Hiren Pandit: By achieving the 2030 agenda, our beloved motherland Bangladesh is moving forward with the commitment to implement sustainable development goals Leave No One Behind (LNOB). After successfully implementing the pledge to build digital country, Bangladesh is now moving forward with new programs.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working relentlessly toward the implementation of SDGs by 2030 and building a Smart Bangladesh by 2041. A cost-effective, sustainable, intelligent, knowledge-based, innovative Smart Bangladesh will be built on the four main foundations of Smart Citizens, Smart Economy, Smart Government and Smart Society.
Millions of people in this country are forced to live in destitution and poverty. Bangabandhu stood up to the reigning exploiters in order to alleviate the suffering of the people of this long-ignored and treasured dreamland. He emerged to the people of this country as an unwavering, fearless, daring, and caring leader. Bengal’s common people welcomed him as a leader and embarked on the difficult path of agitation and struggle. Bangabandhu then addressed the people of this country about Bengal’s enormous potential. There are countless possibilities here. It is possible to generate gold here if you so desire. It is feasible to establish a golden country by making the right use of skill and work if the industrious and enterprising people of Bengal attempt. Responding to Bangabandhu’s cry, the people of Bengal achieved independence via a hard struggle and liberation war.
Many hardworking and struggling people in this country are fighting against the adversary, living by dreaming of a new life. Bangabandhu exploited the immense potential of building a Golden Bangla in newly independent Bangladesh. He gradually arranged all the plans to build the Golden Bangla of his dream. Agriculture, industry, trade, modern technology, new plans and ideas were in his mind in the wonderful combination of everything. The implementation of which also started in independent Bangladesh. After Bangabandhu’s brutal assassination, development stalled again.
Since independence in 1971, the economy of Bangladesh has made significant progress. At that time, many people expressed doubts about the economic survival of Bangladesh. But there is no economic or social indicator of the country that has not progressed, even the biggest critics are now praising Bangladesh. Economists say that Bangladesh’s achievements in 52 years are incredible. Bangladesh has done what the world could not imagine. The garment industry of Bangladesh is one of the largest industries in the world.
Bangladesh is recovering under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s competent, effective, and wise leadership. Bangladesh has been altered by Sheikh Hasina’s energetic, strong leadership from 1996 to 2001 and 2009 to today. The country exemplifies sustainable development. Bangladesh’s economy has grown from weak to strong. New facets of traditional infrastructure modernization emerge daily. Businesses and sectors that were neglected have revived. People in this country are inspired by the vast possibilities. Long-neglected potential sectors are waking up. Sheikh Hasina, the pioneer of development and leader of developed Bangladesh, always works to enhance those potentials through cooperation and patronage. Government departments and ministries have received periodic instructions to develop new prospective sectors. Potentially powerful new areas for prosperity Impressive narrative and prospects for Bangladesh. The nation is a disaster management model and self-sufficient in food. Bangladesh has empowered women and cut infant mortality. Bangladesh overcame all hurdles and self-financed billions to build a bridge over the Padma River, inaugurating it on June 25, 2018. December 2022 saw Metrorail inauguration. Many find things unbelievable. The narrative is about its developing mega-structure portfolio and the launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 and the planned second. Millions of Bangladeshis contribute significant sums of remittances to boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Bangladesh’s evolution from a classic debt-dependent, fragile economy to a respectable growth rate and a confident future is no miracle. This evolution is possible because of Sheikh Hasina’s vision. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the country from a largely aid-dependent country to one that relied on its own resources. Singlehandedly, she took Bangladesh into the digital age, into the age of nuclear power, and into the age of space technology. Under her steady and pragmatic leadership, the country has successfully tackled terrorism, extremism and tackled climate challenges. Bangladesh is considered a stable and prosperous young country in the world. It fulfills its international obligations, observes international treaties and respects the cultural rights of all people. Going forward with Bangabandhu’s firm commitment to building Sonar Bangla, our beloved motherland Bangladesh will become a developed Smart Bangladesh by 2041 by achieving the SDGs by 2030.
Digital Bangladesh is already working to improve and modernize the quality of life of the citizens and facilitate the citizens. Services, education, health, management, working methods, industry, trade and production, economy, social and cultural life in digital mode. As technology has become accessible to every citizen of the country, arrangements are being made to reach marginalized people as well. Technology has become a trusted medium in all civic services and livelihoods.
In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the IT sector of Bangladesh has focused on various infrastructural developments including the development of skilled human resources. Bangladesh is trying to be among the top 50 countries in the United Nations e-Governance Development Index for the next five years. One Country One Rate program brings internet access to people at affordable cost.
With the help of information technology, young people are building small and large IT firms, e-commerce sites, app-based services and other enterprises. Besides, some major achievements including Bangladesh’s first satellite in space have taken Bangladesh to a unique height in the world. Bangladesh’s position in the world economy is now 35th. Bangladesh is now the fifth fastest-growing country in the world. The once ‘bottomless basket’ is set to become the world’s 25th-largest economy by 2036. But soon after independence, there were concerns about the economic future of Bangladesh. This concern was mainly spread by the Pakistan government which was defeated in the war of 1971.
Bangabandhu Mujibur Rahman dreamed of building a golden Bengal. He gradually arranged all the plans to build the dream of Sonar Bengal. He had new plans and thoughts in his mind to make a wonderful combination of agriculture, industry, trade, and modern technology. The implementation of this started in independent Bangladesh. Almost all of these started to pay off with great potential.
In the last 15 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. Today, Bangladesh has joined the ranks of developing countries. The country is now self-sufficient in food grain production. This year, 4 crore 72 lakh metric tons of grains including 4 crore 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 $2,765. The literacy rate has increased from 45 percent to 75.2 percent. Maternal and infant mortality rates have decreased.
Padma Bridge was inaugurated in June last year after overcoming many hurdles. This bridge directly connects 21 districts of the southern region with the capital Dhaka and other parts of the country by road. The largest pigeon bridge in the southern region was inaugurated last October. In November last year, 100 bridges 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 inauguration of the tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram in 2024, the Metrorail has been launched in Dhaka 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 began. 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 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.
The Prime Minister addressed the countrymen by urging them to increase food production, 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. A crisis will come. Don’t be afraid of crisis. With everyone’s help, Bangladesh has been able to successfully deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. Bangladesh will also successfully deal with the current global recession. After an incredible victory in the 11th National Parliament elections, she came to power for the third time in a row and formed a new government with a bunch of new faces. 12th National Parliament Election of 2024. Before the elections, the people of the country must sit down to compare their achievements. What did Bangladesh get in Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year leadership?
Bangladesh has also improved its space status. The launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 expanded science and technology. Metrorail and Padma Bridge openings are development milestones. Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, Awami has successfully dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, education, communication infrastructure, gas, electricity, women’s education, 100% employee salary increases, health care, self-sufficiency in food production, social programs, disadvantaged communities, helpless, elderly, widows, person with disabilities, persecuted women by hu Electricity is crucial to national growth. Increase power generation to 25,000 megawatts and almost 100% electrification, bring record remittances to the country, increase foreign exchange reserves, reduce poverty, raise life expectancy to 73 years, formulate a national education policy, raise literacy to 75.6%, deliver free new books to students on the first day of the year, mainstream and recognize Madrasa education. The Awami League government under successful leader Sheikh Hasina has achieved modernization, the establishment of universities in every district, women’s policy formulation and empowerment, digital Bangladesh construction and revolution in the ICT sector, placing Bangladesh at the top of South Asia and fifth in the world due to outstanding success in fighting the corona epidemic.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mentioned, ‘We have attained victory in the great liberation war. We are a winning nation. As a victorious nation, we can stand tall in the court of the world. We will not bow down to anyone; we will not walk by bowing down to anyone. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu repeatedly said that by using that wealth, we will be proud of our own glory in the World Assembly, we will build ourselves and we will walk with our heads high to the whole world. This will be the most important step for the people of this country.
An unprecedented success has also been seen in the production of food grains in Bangladesh. The country is able to produce almost four times more food grains than at the time of independence. Not only that, the foreign exchange reserves have also increased a lot. This is the proof-Bangladesh was never a begging bag. The biggest achievement of Bangladesh in the last 52 years, which was called the alms jar, is the transition from a less developed country to a developing country. This is how our beloved motherland Bangladesh built by Bangabandhu will move forward.
The writer is columnist and researcher