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Through the recent months, it is increasingly becoming apparent from analysing media presentations, both print and electronic: the World Bank has been losing incrementally its aggressive culture of support and follow-up when it comes to, for example, Bank-assisted national programmes and projects in Bangladesh.
   The reason behind the Bank’s present-day pace of operations in Bangladesh is unknown. It is expected the Bank will let Bangladeshis and others know, in a more meaningful and result-oriented fashion, its activities, problems, prospects and successes (particularly, those relating to public interest) on a continuous basis — in pursuit of say, strengthening, as well as sustaining further, people-Bank synergies. The Bank cannot and should not ignore its accountability (in pertinent areas) to the people. It is also expected the Bank will double its effort towards devolution of its programme in Bangladesh at a faster rate and in a more sustainable manner.
   Dr MS Haq
   Dhaka

With reference to the article by NM Harun entitled ‘Road to hell is paved with good intentions’ under his column ‘Beyond the Apparent’ in your OP-ED page of March 4 issue, the writer probably overlooked the fact that (a) the caretaker government continues to be accountable, under the constitution, to the representative of the people in the passive body of the president until the next parliament is elected; and that (b) by the proclamation of state of emergency, the president has assumed powers that he can constitutionally delegate to any agency of the state including the caretaker government and/or the armed forces to act upon to remove causes that led to the proclamation of emergency and to improve internal and external conditions afflicting the state.
   Whether the small-sized, hard picked caretaker government is able and equipped to carry on with the honorous tasks assigned to them over an extended period of time is for the president, and ultimately for the people, to assess and determine.
   Sadeq Khan
   On e-mail

The authorities in the zeal to correct all wrongs seem not to have thought of the consequences of their actions. Due to non-existence of a formal, retail licensing system for fertiliser, fuel-diesel and seeds, an informal retail distribution system grew out of necessity over several decades. So what is happening now is that only the BCIC dealers who are issued a licence by the BCIC can sell fertilisers. The whole informal retail distribution system has been wiped off, leaving the farmers high and dry. They need to go to distant places, stand in long queues for their quota of fertiliser. It is very unfortunate and pathetic that the farmers who feed the nation have to suffer the most to purchase their essential inputs.
   A centralised licensing system for both seeds and fertiliser exists today. Applications have to be sent to Dhaka. There is confusion regarding retail sales of these essential inputs. The government should immediately develop a licensing system for both fertiliser and seeds wholesale and retail outlets. This licensing system could very well be mirrored from the existing pesticides licensing system which is working seamlessly for years. This should be decentralised to the district agricultural extension office.
   The government should also remove subsidies on urea which I recall is over Tk 2,000 crores — enough to set up a fertiliser plant every year! Because of the low price, private entrepreneurs do not import urea. If urea would be sold at international prices, then there would be an incentive for the private sector to import and sell urea. This would also remove corruption and the necessity of policing the sale of fertiliser which seems to be major task of the government’s agricultural apparatus as well as the joint forces, today. It is a bitter pill to swallow. There will be a negative reaction for a season — but we should swing back to normal as our farmers are resilient.
   Agriculture is a dominant sector for our economy and we need to address these issues urgently as the nation’s food security is at stake.
   Sarwar Ahmed
   Dhanmondi, Dhaka

I was quite shocked to read how blatantly Mirza Abbas had allocated plots to his people! I guess the BNP had become arrogant and were certain their election rigging tactics would work. All the given plots should be taken back by the government and auctioned off in a proper manner, no matter what stage of construction they are in. These people and their families should not be allowed to gain anything from corruption, in fact, if anyone else has information, they should come forward to the newspapers so that every penny and piece of land is recovered.
   I was also amused to hear Rajuk people saying on the television that influential people prevented them from conducting drives before. I wonder how influential/connected the Chinese owners of a small restaurant were. The truth is that these people would pay off the Rajuk inspectors every time they visited, so it was a nice little business for them. Now that we have some law and order, they are scared and trying to pass themselves off as honest fearing that they will be rounded up and imprisoned on corruption charges. We can all see their wolves’ ears sticking out of their sheep’s clothing. We need to have an investigation of their assets, cars and wealth statements next.
   HS
   Dhaka