Over the last 15 years or so, Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in the field of Agricultural production, the reason why even after so many mishaps happening around the world centering first the covid-19 pandemic, then the Ukraine war followed by the ever devastating Israel-Gaza conflict, the economic impact of which has not spared any country, rich or poor, Bangladesh is still self sufficient in food grain production, rice to be specific.

Despite all the global economic crises, including disruption in the supply of food grains across the world, the people of Bangladesh are not feeling the impact that badly, thanks to the timely and appropriate steps taken by the government in developing the agricultural sector.

The Awami League Government, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina, has made remarkable progress in achieving self sufficiency in electricity production. At the time of taking over power by the ruling party in 2009, the country’s production capacity of electricity was hardly 3000 megawatt and now it is 24000 megawatt. When the Rooppur nuclear power plant goes into production in full swing, the country will have another 2500 megawatt of electricity added to its national grid.

Less than 25 percents of households of the country had access to electricity. Now, more than 90 percent of households, rural or urban, have access to electricity. ‘Kupis’ or hurricane lamps are a rare phenomenon even in the remote villages. The villagers are no longer required to go to bed soon after the dusk to save kerosene. They can remain awake and enjoy TV programs till midnight, if they like to.

The country’s achievement in infrastructural development during this period, especially in the road and transport sector, has been phenomenal. The multipurpose Padma Bridge has opened the door to social and economic development of the 25 million people living in the 21 south and southwest districts of the country.  The Dhaka Elevated Expressway and Metro rail are bound to have significant contribution in easing the all painful traffic congestion of the capital city.

The construction of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli-river has fulfilled the long cherished desire of the people of the commercial city of Chattogram.  The newly inaugurated rail way connection with Cox’s Bazar has linked the biggest tourist centre of the country with the rest of the country by rail.  

The third airport terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International airport at Dhaka, the Moheskhali Deep Sea Port at Cox’s Bazar and the Payra Sea port at Patuakhali will help the country become an international hub for trade and business by air and sea.

It is no wonder that Bangladesh is now regarded as a role model of development for the other least developed countries aspiring to become developing countries. The country is also considered as one of the fastest going economies in the world graduating to a developing country by 2026.

In spite of achieving all these enviable titles and decorations as a mark of international recognition of our social and economic achievements, the fact remains that almost 25 percent of people of this country still live below the poverty line and another 10 percent in extreme poverty. Millions of people are suffering from malnutrition and disease. The children and the elderly people are the worst sufferer. If we have to sustain the development of the country, we will need a healthy and skilled workforce. A true democracy, a good education system and a sound healthcare service are the sine qua non for sustained development of a country. Unless we can fulfill these three basic conditions, the apparent successes in our development efforts might prove meaningless in the long run.

Unfortunately our democracy, even after 52 years of independence, is still an infant trying to stand up on its own feet with the help of others. In the name of democratic rights, the opposition political parties take to the streets, create blockades, call hartals, burn people alive in the buses and trains, kill people on the street and destroy state properties at will. If the law enforcing agencies try to stop this anarchy and take the culprits to task, their leaders will come up with all the fury accusing the party in power of denying their so called democratic rights of agitation and violating human rights. There will be no shortage of agencies at home and abroad to fan their mischief.

The less we talk about the other two criteria—education and health—the better it is. Education in the country has never found its true direction since the liberation of the country. It has been since then sailing like a ship without a rudder. Several reform commissions or committees were formed to adopt a true education policy for the country but to no avail. Even the National Education Policy 2010 enacted by the Sheikh Hasina government with the help of a well structured education formulation committee comprising eminent educationists, academics and think tanks could not make much headway before finding itself lost in the wilderness.

Now, the education authorities of the country have all on a sudden come out with a new curriculum, new assessment method of students’ merit or caliber doing away with salient features of the National Education Policy 2010 such as extending primary education up to class eight and holding a public examination called JSC at the end of year 8, making a unified education system incorporating the different forms of education prevailing at the primary and secondary level, etc. The education system of the country seems to have fallen into the quagmire of corruption, conspiracy and manipulation. It is, like a ship without a rudder, floating in the seas aimlessly.

The last but not the least to talk about is the health service. The sector is in dire strait, to say the least. Thousands, if not millions, of people mostly belonging to lower, middle and limited income groups die of diseases every year because of lack of affordable health service for them. The private hospitals and clinics that have sprung like mushrooms across the country are too expensive for the ordinary people to afford. Their only destination is the public medical colleges and hospitals established at district level, the public health centers at Upazila level and community clinics at Union level.

But these public hospitals, however ill staffed with doctors, nurses, technicians or ill equipped with medical instruments like x-ray machine, ultrasonography machine or surgery equipment, are too inadequate to admit so many patients, the reason why many of the patients have to wait for weeks, if not months, to get a seat and that also after paying ‘speed money’ to the tout brokers. Many are seen taking seats on the floors of the hospital corridors.  

The country has the recognition to graduate as a developing country by 2026. It aspires to become a middle income country by 2030 and a developed country by 2041. For that to happen, the much valued democracy needs to find its root, the education and health sector need to go for major reform. A true democracy, a sound education and a service oriented health sector are probably the primary conditions for becoming a developed nation.

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The writer is a retired Merchant

Mariner.

Email: [email protected]