appear. No one will bother for his or her neighbor. Everybody will defend in his own style or way. So, for survival of nation and the people, government must have circumstantial and profound thoughts on which substantial projects program and schemes are duly taken. No ambitious program will suit to this moment. No bureaucracy, no aristocracy only strong ethical ideological plan and program may be viable which will minimize this grievous situation. Necessary measures need to be taken considering our poor people. Meanwhile, our Prime Minister has announced package program on the destitute considering their social position. Due to Covid-19 many people will lose job, many will be removed from mills and factories. In this situation, the big figure will come from the migrant workers. All the migrant worker will be unemployed and treated as a burden of family.
Moreover, there are a number of youth both male and female who are unemployed at present. In addition, there are a number of marginal people in agriculture sector and in many other professions. To promote them agricultural loan and SME loan may be sanctioned who are occupied in different vocational and technical job. GDP might not be a subject of debate for the time. During the yearly budget time, this should not be taken into cognizance. If the corona situation appears more fatal, it may spoil the advancement of last one decade. The first priority of the time would be towards life and livelihood. The whole world is working only with this spirit, because, men are behind GDP of a country. If man can survive, GDP will survive.
We all know that, in the midst of high growth rate, we have the unemployment problem. This will be more acute after the return of our migrant workers. So they will be a bigger problem for us. People will be unfed and remain hungry for food deficit. So, food supply by ration cards must be ensured for the marginal and the poor. This will be an additional program beside our social safety net program. These people must come under the umbrella of co-operative projects like fisheries, poultry, cottage duckery, handicrafts and farming activity. Again, entrepreneurship may be developed on grocery, tea stall, making handicraft centers.
Again, there are youths in our country who have been given the technical and vocational training from Bangladesh Ansar VDP and co-operative departments. In society, they are somehow managing their family and living hand to mouth. If these people are given the incentives and bank loans are sanctioned to run small business or SME activities, the situation will be changed. With these if our marginal farmers are given subsidies for seeds, fertilizer, they will be able to give better output. In many cases, agricultural loan without interest may be granted. All these scheme and project must run on co-operative concept. If co-operative management is ensured and group wise responsibility is given, production will increase and supply-demand flow will be visible. There will be no deficiency of food, vegetables, milk, bread or butter only management will matter. If there is a drive from government, it will bring a positive impact. Where there is a smooth management the investors will be able to produce more which will fulfill the market demand.
In this regard, the management and co-operatives function may be performed by some departments. We can mention Bangladesh Ansar VDP co-operative livestock, fishery, BSIC, agriculture as a good role-playing body or organization in frontline. Local administration and local government and may be given the responsibility to administer, monitor or supervise. Other departments will organize and mobilize the program. In this program only party men should have the access or intervention. The way the whole world is moving, we cannot imagine the future destiny of mankind. For survival of mankind and nation, we must forget out GDP, social development, aristocracy or other things at this critical time. The only thing is that we must save our life. Only then social security will be protected in future. A better management and mobilization through co-operative will make us self-reliant and make the society stable from the havoc of covid-19.
(Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed, former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar VDP, Writer, Columnist & Researcher)
