EDITORIAL : THE DAILY STAR, BANGLADESH

Repatriation hampered

Let our govt do more to help

The appeal by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR for international assistance in repatriating thousands of foreigners fleeing Libya is the biggest sign of what governments can yet do to help captive citizens. The situation is particularly difficult for the thousands of Bangladeshis who remain stranded on the frontier between Libya and Tunisia, a condition that looks likely to continue now that the IOM has run out of funds. While one expects the international community to come forward, and quickly with emergency funds, one also believes that governments such as Bangladesh's should be doing a whole lot more to help their own people out of the crisis.

Meanwhile, we express our gratitude to the Tunisian people who, despite their own difficulties, have come forth spontaneously to help the foreigners including Bangladeshis streaming into their country from Libya. Their noble deeds will resonate with us forever.

The unfortunate reality, though, is that while the Bangladesh government has loudly voiced its concerns and its determination to bring back all Bangladeshis home, it has simply not backed up its resolve with enough concrete measures. The proof of such indifference comes from the IOM itself. Officials of the organisation are plainly exasperated that despite reports of Biman aircraft flying in to fly out the stranded Bangladeshis, there has been no sign yet that that is truly happening. We are now constrained to ask why the Bangladesh government, which recently despatched the foreign minister and the foreign secretary as well as other officials to oversee the repatriation of Bangladeshis, has failed to meet public expectations. Our officials have reportedly not contacted the IOM or UNHCR people working on the ground. If they have not, what exactly have they been engaged in doing? It is not a pretty sight when the government of a country cannot come to the aid of its people in distress abroad. It disappoints citizens and it leaves them red-faced before the rest of the world.

Let the government get its act together and strive more energetically to orchestrate the repatriation exercise so that none of our citizens feel abandoned.

Biman's loss of customers

Avoid half- baked approach

The state that the national carrier is in at present it can do well without any poorly planned step. This has become only too evident from the quandary Biman finds itself in due to the enhancement of fares, which, apparently, was effected without proper homework.

The result of the hike in fare on the international routes has been loss of customers, in some cases as much as 50 percent. Even reduction by 60 percent in the new rates has not been able to recoup the loss.

We find it difficult to agree with Biman Chairman that the tariff committee had taken the decision after considering all the factors. It is very obvious that the decision to raise passenger fares has not been backed up by a thorough market study, as evidenced by the quick change of decision to cut the raise.

The poor state of the national carrier has been a matter of serious concern. It is a classic example of how a prospective and promising enterprise can be wasted due to sheer mismanagement, corruption and abysmal lack of commitment by those that are entrusted to run the airline. We fail to understand how other airlines operating in and out of Bangladesh have flourished while Biman has suffered. Can we expect an explanation by the Biman authorities as to how the number of Biman passengers has dwindled while some airlines have increased the number of flights to meet the increased demand on them?

Biman needs a thorough overhaul starting with having a management that is well versed in running an aviation industry, and no political consideration must come in in this regard; and a long term plan needs to be put in place to lift it up from the morass that Biman is in.