Amazed at the Present Progress of Bangladesh: Dr. Vitaly V Naumkin

Interviewer: We heard that this is your first visit to Bangladesh. How are you finding it? 

Vitaly: Although I haven't come before, I am aware about Bangladesh. My present visit is not as a tourist but as a specialist. I have some knowledge about the birth history of Bangladesh. I am also aware of the language, culture, heritage, history of political movements and struggles and try to regularly observe the progress of the country. Bangladesh is one of the countries I like personally. I have a personal interest in those countries and nations, who are nationally independent, and the roots of language, culture, history and heritage go deep.

Interviewer: And present Bangladesh?

Vitaly: We have been surprised by the progress Bangladesh has made in the last six years. This is because, after Liberation, the country was extremely poor, with unending problems. But Bangladesh has advanced a lot from the situation. Bangladesh is home to nearly 170 million people, in comparison to which it only has an area of, 144,000 square kilometers. Russia is the largest country in the world with an area of 16.3 million 77 thousand square kilometers, making it 163 times larger than Bangladesh. Still Russia has a lower population than Bangladesh, at 140 million. It is amazing how so many people can sustain in an area this small. Yet, Bangladesh has consistently attained more than 6% GDP growth, became self-sufficient in food, and has managed to climb to the position of becoming a middle income country. Nearly 100% children are going to primary schools, and the participation of women in the economy has increased. In my opinion, the success of Bangladesh is well worth noting.

Interviewer: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman went on a tour of the Soviet Union. We came to know that you acted as a translator at that time. How did you find Bangabandhu?

Vitaly: My first impression of him was that he is a charismatic leader. His political experience, sense of responsibility, farsightedness and wisdom all were apparent from his speech. We observed from the pre-Liberation War stage what he did for his country and people and that to us was very appealing. He was a handsome man. His height, mental strength, and informed, refined and intelligible words had created such an impression of his personality on my mind which still resonates till date. I feel only a man of his greatness deserves the title of Father of the Nation. I feel very sad whenever I remember that only a few days after his Moscow visit, he was mercilessly killed along with his family. But my observation of the progress being made under the leadership of his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tells me that being the deserving daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she is following in his footsteps.

Interviewer: Such as? What are the principal aspects of Sheikh Hasina's leadership?

Vitaly: For instance, Bangladesh had the problem of demarcating maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal for four decades, which has been resolved under her leadership. This is quite a complex issue; Russia had a long standing maritime boundary dispute with Norway. We have been able to solve this only recently. Also, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's prudent diplomacy has solved the enclaves issue with India. If I am not wrong, this dispute has been resolved after 44 years. Additionally, as I said before, the speed at which a country like Bangladesh has been solve a number of its problems, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina played a crucial role in that.

Interviewer: Her contributions to social issues?

Vitaly: I want to mention something very important as regards social issues. That is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's contribution to women empowerment and development. I study and research on Arab and Islamic societies. Muslim communities is an area of interest for me. Apart from a few like Benazir Bhutto or , you cannot find many countries in the Arab world or among the Muslim majority countries with a female President or female Prime Minister. Among them, Sheikh Hasina is being international recognized as a global leader. I consider Bangladesh to be a role model among the Muslim majority countries of the world. Because, here women have advanced more than anywhere else. And that has taken place because of the leadership skills of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Moreover, it also needs to be mentioned how successfully she has tackled the problem of violent extremism. The successes of her leadership has caught our attention, and hence we at Institute of Oriental Studies, have taken up the initiative to publish a book on her life and work.

Interviewer: What kind of a publication will it be? Who will be the intended readers?

Vitaly: From the Institute of Oriental Studies, we have undertaken a project whose aim is to highlight the leaders and heads of states of the developing countries, who have made outstanding contributions to the development of their countries and nations, to the western readers. Previously we published a book on Malaysia's Mahathir Mohammad. Now, we are working on publishing a book on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This book will be simultaneously published in four languages: Russian, Bangla, Arabic and English. The book will be translated in Arabic so that the people in the Arab world, particularly the women, can learn about the life and work of Sheikh Hasina.