It is mandatory to follow regulations for cross-border movement of goods pertaining to export. In respect of export business, there is a law in the country known as ‘The Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950’ under which exporters need to be registered with the concerned authorities. Proceeds from export will be realised through banking channel within specified time as per foreign exchange regulations which also require mandatory declaration of export details in EXP form to be issued by the bank and then to be certified by the customs authorities. In addition, there is required different certification/documentation from different bodies to execute export. This is the general process followed by the export houses of the country.
   Generally, goods are moved through air, sea or surface transportation after completion of necessary customs formalities. The carriers involved in transporting goods are airlines, shipping lines and trucks/railways. In addition to them, postal/courier services carry goods. But the goods carried by postal/courier services are small in size, quantity and weight. These are basically samples of various products, gifts etc. Besides, exportable goods can also be transported in postal/courier mode.
   As stated earlier, export needs regulatory declaration. Without declaration in EXP form, export cannot be executed. Besides this traditional way of export trade, there is export letter of credit (LC)/formal sales contract. In the present age of information, a trader can put his product information in web page through which sales order from customers abroad as well as payment in international credit card (ICC) can be received online based on this receipt of orders and payment, and the goods are booked with postal/courier service operators to ship to the overseas buyers. This is possible only in countries where e-commerce is well accommodated in their regulations. But we cannot conduct such trade due to the absence of the system of receiving payment through ICC and the existence of regulatory declaration process.
   We are globally connected through internet service and most of the international couriers such as DHL, FedEx, TNT, UPS, etc. operate in Bangladesh. Therefore, Bangladesh is in an advantageous position for selling homemade/indigenous goods abroad sitting before a computer. It is only possible if such transactions are accommodated in the existing regulations. A simple foreign exchange policy can open up avenues for such foreign trade.
   The banking sector in our country is well competent and has access to global ICC operators. Banks can encash online payment but they will not do such encashment of export proceeds since the export is executed without EXP form and without their involvement as per existing procedures. They will do the encashment only when general authorisation will be given to them.
   There is a potential for Bangladeshi goods in the international market. The trade of such goods is small in size but order frequencies may be many. So, on receipt of online payment such export trade through postal/courier mode can be encouraged by framing a foreign exchange transactional policy without involving traditional formalities. The relevant authorities may think about this suggestion.
   Mehdi
   Via e-mail

Politics in Bangladesh is as indefinable and shapeless as ever. Public always expect stunning events in politics. Stakeholders of politics prefer to manoeuvre like stuntman through risky climaxes and capricious events. Intellectuals and civil society, movers and shakers of 1/11, after staging dramas of high hopes and tall talks, now are on the retreat. The results of municipal elections put these elements in cognitive dissonance, now shifting their blame from politicians to public. The powerhouse holding the steering of our politics has been as enigmatic as ever, subcutaneously lurking in politics, dangerously silent. Against this backdrop and before the curtain of the currently playing drama finally drops, on the stage appears Barrister Rafique-ul Haq, the voluntary legal counsel of the two most celebrated defendants of corruption charges – Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. His rhapsody, not too lyrical but in cold-bold-crude words, ‘sit together and discuss national issues or face dire consequences’, has been percolating through every layer of the nation. This corralled support of intellectuals, civil society, merchants, journalists and professionals, even of Khaleda Zia, swinging the nation with fresh surge of euphoria amid few feeble voices of dissent. Talk-show idols are busy canvassing it as the ultimate magic balm to straighten the dog tail.
   Dr Wahiduddin Mahmood has sent a passionate plea to two leaders to transcend parochial and partisan issues and unite. So did M Hafizuddin and other titans. The guarded response of Sheikh Hasina put her on the foreground of the dissidents.
   Let us focus on the brighter side of the wood, skim our history and simulate our journey to future of national unity. We ask our two leaders to elevate themselves above party lines.
   Manirul Islam
   Toronto, Canada

When I read Rashed Ahmed’s response to Arafat Islam’s ‘sentimental’ feelings expressed in a letter, I immediately started writing this mail assuming that Arafat must be some headstrong nationalist youth likes of whom we face everyday these days.
   I extended my wholehearted support towards Ahmed since he seemed to be one of those rarest rational souls to ever criticise this wonderful nation of ours. But before mailing the letter I felt a hunch to read the letter which prompted Rashed Ahmed to write and after much rummaging through the stacks of old papers managed to find the one I needed.
   I agree with all what Rashed Ahmed said except this: expressing deep sorrow, frustration and anger compounded by a feeling of total helplessness shouldn’t in anyway be branded ‘sentimentalism.’ This is what humanity is all about.
   One cannot but be appalled at the utter callousness of our political leaders — and of their numerous supporters and activists — regarding the senseless mayhem that caused an innocent bystander’s death. This is just yet another sign –- among hundreds others — that as a nation we have really very little left to be proud of. Don’t get me wrong, my father and an uncle fought for this country. I love this country like most other citizens.
   I would like to thank both Ahmed and Islam for their insightful Feedback. If only we had a few million logical people like them among a ‘herd’ of 150 million!
   I had the opportunity (often that seems like a misfortune) to spend nearly seven years in the UK and travelled to the USA and some European nations. I then made it a point to meet and talk to people from as many different countries as I could. Believe me, I have not found a single person who was as proud as we are.
   We are probably the only nation that boasts of being the best in so many things. This narcissistic attitude of ours will not do us any good. It is time we took a long hard look at ourselves and put everything in perspective.
   If you are not still convinced, let’s do some reality check:
   1. We have the rare honour of being crowned as the most corrupt nation five times in a row.
   2. We allow someone to build a 26-storey building illegally; for ten long years it stood tall, then sued the owner and pulled it down in 24- hours’ notice.
   3. We adulterate our fish with formaldehyde, use carbide to ripen fruits in a flash, stuff antibiotic capsules with talcum powder without once thinking that this is killing the whole nation.
   4. We start clearing the rubble and rebuild illegal structures on encroached public land as soon as the mobile court and bulldozer leave.
   5. Our political leaders have sleepless nights thinking about protecting our sovereignty but fail to apologise –- even send a personal condolence message to the widow or orphans of a passer-by killed during the melee of their activists.
   6. We build CNG cylinders out of water pipes and fix them with public transport putting our citizens’ life at risk.
   7. Our commodity price can go up every two hours.
   9. We make ‘kids’ TV reporters — a rather recent phenomenon — who ask the DIG (prisons) if ‘prison’ was his nickname and who ask a middle-east kingdom’s diplomat if his ‘president’ was likely to visit Bangladesh soon.
   Last but not the least, we are very rude and getting more so by the day. We are polite only to those who are superior or more powerful than us.
   Yusuf Ahmed
   Kathalbagan, Dhaka