Saturday, December 21, 2024

Sheikh Hasina Government: A Record of Corruption and Oppression - Bangla Desh - an analyse -2 -

 second part

Fabricated Statistics

During Hasina’s administration, statistical manipulations were a frequent occurrence involving GDP growth, per capita income, purchasing power, food self-sufficiency, population figures, agricultural production and consumption, foreign exchange reserves, and more. Economists and domestic and international organizations have long questioned the credibility of GDP growth figures, citing discrepancies with export and remittance data, industrial growth, and private investment rates.

The manipulation of GDP statistics was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite significant setbacks in transport, hospitality, and small industries, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) reported substantial growth in these sectors. For example, during July 2020 to June 2021, despite restrictions on public transportation, BBS claimed an additional 240 billion BDT or over 10% value addition.

Initial estimates for GDP growth during 2020-2021 were 5.43% based on data from the first nine months. However, despite economic stagnation in the final quarter due to COVID-19, the finalized figure was reported as 6.94%, raising doubts about its accuracy. A former secretary of the statistics department remarked, “GDP growth figures are predetermined, and then the calculations are retrofitted to match.”

Unreliable Inflation Figures

Inflation statistics reported by BBS often failed to align with reality. For example, during a time of skyrocketing global and domestic prices for essentials like rice, lentils, and cooking oil, BBS claimed inflation had decreased. In January 2022, it reported a drop in inflation compared to December 2021. Monthly inflation rates (point-to-point) were cited as 6.05% in December and 5.86% in January. However, according to the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), actual food inflation rates for January 2022 were 11.36% in urban areas and 11.21% in rural areas—more than double the BBS figures.

Export Misreporting

The government’s various departments often provided inconsistent export data. While media reports highlighted discrepancies between data from the Bangladesh Bank and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), no corrective measures were taken. When the IMF raised concerns, the government admitted that the EPB had overreported exports by $14 billion for the July-April period of FY 2023-24, and the discrepancy was $65 billion over the previous 10 fiscal years.

Environmental and Ecological Damage

Hasina’s development model demonstrated a disregard for environmental sustainability. Over 15 years, forests and rivers were encroached upon, air and water were polluted, trees and hills were destroyed, and wetlands were filled to serve the interests of domestic and foreign entities under the guise of development and growth.

Industrial waste pollution rendered rivers like Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Turag, and Balu near Dhaka almost biologically dead. While forests and wetlands were destroyed to build factories, untreated industrial waste polluted surrounding water bodies, affecting agriculture, fisheries, and public health. Local populations reported decreased crop yields, dwindling fish supplies, and rising respiratory and skin diseases.

Illegal Sand Mining

Backed by political patronage, influential groups have been engaged in large-scale illegal sand extraction, reaping hundreds of millions in illicit profits. A 2023 study by the River and Delta Research Center identified 265 individualsconducting illegal sand mining at 132 points across 77 rivers, including 54 local representatives and 192 other influential figures. Illegal sand mining has caused widespread river erosion, leaving thousands homeless and landless every year.

Smoke from unfit and expired vehicles, emissions from factories and brick kilns, and dust generated from infrastructure construction and repair work have placed Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, among the most polluted cities in the world for several consecutive years. According to the Air Quality Life Index 2023, published by the University of Chicago, Bangladesh has become the country with the most polluted air globally. Breathing this polluted air reduces the average life expectancy of Bangladeshis by approximately 6.8 years.

Instead of taking effective steps to control air pollution, the government has built coal-fired power plants that pollute both air and water. Furthermore, the government has relaxed pollution standards through legislation. For instance, under the Air Pollution (Control) Regulations 2022, the maximum permissible levels of pollutants emitted by coal-fired power plants in Bangladesh are set several times higher than the limits enforced in China or Japan, which also build such plants.

Due to the government’s neglect in controlling air pollution for the benefit of domestic and foreign investors, the general population has borne the consequences. The PM2.5 concentration in Bangladesh’s air is over seven times higher than acceptable levels, causing widespread health issues. As a result, 78,000 to 88,000 people die prematurely each year due to air pollution.

Government agencies have failed to play an appropriate role in preserving the environment and biodiversity; instead, they have contributed to environmental destruction. Actions include turning protected forests into tourist attractions, building infrastructure detrimental to nature under the guise of development projects, cutting down trees, leveling hills, filling water reservoirs to construct buildings, building coal- and oil-fired power plants, and polluting rivers.

Submissive Foreign Policy with India

To maintain power through unchallenged and manipulated elections, the Hasina government granted one-sided benefits to its large neighboring country, India. These included transit routes via Bangladesh for Indian goods through roads, waterways, and railways, access to Bangladesh’s seaports, opportunities for Indian public and private companies to operate in Bangladesh’s power and energy sectors, and permission for India’s state-run institutions to establish the Rampal Power Plant near the Sundarbans. Additionally, India gained rights for oil and gas exploration in Bangladesh’s maritime zones, access to special economic zones, and sales of military arms and equipment.

However, during this time, India did not grant Bangladesh its rightful share of water from transboundary rivers, failed to sign the Teesta water-sharing agreement, imposed anti-dumping duties on jute exports, erected barbed-wire fences along the border, and killed Bangladeshi nationals indiscriminately.

According to the Ain o Salish Kendra, between 2009 and 2023, 594 Bangladeshis were killed by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) through shootings or torture. Despite this, the Hasina government neither pressured India to stop border killings nor issued strong protests.

Hasina herself acknowledged the one-sided benefits given to India. At a press conference in May 2018 after an official visit to India, she remarked, “What I have given to India, they will remember for a lifetime.” Responding to a question about an Anandabazar Patrika article titled “Delhi Has Dhaka’s Support, But Hasina Expects Reciprocity from Modi”, she said, “I don’t want anything in return. What is there to ask for?” Hasina maintained her policy of granting unilateral concessions to India without expecting anything in return throughout her tenure.

Public Discontent and Downfall

These actions accumulated into a massive pile of grievances against the Hasina administration. In July, the indiscriminate killing of hundreds of youth by law enforcement during the quota reform movement acted as a spark that ignited this volatile situation. Ultimately, this led to the downfall of Hasina’s prolonged authoritarian regime.

Author: Kallol Mustafa
Email: kallol_mustafa@yahoo.com

References

  1. “Names of 800 people killed in the mass uprising received: Advisor,” Prothom Alo, September 12, 2024; “Student-public uprising: Over 18,000 injured,” Prothom Alo, September 7, 2024.
  2. “7,001 total cases under Digital Security Act: Law Minister in Parliament,” Prothom Alo, June 5, 2023.
  3. “Politicians, journalists mostly accused under Digital Security Act,” Prothom Alo, April 30, 2024.
  4. “Still missing: 153 individuals, families in despair,” Prothom Alo, August 30, 2023.
  5. Ain o Salish Kendra yearly statistics: Death by law enforcement agencies. (www.askbd.org)
  6. “Expired loans in banking sector now at Tk 257,392 crore,” Bonik Barta, June 23, 2024.
  7. “Stock market manipulation and fraud: Investors looted of billions,” Bonik Barta, August 12, 2024.
  8. “Finger Pointed at 60 Individuals,” The Daily Star, April 9, 2011.
  9. “Stock market scandal: All perpetrators untouchable,” Prothom Alo, March 27, 2016.
  10. Electricity and Energy (Special Provisions) Act 2010, Sections 9 & 10.
  11. “Power plant rental cost hits Tk 1 trillion,” Prothom Alo, September 6, 2023.
  12. “Electricity prices rose 188% under the Awami League’s 15 years,” Bonik Barta, August 18, 2024.
  13. “$11.38 billion loan deal signed for nuclear power plant,” The Daily Star, July 27, 2016.
  14. “Why should Matarbari project cost $4.4 billion?” The Daily Star, June 21, 2014.
  15. “Payra Power Plant’s coal import bills, loan payments delayed,” The Business Standard, December 10, 2022.
  16. “Rampal Coal Plant: Construction starts late this month,” The Daily Star, September 5, 2016.
  17. “Severe load-shedding disrupts industrial production,” Samakal, June 6, 2023.
  18. “Trade-Related Illicit Financial Flows in Developing Countries,” Global Financial Integrity, December 16, 2021.
  19. “Foreign Direct Investment in Bangladesh,” Bangladesh Bank, 2009.
  20. “Bangladesh’s foreign debt crosses $100 billion,” Bonik Barta, November 22, 2023.
    …
  21. “Hasina doesn’t expect reciprocity from Delhi,” bdnews24.com, May 30, 2018.
  22. “The World’s Most Expensive BRT Line!”, The Daily Star Bangla, August 29, 2018
  23. Comparison of Cost and Construction Times of First Metro Lines in Asia, Future Southeast Asia, November 6, 2021
  24. Corruption Significantly Increases the Capital Cost of Power Plants in Developing Contexts, Kumar Biswajit Debnath, Monjur Mourshed, Front. Energy Res., March 8, 2018
  25. Report of the Household Income & Expenditure Survey 2022, BBS, page 30
  26. Report of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2022, BBS, pages 25-26
  27. Global Wealth Databook 2022, Credit Suisse Research Institute, page 130
  28. “Increase in ‘Boat People’ from Bangladesh to Italy,” Bonik Barta, April 7, 2023
  29. “Workplace-Related Accidents Killed 1,432 People This Year,” The Daily Star, December 29, 2023
  30. “Bangladeshis Are Buying Sugar at Double the Price Paid by Indians,” Prothom Alo, January 11, 2023
  31. “88% of Edible Oil Imported by Four Companies,” Bonik Barta, May 6, 2022
  32. “Top Four Companies to Sell Broiler Chickens at a Maximum of Tk 195 per Kg,” Prothom Alo, March 23, 2023
  33. “Rice Mill Owners Make Profits of Tk 8-14 Per Kg,” Prothom Alo, November 19, 2022
  34. “No Benefit of Global Price Drops Seen Domestically,” Prothom Alo, March 24, 2023
  35. “Addressing Syndicates Would Create a Crisis, Says Commerce Minister in Parliament,” Bangla Tribune, June 26, 2023
  36. “Questions Arise Over GDP Calculations in Three Sectors,” Prothom Alo, August 19, 2021
  37. “GDP Reaches $416 Billion,” Bonik Barta, February 9, 2022
  38. “Growth Is Decided in Advance; Calculations Are Adjusted Later,” Prothom Alo, August 23, 2020
  39. “BBS Inflation Data Raises ‘Surprise’,” NewsBangla24, February 16, 2022
  40. “Is BBS Providing Accurate Inflation Data?” Selim Raihan, Prothom Alo, March 2, 2022
  41. “Exports Overstated by $65 Billion Over 10 Years,” Samakal, July 8, 2024
  42. “Five Consecutive Years of Identical Growth Rate!” Bonik Barta, February 5, 2019
  43. Crop Prospects and Food Situation – Quarterly Global Report No. 3, FAO, September 2022, page 42
  44. Commodity-Wise Import Statistics Recorded by Customs [Annual Data], Bangladesh Bank, https://www.bb.org.bd/en/index.php/econdata/bop_yearly/3
  45. Breathing Heavy: New Evidence on Air Pollution and Health in Bangladesh, World Bank, 2022, pages xv-xvii, 39
  46. “Border Killings Persist Even During the Pandemic,” Prothom Alo, September 18, 2020; ASK Reports on BorderViolence; 2022 Report; 2023 Report
  47. “Hasina Does Not Expect Reciprocity from Delhi,” bd
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