Showing posts with label International Affairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Affairs. Show all posts

Education in South Asian Nations at the time of Coronavirus

The number of student in South Asia is growing. Some countries like Bangladesh have the opportunity termed demographic dividend. Demographic dividend causes a boost in productivity (economic) that happens when there are growing numbers of people in the workforce (the working-age population from 15 to 64) relative to the number of dependents (the non-working-age population - 14 or younger & 65 or older). 

How Is Germany Successful in Fighting Against Covid 19?

Germany is successful in fighting against Covid 19. Germany has a lower death rate for coronavirus than that of most comparable developed nations. Many developed countries have failed to win against COVID 19. The Government of Germany has now decided to open small shops. Moreover, it is planning to open schools and colleges. So we want to know their success stories and their magic formula.

Political Impacts of Coronavirus on the South Asian Nations

The coronavirus has laid its footmark directly or indirectly on the economic, social and political ground. The pandemic has far-reaching consequences since Covid 19 spreads around the world quickly. Putting every single field is at risk, it has been dominating media headlines. 

At first, top leaders around the world including Donald Trump did not consider coronavirus as a serious matter. That is why USA, Italy and Spain are paying a huge price. In the Game of Throne TV show, John Snow tried to make people believe the danger of white walkers and upcoming long winter but general people did not believe until they saw it.

Social Impacts of Coronavirus on the South Asian Countries

The lockdown sparked by Coronavirus threatens every livelihood in the world. COVID-19 has altered human interaction and halted human communication. It has caused a disastrous impact on the social and cultural aspects of every mega cities and villages across the globe. It affects not only the GDP/ GNP of a country but also the society and mental health of its people. The affected persons cannot contribute to society properly. 

Being a social creature, it is a huge shock for mankind not being able to visit their friends, relatives and chat. It is predicted that the Coronavirus will change the world permanently and globalization process may compromise. The way COVID 19 is altering the globe: 

How to Get Rid of Corona virus (Covid 19)

Advice: How to Prevent Coronavirus Disease  and Stay Healthy

Most essential tips to help protect you from the coronavirus outbreak:


#/ Stay home and keep you & your family members safe.


#/ Avoid gatherings, any types of programs. Avoid any kind of physical contacts as much as possible.

How Can Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Be Achieved?

What Role Can Citizens (students, teachers, women) & Government Play for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Organizations and institutions (school, college, university & government) & general global citizens (students, teachers, women and businessmen) can contribute towards sustainable development in their own context. You do not need to be a rocket scientist, just be a responsible good citizen for that. 


1. Educate yourself & Educate People Around You 
At first, citizens have to read and understand the issues of sustainable development, global warming, and climate change etc. knowing theories is not just enough but the practical approach should be followed. In this case, teachers and researchers can play a big role in implementing sustainable development goals. Besides teaching and making SDGs easier for the students, teachers can find out more innovative and easier ways to reach these goals. We don’t know some peculiar facts on environment and SDGs. For example, the meat industry (consumption) causes global warming! We need to open our heart and eyes to learn new from the world. 


2. Team Work 
Supportive and strong teams are crucial since time is limited and we have to act quickly. Members of a team can support each other. Engineers, doctors, geographers, journalists and scientists can contribute in their own contexts. 

3. Simple Living & High Thinking
We must understand that over-consumption and wastages are harmful to our body and our world. People are at one corner starving and some are at other part throwing away excess food. If you have more than enough resources for you, donate and give items to the poor. 

4. Innovation
SDGs cannot be achieved through work as usual and waiting for either the economy or the government to change the world. Innovative ideas need to be translated into products and we should invest more in sustainable technology. The excessive use of natural resources must be minimized to preserve it from getting extinct. Ethical or environment-friendly products need to be produced more and focused to motivate people to buy. 


5. Good Governance 
Good Governance is essential for implementing new and sustainable ways. The Government, private sectors and citizens must cooperate with each other otherwise initiatives for good projects will see the failure. Governing bodies for sustainable development should be corruption free. 

6. Curricular and educational institutions 
If you go through the SDGs, you can recognize that these specific goals cannot possibly be attained without the positive influence of educational institutions. Knowledge and information of a wide spectrum of economic, social, and environmental challenges and solution are developed and rendered by teachers and researchers. Universities around the world receive public and private research funds and donation to, directly and indirectly, solve world issues and crisis. Educational institutions develop human resources that can translate learnt lessons into real-world applications. 

The student must be taught on the importance of SDGs and how to implement those goals. They need to be considerate, be moderate and be sensitive to the environment, society and culture. So the system and structure should be changed. The illiterate people should be provided formal or informal education for better knowledge on sustainable development. 


7. Volunteer & Leadership & Institutional culture 
Club activities, networking, campaigns and projects are crucial for students to be active and a good member of society. Universities can bridge between the students and the global stakeholders (collaborations between stakeholders: the UN, govt, NGOs, leaders, local communities). 


8. Reward system 
A reward system can be undertaken by the UN and governments. Person who contributes to SDGs will get monetary or in-kind awards. People love rewards and it is a great motivation. 


9. Awareness-raising programs 
Awareness-raising programs should be conducted from the school level to the university level for the importance of sustainable development. All sectors from government to non-government must integrate SDGs in their programs and projects properly. A combination of daily and small acts makes a real and big difference. Sustainable practices of living are not only good for the planet but also for a happier, healthier life. 


10. Donation 
One of the easiest of supporting the SDGs is to donate money and other resources to organizations that are dedicating it to fulfil specific Sustainable Development Goals. You can support a charity in various ways. 

11. Volunteer Your Time & Skills In Your Free Time 
You can spend time and money without hurting your study or career. Contributing to an organization which deals with the SDGs can make a real impact in local or national projects. 

12. Don’t waste 
We should not buy things which are unnecessary. Conserve water, gas, electricity as they are scarce and valuable. Moreover, pollution creates a problem for the health of human being and animals. 

13. Public bus & Ridesharing 
Using public transport and utilizing the ridesharing system (like Uber) & carpool help reduce carbon emission and traffic jam. 

14. Implementing green infrastructures
For the purpose of supporting a better quality of life and sustainable living, walkways, bikeways, parks and community gardens, greenways, energy-efficient homes and buildings etc. should be built. 

15. Forestation 
Besides filtering and oxygen generation, trees can be planted for foods (fruits, vegetables) for direct consumption and we can reverse a big part of damage we are creating on our ecosystem. Garden can a good hobby and it can reduce your chance to be depressed. You can use compost from your food scraps (kitchen). 


16. Reduce – Reuse – Repair - Recycle – Recover – Dispose Approach 

17. Invest in renewable energy and Avoid plastic 



Controlling human greed is very tough but it must be controlled. 



Question: How else can I help? The answer is very easy! 

Ans: 1/ Share this post to your friends and family. 

2/ Work as a team.

From Chernobyl to the Coronavirus: The price of denial and lies


From Chernobyl to the Coronavirus: The Importance of Transparency and Good Governance

Coronavirus has been fueled by the initial denial and lies of Chinese officials and the situation invoke a metaphor - Chernobyl nuclear plant in the Soviet Union.  These terrible incidents of Chernobyl and coronavirus do have similarities. These two situations are worsened by corruption, mismanagement and lack of transparency at the highest levels of the state.

In 1986, the nuclear explosion occurred in northern Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union but the communist government tried to hide information about the gravity of the disaster. The 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl exposed the failings of the Soviet system, which first attempted to suppress the incident’s real impact. The Chernobyl disaster accelerated Mikhail Gorbachev’s attempted reforms and is considered as a beginning to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The winter of 2020 was the starting point for an outbreak of a new disease known as Covid-19 and the virus has rapidly spread across China and abroad, killing people mostly old and children.

Li Wenliang, a whistleblower Chinese doctor in Wuhan shared the rise of a mysterious pneumonia-like illness on the famous messaging app ‘WeChat’. But he was silenced by the local authorities (police) for spreading rumours online after the post went viral. The hero doctor also died of COVID-19 later which prompted outrage in the country. At the time of treating patients in Wuhan, Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist contracted the virus.

Wuhan city mayor admitted later that the information on the virus wasn’t disclosed timely because he required authorization to reveal information in the time of an outbreak.

The Impacts of Coronavirus in the World


The Impacts of Coronavirus around the Globe

China has become a global market and China can literarily produce anything that we think about. If you need cheap products, China is a better place for you to trade. It will be really difficult to find an alternative to china. You may not get any country that does not trade with China. Countries dependent on biggest trading partner China are likely to experience a shock in the near future.

Since China is affected by the coronavirus, the growth of China has now become at slowest in 3 decades. Moreover, many countries are also affected economically, socially and politically as big supply chains are being disrupted in the world. Here are the examples.

Economic Impacts
The recent outbreak of coronavirus hampers the construction of China-backed mega infrastructure projects across the world. Human resources including Chinese engineers and labourers of these projects have been banned from returning.

# Countries around the world cannot continue business with china as a result price of the essential products gets high.

# The price of oil decreases because some factories in China are temporarily shut and cannot run due to the blockage, restrictions and labours shortage.

# Business conferences and international exhibition have been postponed.

# Hotel and tourism business have been severely affected in china as people don’t visit their places and growing restriction in crowded places. Countries miss earnings from the spending of Chinese visitors.

For example, the revenue of Apple is expected to be lower as worldwide iPhone supply is ‘temporarily constrained’ because of coronavirus.
James Bond tour of China has also been postponed due to the epidemic.
Airlines like Qantas and Air France-KLM face losses because they have suspended flights connected with china.
Despite no cases of coronavirus in New York, Chinese restaurant in New York's Chinatown has zero customers.

Social Impacts
# People in China and it's neighbouring countries are panicked by the outbreak of a new coronavirus, COVID-19.

# Prejudice & racism: The ignorance and misinformation on virus invokes racism against ethnic Chinese or anyone in the US who looks Chinese.

# Education: student mobility has become limited in china. Chinese students cannot travel to foreign countries for higher education.

# Health: Huge loss has occurred due to the health and well-being concern.

Political Impacts
The Chinese government is now at a pressure politically and internationally. Since the authority could not take steps at the right time, Chinese people also showed anger to their government.



Learning smart politics from an educated and successful politician


The story of an educated and successful politician - Arvind Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal, a former bureaucrat, tax inspector and an anti-corruption crusader-turned politician is the man who has defeated BJP & Congress (two most influential political parties) in Delhi (India's capital). Kejriwal has been reelected chief minister (CM) for a 3rd straight term in Delhi. In 2020, his Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man's Party - AAP) got a landslide victory over the present government’s party BJP. In the past five years, he has implemented pro-poor policies, fixed government schools and given free healthcare & utilities services etc. He has been praised for putting education and development first. He and his party are not committed to any ideology (Right/Left) but to addressing problems.

Who is Arvind Kejriwal?  
Arvind Kejriwal, graduated from IIT Kharagpur (Mechanical engineering) joined the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 1995 after working in Tata Steel. In 2006, he resigned from the government job. But why is that?

In 1999, Kejriwal and others found a movement named Parivartan (change), a non- registered NGO, in Delhi to address people's grievances. Moreover, Manish Sisodia and Kejriwal launched Kabir, a registered NGO in 2005. Kejriwal helped launch the AAP in 2012 to rid the corruption and inefficiency from Indian political system and government. The AAP's symbol is a broom and the promise is to sweep the administration of graft.

Social activists like A. Kejriwal, Anna Hazare, Aruna Roy and Shekhar Singh were the important contributor to the campaign for Right to Information Act (2005). For his involvement with Parivartan, he was honoured with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership (2006). The award recognised Kejriwal’s for activating the Right to Information Act movement at the grassroots, and empowering poor people to fight corruption. With the prize money, he started the Public Cause Research Foundation to continue his work on RTI. When Kejriwal felt the Jan Lokpal Bill was not taken seriously, he joined with Anna Hazare in 2011. Hazare sat on a hunger strike and Kejriwal rallied the streets to seek an end to corruption. Kejriwal became a political celebrity after defeating (assembly election) three-term Delhi CM Sheila Dixit in 2013.

International Students Education and Coronavirus


Coronavirus Outbreak in China & Outside China: Impacts on Foreign & Chinese Students’ Mobility 

Chinese Coronavirus hampers international study across the world. For the educational purposes, thousands of international students study and reside in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province of China. Due to the lockdown and restrictions in Wuhan, students from these colleges and universities face a shortage of foods and other important items necessary for their daily life.

Chinese authorities advised all to stay inside and avoid any contact with others to curb the spread of the deadly virus. Foreign students in the area are confined to student dormitories and trying to escape the coronavirus-hit city. International students have shown concerns and panicked. If this condition further deteriorates, the area will be a ghost town. Mohammad Samiul Ahsan, vice president of the Wuhan University International Students' Union is on-call nearly 24 hours a day and working to keep students and officers informed and calm their fears by dispelling rumours. Samiul is an international student from Bangladesh.

However, overseas students have to be extra careful as they may take the virus to their motherland. The USA and Japan started evacuating their people and other developed nations are also preparing for evacuations.

English proficiency exams (GRE, GMAT Test, TOEFL and IELTS) have been postponed in China and it will delay Chinese students’ studies abroad. Universities and colleges around the world are changing plans for new and returning Chinese students. In some cases, Chinese students who are already abroad have been recommended not to go home for holidays. Administrators of different universities have started to cancel exchange programs, conferences and sporting events in China. Moreover, some Chinese students from Wuhan are now unable to get to school in New Zealand. This Coronavirus forces many educational institutions to lower the enrollment of Chinese students. The virus changes the whole education system globally.

The governments and concern authorities around the globe should provide masks and other important items at a minimal price or freely to the hospitals and educational institutes to prevent the virus epidemic or eruption.


Further Reading: 

Indian’s Ban on Onion and Cow Export to Bangladesh & Its Effects



Impact of The Indian’s Ban on Onion and Cows Export to Bangladesh: A blessing or curse

Some say that everything has its positive and negative sides in its own ways. India banned onion and cows export to its friend and neighbouring country, Bangladesh

Consequences of The Indian’s Ban on Cows Export to Bangladesh (Pros & Cons)
The price for cows and other animals has gone high and the people of Bangladesh had to buy meat at a higher price. Since the Muslim majority country, they (90% of BD people) sacrifice halal animals (cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and camels) in the name of almighty Allah at the time of Eid al-Adha (locally known as Korbani Eid). During the time of animal sacrifice festival, the price of sacrificial animal remains highest.

Because of the high price and profit, cattle business in Bangladesh has flourished and many unemployed people involved in the cattle farm business. Now it has become an emerging source of income generation for the local entrepreneurs and dairy farmers (small and mid-level businesspersons). Due to the new business, animals for Eid slaughtering stay in stock at a good price and it is a win-win situation for both the buyers and the sellers. 

Bangladesh has now achieved self-sufficiency in animals and it has profoundly reduced cattle imports from Myanmar and India. The meat industry has also prevented virus attack from foreign meat.


Results of The Indian’s Ban on Onion Export to Bangladesh (Advantages & Disadvantages)
The sudden Indian’s ban on onion export has created a crisis in Bangladesh. Because of the continuous demand and price hike, the BD people are trying to consume less onion and avoid onion in food. The restaurants are using onion less and increase the food price.  The government of Bangladesh is mitigating the crisis by importing onion from several countries (Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey, Myanmar, China) by air and sea. The government also sells those imported essential cooking ingredient through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB – a govt body). Scientists of agriculture universities and agriculture research institutes are also trying to find alternatives. All endeavours to tame the skyrocketing onion price have not seen success because syndicates are taking the advantages of the export ban.

However, raising domestic onion production and becoming a self-sufficient like the country did after cattle ban from India should be the main motto. Bangladesh has unemployment problems and it also has demographic dividend advantages.

Nowadays, not only traditional farmers but also by educated youths involve in commercial agribusiness. In Bangladesh, those who are the actual producer and grower of food are usually poor and uneducated. A revolution is required in the agriculture sector. Our agriculture business will be developed if farmers are well-educated and smart to know modern production and marketing method like in Europe and the USA.

There is no option but to turn these challenges into opportunities and make more businessmen in the country. From meat production to grain cultivation, vegetables and fruits production, smart people should think about it and come forward to do business. Furthermore, the government also needs to motivate the young generation not to wait for govt jobs only but to become entrepreneurs and give others jobs.  We will reduce dependency on every sector if the business is grown and run well.

It must be kept in mind that cattle owners must be stopped to inject harmful substances (injections of steroid, hormone) into animals in the name of fattening. The farmers must be encouraged to utilize composts and green fertilizers in agriculture production.


References:



The Major Challenges of Bangladesh Foreign Policy



The Key Challenges of Foreign Policy in Bangladesh
Bangladesh, a South Asian country, is located in a conflicted region and peace may be a dream in the area. India, Pakistan and China have an uneasy political relationship and rivalries. Moreover, Kashmir disputes aggravate the bitterness of their bilateral relations. Bangladesh has also unsettled issues with its close neighbours.



Rohingya Issues, Myanmar & Friends
About 1 million Rohingya refugees fled from Myanmar taking shelter in Bangladesh. International communities help to donate money and to provide foods to the refugees but Bangladesh has not received support from its close friends. As Myanmar has a strategic location and lots to give, China, India and Japan are investing in the country (Burma).

Balancing relationship with different countries
Due to the geopolitical advantage, many influential countries are now giving much importance to Bangladesh. The country has to balance its relationship with these big players (US-Rus, China, Japan & India).

Bangladesh aborted Sonadia deep seaport project with China in 2016. India had shown a concern that it would bring China’s direct presence closer to Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India.

Chinese 'debt trap'
A big challenging question is - Is Bangladesh going to fall in a 'debt trap' of China? China and Bangladesh have made numerous infrastructure deals (billions worth). However, some are concern that dependence on Chinese money will force Dhaka indebted to Beijing although these investments promise advantages.

A love-hate relationship with India?
The changes in the government of Bangladesh affect the relations with its neighbouring country India. There is some sort of mistrust and the love-hate relationship between India (the world’s largest democracy) and Bangladesh.


The sharing of river Teesta’s waters:  Indian PM Narendra Modi has committed on the fair share of Teesta River’s water, but nothing happens.

Border killing: Although India has committed to zero border deaths, shooting and killings, unfortunately, continue at the India & Bangladesh border by India’s Border Security Force (BSF). It is also worth mentioning that the picture of Felani's body hanging on the border fence caught international media attention and created much anger among Bangladeshi citizens. The India & Bangladesh border has been termed as one of the most dangerous borders in the world.

Cows and Onion Crisis: Following the cow trade ban, legal cattle trade from India has shrunk but cow smuggling is increased significantly in the border.

Bangladesh also faced a huge demand and price hike crisis due to the Indian’s ban on onion export to Bangladesh. Bangladesh is trying to mitigate the problem by raising domestic onion production in the future.

Muhorir River & Char: The disputes on settling the boundary along the midstream of the Muhuri River is one of the unsolved issues between the two countries. Despite repeated requests from the government of Bangladesh, India keeps the disputes hanging.

World Bank & the Padma Bridge Project Scam
World Bank (WB) blocked its promised finance for constructing the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project because of corruption conspiracy (2012) among Bangladeshi government officials with the key stakeholders. However, it was told (PM) that Muhammad Yunus stopped WB funding by using his relations with Hillary Clinton (the ex-US Secretary of State).

Money Laundering / Money Flight
Dishonest businessmen in Bangladesh generate capital flights (money smuggling) through opening fake LCs, over & under-invoicing of imports or hundi. The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), police and law enforcement agencies are trying to prevent money laundering but they have failed.

Drugs and smuggling
Bangladesh has become a supermarket for traffickers who buy the drugs from factories in Myanmar (a hub of ya’ba smuggling and trading) and India at cheap rates and sell in Bangladesh at higher price.

Migration & Remittance issue
Exports of labours from Bangladesh to the Middle East has declined profoundly for multiple factors, for instance: the higher migration cost, limited employment opportunities & promised salaries, violence against women workers, armed conflicts and lack of government initiatives to protect migrants etc. The manpower market is shrinking steadily. 

Terrorism and Extremism
After the attack on the Holey Artisan cafe in Dhaka (July 2016), a deadly extremist attack, there was a fear of growing extremism in Bangladesh but it has not happened thanks to the present government of Bangladesh. To stop terrorism and extremism, Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) have been established.

Imbalanced International Trade with China And India

Shortage of Bangladesh Diplomatic Missions Abroad


In foreign policy, friends are often changeable and there is no permanent friend or foe.  Only self-interest is constant (the real thing).


What should Bangladesh do?
Will BD make good friends with the influential countries who can help the country (without increasing enemies)?


Further Reading



Impact of CAA & NRC on India’s Neighbour Bangladesh


Effects of CAA & NRC on India’s Neighbouring country Bangladesh  

Neither the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) nor National Register of Citizens (NRC) was blocked in India. Bangladesh may face negative consequences from these acts. These laws will grant citizenship to people from non-Muslim communities (religious minority - Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian faiths only) fleeing persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The new system violates secular doctrine/ principle of the Indian constitution and discriminates against Muslims. The laws have sparked protests and millions of people come out to roads across India. The ruling Indian government under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is convincing protests and protesters to stop. 


The grave concern is that people who will not prove their claims to Indian citizenship under the laws will flee Bangladesh. They (Muslims & Bengali-speaking people from Assam) have to act so to avoid detention camps. These likelihoods of influx of frustrated people from India has become true since the border guards of Bangladesh has recently detained 238 Indian citizens (December 2019) attempting to escape persecution in India.


In 2019 (December), Abul Kalam (AK) Abdul Momen (the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh) and Asaduzzaman Khan (Home Minister of BD) postponed their visits to Delhi at a time of protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). 


Bangladesh-India relationship under the ruling BJP led govt and the present Bangladeshi (Awami League - AL) Government has now reached “the golden age”. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has told Gulf News during an interview - 


“We don’t understand why they (Indian govt) did it. It was not necessary.”

However, she also mentioned that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is an internal matter of India.



Vote For Me and I Will Destroy You


Vote For Me and I Will Destroy You Gradually
Dear chickens,
I am one of the foxes competing in the election and I am a candidate in your area. Vote for me, please!

My promises are very simple and common. For instance:  
>>>  Stealing your money (in various ways) will be my sole motto. If I cannot, taxes and fees will be increased multiplied ways in the name of development.

>>> Opportunities will be given to my own people only.

>>> Power will be exercised by my party men.

>>> I will definitely corrupt me.

>>> You will be manipulated in several ways.

>>> You people will be divided into different sects so that I can dominate you precisely. 

>>> My family members will not be kept in the area and I will take my family members to the developed countries for education and permanent residency. 

>>> The ancestors’ glory will be praised but I won’t think about present problems and future challenges.

>>> If I need more money, gold or oil, there will be conflicts in the Middle East. 

>>> I will promote global peace through arms dealings and wars. 

>>> I will do whatever I want to.


With your support, I can legitimately cripple the country and get you free tickets to the hell. After all, I am honest and I am telling the truth.

My name is Adolf W. Trump and please cast vote me.

Make the Foolishtan fool again!