Bangladesh in Development and Progress

Hiren Pandit: 

Bangabandhu turned the Awami League into a popular grassroots political party. After his brutal killing, his exiled daughter Sheikh Hasina has taken the lead as Awami League president as a symbol of unity in extremely difficult times. She has walked a long way in the struggle for democracy. She came back from the face of death again and again. She brought Awami League to power after 21 years as a popular party and is working tirelessly to institutionalize democracy. The Awami League has always played a politically vocal, protesting role against all kinds of exploitation, deprivation, injustice, injustice and oppression in any democratic movement of Bangladesh, starting from the independence movement of this country, along with the economic, social, political and cultural liberation of the people and is still doing so. People's fortunes improve when the Awami League is in power. The history of this 73 years since the formation of this party bears the signature of that fact.

This initiative gave Sheikh Hasina an opportunity to unite the party. After 21 years with that united power, she won the 1996 election and brought the party to power for 21 years. Sheikh Hasina made the impossible possible by forming the government in 1996, bringing the killers of her family to justice and later bringing the war criminals to justice. The opportunity came to carry forward the ideals of the Bengali nation. Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina started working as a path and path for the overall welfare, development and liberation of the people of Bangladesh. She proved that she has no alternative to the development of democracy in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina's honesty, devotion, integrity, rational mind, strong morale, wisdom and extraordinary leadership have established Bangladesh at a different height in the world and she is known as a world-renowned leader.

Bangladesh will become the 29th largest economy in the world by 2030 and the 23rd economy by 2050. In 2026, Bangladesh will make its debut in the world as a 'middle-income country' and in 2041 as a 'developed country' Smart Bangladesh. The big proof that Bangladesh is moving forward is that the per capita income of the country's people has increased over the past few years. The current per capita income is 2 thousand 824 dollars. Today, our beloved motherland Bangladesh is one of the top countries in the world in terms of economic progress.

The inauguration of the Metrorail and the Padma Bridge is both development milestones. Successfully deal with corona pandemic, education, communication infrastructure, gas, electricity, women’s education, 100% increase in salary for employees, health care, distribution of free books, achieving self-sufficiency in food production, social programs for disadvantaged communities, helpless, elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, assistance to divorced women, autism, providing assistance to destitute freedom fighters, shelter scheme, one house and one farm scheme, women empowerment and the overall development of various sectors has been played a major role by the government led by the Prime Minister.The role of electricity in the development of a country is undeniable. Persistent power shortages slowed the country's progress. In other words, the long-standing electricity problem in the country, for which the previous governments could not provide any solution - the Awami League government has delivered electricity to the people's doorsteps even though it is at an exorbitant cost. This production is not only used for household purposes, but also for other electricity-dependent means, which has made the wheels of the country's economy move.

On the other hand, the revenue of the government has also increased. Although there are allegations of corruption almost everywhere, the biggest relief for the government is the agriculture sector and its management. In a populous country like ours, careful and judicious use of limited arable land is desirable. It happened in our country. As a result, import dependence on our agricultural products has been reduced to a large extent. Because of this agricultural revolution, the country of 17 crore people has been made self-sufficient in food, which is a very positive aspect for the country. Today's agricultural revolution is the invention of the Awami League.

Our main sources of revenue, especially foreign exchange earnings, are exports of manufactured garments and manpower. Although it started with private ownership, these two sectors have gained enough speed due to the interest of the government. As a result, the driving force of the country's economy has gained momentum. Along with that, the unemployment problem of the country has been solved a lot. There are products that are exportable, which cannot be exported entirely by private enterprises. In this regard, the government's activity is worth seeing. Governments and employers still have a lot to do to make the garment manufacturing environment acceptable to foreign buyers.

When the World Bank canceled the allocation from the Padma bridge, the Awami League government took it as a challenge. The government took the initiative to build the bridge with its own funding. The existence of the bridge is important to all of us now. This bridge is changing our economy. Over the past few years, the Awami League government has vowed to build infrastructure. Flyovers, underpasses, and Metrorail etc. have been constructed. Long cherished and Dream Metrorail has been running since December 28, 2022.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been praised in the international arena for taking various steps to ensure people's health protection to save lives from the Covid-19 pandemic. The influential US magazine Forbes has praised various initiatives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Following this, the World Economic Forum also praised the Prime Minister's role.Sheikh Hasina has been able to bring economic and social progress to Bangladesh by having the opportunity to rule the country for a long time. Its recognition is the UN SDG Progress Award 2021. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has received many such recognitions. Earlier, Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of our country, was selected as one of the three most successful and exemplary women heads of government in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Bangabandhu's dream of building a golden Bangladesh is being implemented by the Prime Minister with hard work and talent. With the hands of the world leader, this country will transform into a bright developed country like Singapore and Malaysia in a short time. Only Sheikh Hasina can build a developed, prosperous and peaceful Bengali nation and Bangladesh. She loved the country more than her children. Father's unfinished work that needs to be completed. A non-sectarian, democratic and future modern Bangladesh should be built. This is also the expectation of the present generation.

In the last 14 years, the country has reached a new height of socio-economic development. These achievements have been possible because the Awami League government has been running the government consistently. Working with the determination to make Bangladesh a developed-smart Bangladesh by 2041. For this, the vision plan 2041 has been formulated and the implementation has started.

Today, Bangladesh has joined the ranks of developing countries. The country is now self-sufficient in food grain production. This year, 4 crores 72 lakh metric tons of grains including 4 crores 4 lakh metric tons of rice have been produced. The production of various agricultural products including fish, meat, eggs, milk, vegetables, and fruits has increased tremendously. The poverty rate has come down from 40 percent to 20 percent. Per capita income increased from $543 to $2,824. The literacy rate has increased from 45 percent to 75.2 percent. Maternal and infant mortality rates have decreased. These achievements have been possible because the Awami League government has been running the government consistently. Revolutionary changes have come in the communication infrastructure sector during the government. The Padma Bridge was inaugurated last June after overcoming many hurdles. This bridge directly connects 19 districts of the southern region with the capital Dhaka and other parts of the country by road. The largest Payra bridge in the southern region was inaugurated in October. In November and December, 100 bridges and roads in 25 districts of the country were opened for traffic. Many highways in the country have been upgraded to four or more lanes. Others are in progress. The tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram, the Metrorail in Dhaka has been commissioned and a section of the Airport-Qutubkhali Expressway will be opened for traffic very soon.

The nuclear power plant has been constructed and satellite Bangabandhu-1 has been launched now work is underway for satellite Bangabandhu-2. Delta Plan-2100 has been formulated to protect our generations from the impacts of climate change and build a better future. The whole world is passing through an unstable economic situation today. At the end of 2019, the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic. In these two years 2020 and 2021, a deep wound was created in the world economy. Many countries' economies collapsed. Our economy also suffers. Just as our economy was recovering from the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war broke out. This war is not just a war of arms; Added to this is a terrible economic war. The effects of economic warfare are not confined to a single country but spread worldwide. The post-Russia-Ukraine war economic embargo-reciprocal embargo has crippled the global economy. As the loss of life due to coronavirus has been reduced by taking timely measures, all efforts have been made to keep the economy running.

The aim was to save people's lives as well as sustain their livelihood. 15,000 beds have been increased in various hospitals on an urgent basis to ensure the treatment of coronavirus patients. All the equipment including PPE, oxygen for patients, ventilators, and emergency medicine are provided for the protection of health workers. About 34 crore vaccinations have been administered free of charge to all those eligible for vaccination. An incentive package of Tk 1 lakh 87 thousand 679 crores was announced under 28 packages. Salaries and allowances of workers in garment and other industries have been guaranteed. 50 lakh marginalized and disadvantaged people have been given cash assistance of two and a half thousand taka in two phases.

Among them were people from all walks of life including transport workers, shop employees, non-MPO teachers, imams, muazzins, and cultural workers. Slum dwellers, poor and low-income people who cannot reach out to others, as soon as they call the hotline number 333, food items including rice and pulses are delivered to their homes. During the coronavirus epidemic, about 73 million 50 thousand people have benefited in various ways and about 1 lakh 81 thousand 266 organizations have benefited. Developing and import-dependent countries like ours have been hit the hardest by the Ukraine-Russia war and economic sanctions and counter-embargoes by the West.

The main goal of this government is to work for the welfare of the people. No one wants people to suffer or suffer. Due to economic reasons, the prices of daily necessities increased. It is starting to become more normal now. Inflation is also coming down. As soon as the price of any commodity including fuel oil falls in the world market, the government will adjust it.

Addressing the countrymen with the urge to increase food production, the Prime Minister mentioned that we need to increase agricultural production. Our soil is fertile. Why do we need to import agricultural products from outside where trees grow and bear fruit when seeds are planted in the ground? We have to utilize every inch of land and not leave it fallow. The crisis will come. Don't be afraid of crisis. With everyone's help, Bangladesh has been able to successfully deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Bangladesh will also successfully deal with the current global recession.

Writer is a columnist and a researcher.
Courtesy: dailyasianage.com