But this growth trend is apprehended to be unsustainable in the face of increasing political turmoil in recent months, particularly since the assumption of power by the caretaker government. A report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on Bangladesh has already endorsed that political unrest may cause the economy to lose around 0.2 to 0.5 percent of the possible GDP growth in the FY2007, if not more. This has been fuelled by the complete suspension of ports, transport system and other commercial activities for around two weeks. Even stock exchanges were shut on few days. In the meantime, the value of taka has slid by almost 5-6 percent against US dollar.

Though it is very sensitive to talk about political programmes staged by political parties in the country, particularly in the current situation, one has to analyse the consequences of misunderstanding and mistrust among parties objectively. Agitation programmes and blockades lead to sufferings across class and profession. The common people and those living from hand to mouth, businesspeople and traders have suffered a severe blow during shutdown programmes now and in the past. When the World Bank and Asian Development Bank are continuously focusing on increased revenue earnings by the government, informal statistics show that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) loses around Tk150 crore in customs duty a day due to the closure of Chittagong and Mongla seaports and Benapole, Burimari and other land ports. A continued political crisis will have a crippling effect on the economy apart from day to day life of the people.

It is acknowledged that protests through processions, strikes and sit-in programmes are democratic rights. Incidentally and ironically, since the liberation, most of the legitimate rights of the people in Bangladesh were established through street agitation only. However, things have changed as the society has gone through major cultural and educational advancements. Strikes are expression of protest but in today's world it is not any more a popular method. Because, we are citizens of the world in many ways, our economy is increasingly being integrated into the global economy and thus we are exposed to competition with other players. Therefore, delay in delivery of goods and services from our end will only mean break of promise, trust and reliability to the recipient of our products and our clients. In this context, our political parties need to think of alternatives to strikes for protest and get their demands fulfilled in a less destructive way. The practice of enforcing countrywide shutdowns by successive opposition parties over the last several years is the most potent in making the lives of the public even more miserable than they already are, and that too in the name of those very people that the parties claim to serve and whose lot these parties should be striving to improve.

On the other hand, one cannot deny that the present turmoil is the result of total mistrust of a section of people on the existing system, its operational mode and the outcome. The institutions, which are to be respected, protected and kept

above all disputes and doubts have become debatable and failed to prove their good will. It is an irony indeed that these institutions are being looked down upon due to various controversial roles displayed by those. Such precarious situations of these institutions have impact on the economical, political or social development. The general people and future generations have to feel the brunt of such economic meltdown or institutional collapse irrespective of the election results.

We all must acknowledge the democratic right to protest and establish rightful demand of the people. However, we must not forget that creating obstruction in the whole growth generating process will only create barrier in providing improved living standard for all the people of the country. We have to change the culture whereby it has become almost impossible to protect and establish the rights of the people without street agitation and other forms of protests.

We must also develop and strengthen institutions that would be neutral, transparent, accountable, reliable and sensitive to the rightful demand of people. If the growth generating process is not protected and encouraged, we would not be able to generate enough wealth to change the fate of our downtrodden people. Strong institutions should be able to guide the state to formulate policies that will ensure equitable distribution of wealth, which comes almost immediately after we talk and accept the philosophy of wealth creation.

We note with concern that neither the government nor the political parties have been sympathetic to the cause of the common people, and have merely engaged in what can only be termed as their battle to gain or retain state power. In a democratic process it is not unnatural that political parties will fight for power, but that fight has to happen within the framework of a non-violent democratic process and should not deter the mutual respect for each other's opinion. While `we agree to disagree' is the basic preamble of democracy, each one of the power blocs must create enough space for the other to operate. In a battlefield `retreat' is also part of a war strategy. Whoever is little mightier because of their control on the important stakeholders and access to state machineries, must not forget the other and must believe in the culture of `sharing it judiciously' with other stakeholders. When we talk of withdrawing strikes and blockades, we should not also forget about at times the legitimacy of putting blockades/strikes to get the `people's message' across the deaf ears of that quarter which is influenced by only one school of thought or vested interest.

Our hard earned brand image gained over the last 35 years of `Despite, we deliver' gets seriously hurt with continuous political uncertainties. Once the supply side gets disturbed the export side is must to get influenced and lost out to our competitors.

Jittery political environment gives rise to indiscipline and deteriorate law and order situation contributing again to economic impasse. Reports are already there that the buyers of garments are pushing for air lifting to keep the targeted shipment schedule while international shipping companies are reluctant to take on Bangladesh bound/out bound goods, due to extra ordinary time they may need to lose at the Chittagong Port, unless time is chartered with increased prices. Multinational company seniors, prospective investors are canceling their scheduled visits. This is no good. Therefore, all the parties must come to senses and create space for other operators. `Take it all' might help one party/quarter to eat it all, but will take the future of the country nowhere. In today's world chances seldom come twice. Politics taking the place in the business class in an aeroplane and business being continuously pushed to third class in a train is not at all a good signal for an emerging economy like Bangladesh.

The writer is a banker