The rise of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has become one of the developing world�s biggest success stories

Bangabandhu led the Bengali nation to dream for emancipation. He motivated, emboldened and made them conscious. The dream of Bangabandhu was to bring smile to the faces of common people through establishing a poverty and hunger-free Sonar Bangla. His daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working on that dream. Sheikh Hasina often says, “I am working to fulfill Bangabandhu’s dream, and I don’t care about any conspiracy against that…It seems the Almighty is giving me the scope to finish the unfinished works of Bangabandhu to establish Sonar Bangla.” By giving his blood Bangabandhu showed the path of freedom. ‘So, we’ll have to establish that ideal at the cost of any sacrifice, I’m ready for that sacrifice.’
Bangladesh is a country of immense prospects and it will not be possible for us to uplift the economy into a new height if we cannot achieve this goal and be able to fulfill the dream of Bangabandhu. At present Bangladesh is fast moving towards its coveted goal with development and democracy under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Last seven years of Awami League government has already left a sustainable growth in the economy, thus institutionalizing democracy at all levels and marking a milestone in the history of Bangladesh.
 Sheikh Hasina observed that there had been so many games played with the fate of the people of this country. She said that the fate of the Bengali nation has to be changed and the dream of the Father of the Nation fulfilled. The government led by Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina played proactive roles to further accelerate the country’s economic growth and lift the country’s economic status as developed by 2041.
Bangladesh has become one of the developing world’s biggest Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) success stories under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. The Bangladesh Prime Minister is alone among national leaders in having been present in New York in 2000 when the millennium declaration, which preceded the goals, was adopted, and her voice carries significant authority. “We have made many achievements, so we can share our experience with others,” she said.
The latest MDG score card, published recently, shows Bangladesh has reversed some of the worst poverty indicators in the world in recent years, managing to reduce maternal mortality by 40 per cent between 2001 and 2010. Girls outnumber boys in school and extreme poverty rates were cut in half between 1990 and 2015.
In each and every goal, Bangladesh has tremendous achievements, and that’s why the country has won many awards from the UN and others. Now the next step of Bangladesh is to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the country is going to adopt these at the next UN session. Bangladesh is very active on that. However, Bangladesh played a part in drawing up the broader and more detailed SDGs, which are designed to guide global development for the next 15 years.
It may be mentioned that despite the global recession, periods of political instability and frequent natural disasters Bangladesh’s growth is averaging an annual rate of more than 6 per cent. According to a renowned economist, “If climate change had not caused natural disasters, growth would have been 1.5 per cent higher. It means funds are transferred from the development budget to relief every year. Without assistance Bangladesh has achieved a lot.”
Bangladesh’s advancement towards development has been thawarted by the assassination of Bangabandhu and re-introduction of Pakistanization process in 1975. Bangladesh’s success is now recognized by the world community. But it was not then immediate after independence in 1971. Had a poll been taken of economists, political scientists, and (certainly) world leaders, there would have almost none bet on it. Bangladesh was then Henry Kissinger’s “basket case”, a beggar among countries that were all expected to do better.
However, Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman had been the only source of hope and aspirations for the Bengalees. Even in those crisis moments Bangabandhu had been dreaming for a self-reliant Bangladesh, which Tagore termed as Sonar Bangla (golden Bangla). However, the defeated forces of liberation war, with the help of reactionaries in Bangabandhu’s cabinet along with the aspirants of scientific socialism hatched conspiracy and assassinated him alongwith his family members at the dawn of 15 August, 1975, the next day of Pakistan’s creation. However, to save the killers, the beneficiaries of Bangabandhu’s assassination, declared notorious ‘Indemnity Ordinance’. Later on, another beneficiary and the martial law administrator and President General Ziaur Rahaman incorporated this ‘ordinance’ in our holy ‘Constitution’ as ‘Fifth Amendment’. The killers were “sent abroad as diplomats,” observers said. “Many countries, especially in the Middle East, accepted them.”  
Bangabandhu’s daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana were abroad during the coup. They returned home in 1981. After returning Sheikh Hasina started reorganizing Awami League and launched movement against the autocratic government of Gen. H M Ershad. However, becoming prime minister in 1996 Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina overturned the notorious indemnity law after 21 years of its enactment. Apart from the beginning of the trial, the government had declared 15 August as National Mourning Day.  
Amidst this background Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had sworn in for the second time after the election for 9th Jatiya Sangsad in December, 2008.
Under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter, today Bangladesh have already brought some of the killers to justice.  However, the government of Sheikh Hasina has been facing various challenges from home and abroad. The conspiracy is evident from the reports of a New York-based organization, Human Rights Watch (HRW). If anyone carefully goes through two reports of HRW published with in a span of about two months, one in third week of November, 2015 and another in last week of January, 2016 the mal-intentions of the reports might be clear. In its November 20, 2015 report titled Bangladesh: Halt Imminent War Crimes Executions the NGO asked the Bangladesh government to stop the execution of the 1971 war criminals. It said, “The Bangladesh government should halt the imminent executions of two men convicted of war crimes.” It further said, “The authorities should immediately suspend the death sentences of Ali Ahsan Mohammed Mujahid of Jaamat-e-Islam of Bangladesh and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury of Bangladesh National Party pending an independent and impartial review of their cases.” However, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh did not pay any heed to the call of HRW. The two criminals of liberation war were hanged according to the judgements of the court of justice. As a result, after 67 days of the first report, the HRW, angrily, published another premeditated report. In this report, published on January 27, 2016, titled Bangladesh: Government Shuts Down Critics, the organization termed the present government of Bangladesh as becoming ‘authoritarian’. This report has dealt with different issues of Bangladesh. However, all other issues have got less importance as the report highlighted only the point of ‘critics’. Most curiously, out of the blue, the report said, “The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, became increasingly authoritarian, with security forces arresting key opposition leaders, often on trumped up charges, and state authorities refusing to prosecute security forces for serious violations, including torture, killings, and enforced disappearances.” The people of Bangladesh utterly disregard the base-less allegations against the democratic and development oriented government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. People consider the reports as part of conspiracies of BNP-Jamaat alliance.
However, due to prudence, farsightedness and statesmanship of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the World Bank has already designated Bangladesh as a lower middle income country. UN resident coordinator in Dhaka Robert Watkins said, “Bangladesh has made great progress economically….” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remained focused on moving Bangladesh to fully recognized, middle-income country status by 2021. She said, “My priority is to establish this country as a poverty-free country” she said. “We have a long way to go – we have to do more. When I have been able to establish this country as a poverty-free country, a hunger-free country, a developed country, perhaps at that time, perhaps then I may say I am proud.” The country will also rise as a developed country by 2041.
The economy of Bangladesh has been able to achieve sustainable progress confronting national and international challenges as democracy and development has been sustained by the present government of Sheikh Hasina since 2009. The government of Sheikh Hasina is working constantly to be a middle income country by the year 2021. Bangladesh is being regarded as a role model worldwide.

The writer is a professor of political science and director, South Asian Study Circle, Jagannath University, Bangladesh.

The rise of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has become one of the developing world�s biggest success stories

Bangabandhu led the Bengali nation to dream for emancipation. He motivated, emboldened and made them conscious. The dream of Bangabandhu was to bring smile to the faces of common people through establishing a poverty and hunger-free Sonar Bangla. His daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working on that dream. Sheikh Hasina often says, I am working to fulfill Bangabandhus dream, and I dont care about any conspiracy against thatIt seems the Almighty is giving me the scope to finish the unfinished works of Bangabandhu to establish Sonar Bangla. By giving his blood Bangabandhu showed the path of freedom. So, well have to establish that ideal at the cost of any sacrifice, Im ready for that sacrifice. Bangladesh is a country of immense prospects and it will not be possible for us to uplift the economy into a new height if we cannot achieve this goal and be able to fulfill the dream of Bangabandhu. At present Bangladesh is fast moving towards its coveted goal with development and democracy under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Last seven years of Awami League government has already left a sustainable growth in the economy, thus institutionalizing democracy at all levels and marking a milestone in the history of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina observed that there had been so many games played with the fate of the people of this country. She said that the fate of the Bengali nation has to be changed and the dream of the Father of the Nation fulfilled. The government led by Bangabandhus daughter Sheikh Hasina played proactive roles to further accelerate the countrys economic growth and lift the countrys economic status as developed by 2041. Bangladesh has become one of the developing worlds biggest Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) success stories under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. The Bangladesh Prime Minister is alone among national leaders in having been present in New York in 2000 when the millennium declaration, which preceded the goals, was adopted, and her voice carries significant authority. We have made many achievements, so we can share our experience with others, she said. The latest MDG score card, published recently, shows Bangladesh has reversed some of the worst poverty indicators in the world in recent years, managing to reduce maternal mortality by 40 per cent between 2001 and 2010. Girls outnumber boys in school and extreme poverty rates were cut in half between 1990 and 2015. In each and every goal, Bangladesh has tremendous achievements, and thats why the country has won many awards from the UN and others. Now the next step of Bangladesh is to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the country is going to adopt these at the next UN session. Bangladesh is very active on that. However, Bangladesh played a part in drawing up the broader and more detailed SDGs, which are designed to guide global development for the next 15 years. It may be mentioned that despite the global recession, periods of political instability and frequent natural disasters Bangladeshs growth is averaging an annual rate of more than 6 per cent. According to a renowned economist, If climate change had not caused natural disasters, growth would have been 1.5 per cent higher. It means funds are transferred from the development budget to relief every year. Without assistance Bangladesh has achieved a lot. Bangladeshs advancement towards development has been thawarted by the assassination of Bangabandhu and re-introduction of Pakistanization process in 1975. Bangladeshs success is now recognized by the world community. But it was not then immediate after independence in 1971. Had a poll been taken of economists, political scientists, and (certainly) world leaders, there would have almost none bet on it. Bangladesh was then Henry Kissingers basket case, a beggar among countries that were all expected to do better. However, Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman had been the only source of hope and aspirations for the Bengalees. Even in those crisis moments Bangabandhu had been dreaming for a self-reliant Bangladesh, which Tagore termed as Sonar Bangla (golden Bangla). However, the defeated forces of liberation war, with the help of reactionaries in Bangabandhus cabinet along with the aspirants of scientific socialism hatched conspiracy and assassinated him alongwith his family members at the dawn of 15 August, 1975, the next day of Pakistans creation. However, to save the killers, the beneficiaries of Bangabandhus assassination, declared notorious Indemnity Ordinance. Later on, another beneficiary and the martial law administrator and President General Ziaur Rahaman incorporated this ordinance in our holy Constitution as Fifth Amendment. The killers were sent abroad as diplomats, observers said. Many countries, especially in the Middle East, accepted them. Bangabandhus daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana were abroad during the coup. They returned home in 1981. After returning Sheikh Hasina started reorganizing Awami League and launched movement against the autocratic government of Gen. H M Ershad. However, becoming prime minister in 1996 Bangabandhus daughter Sheikh Hasina overturned the notorious indemnity law after 21 years of its enactment. Apart from the beginning of the trial, the government had declared 15 August as National Mourning Day. Amidst this background Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had sworn in for the second time after the election for 9th Jatiya Sangsad in December, 2008. Under the leadership of Bangabandhus daughter, today Bangladesh have already brought some of the killers to justice. However, the government of Sheikh Hasina has been facing various challenges from home and abroad. The conspiracy is evident from the reports of a New York-based organization, Human Rights Watch (HRW). If anyone carefully goes through two reports of HRW published with in a span of about two months, one in third week of November, 2015 and another in last week of January, 2016 the mal-intentions of the reports might be clear. In its November 20, 2015 report titled Bangladesh: Halt Imminent War Crimes Executions the NGO asked the Bangladesh government to stop the execution of the 1971 war criminals. It said, The Bangladesh government should halt the imminent executions of two men convicted of war crimes. It further said, The authorities should immediately suspend the death sentences of Ali Ahsan Mohammed Mujahid of Jaamat-e-Islam of Bangladesh and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury of Bangladesh National Party pending an independent and impartial review of their cases. However, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh did not pay any heed to the call of HRW. The two criminals of liberation war were hanged according to the judgements of the court of justice. As a result, after 67 days of the first report, the HRW, angrily, published another premeditated report. In this report, published on January 27, 2016, titled Bangladesh: Government Shuts Down Critics, the organization termed the present government of Bangladesh as becoming authoritarian. This report has dealt with different issues of Bangladesh. However, all other issues have got less importance as the report highlighted only the point of critics. Most curiously, out of the blue, the report said, The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, became increasingly authoritarian, with security forces arresting key opposition leaders, often on trumped up charges, and state authorities refusing to prosecute security forces for serious violations, including torture, killings, and enforced disappearances. The people of Bangladesh utterly disregard the base-less allegations against the democratic and development oriented government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. People consider the reports as part of conspiracies of BNP-Jamaat alliance. However, due to prudence, farsightedness and statesmanship of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the World Bank has already designated Bangladesh as a lower middle income country. UN resident coordinator in Dhaka Robert Watkins said, Bangladesh has made great progress economically. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remained focused on moving Bangladesh to fully recognized, middle-income country status by 2021. She said, My priority is to establish this country as a poverty-free country she said. We have a long way to go we have to do more. When I have been able to establish this country as a poverty-free country, a hunger-free country, a developed country, perhaps at that time, perhaps then I may say I am proud. The country will also rise as a developed country by 2041. The economy of Bangladesh has been able to achieve sustainable progress confronting national and international challenges as democracy and development has been sustained by the present government of Sheikh Hasina since 2009. The government of Sheikh Hasina is working constantly to be a middle income country by the year 2021. Bangladesh is being regarded as a role model worldwide. The writer is a professor of political science and director, South Asian Study Circle, Jagannath University, Bangladesh.