‘100 Years Behind’ – A Measure of Lost Potential, Not Time

Dr M A Rashid :

While the phrase “100 years behind” is not a literal or statistical fact, it captures a deeper truth: Bangladesh has been held back, not by lack of resources or talent, but by missed opportunities, political mismanagement, and corruption.

This loss becomes even more striking when we compare Bangladesh to countries that once faced similar – or worse – challenges, but have since raced ahead.

The statement that “Bangladesh is 100 years behind developed countries” is an emotional and hyperbolic way of expressing frustration with the country’s slower development. While it’s not literally true in a measurable sense (e.g., in terms of GDP, technology, or infrastructure), the sentiment reflects real issues that have held Bangladesh back in comparison to more developed nations.

Here’s a breakdown of why Bangladesh has lagged behind, especially in the past:
Colonial Legacy
British colonial rule (1757-1947) drained resources and prioritised British interests over local development.
Post-colonial East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) suffered neglect from West Pakistan (1947-1971), including less investment in infrastructure, education, and industry.

War of Independence (1971):The 1971 Liberation War left the country devastated:
Economy collapsed. Infrastructure destroyed. Loss of human capital and institutions. Recovery from such a conflict takes decades.

Political Instability & Governance Issues: Corruption, Nepotism, and Poor Governance-After 1971, the Indian army carried out widespread looting in Bangladesh, with it Mujib’s misrule began, which was a nightmare where people were deprived of good governance, Mujib declared himself king for life and his family and party carried out widespread looting in the country and created widespread anarchy.

The famine of 1974 came due to Mujib’s extreme misrule and the looting of his political party, the Awami League.

The famine of 1974 occurred amid severe economic mismanagement, corruption, and administrative inefficiency within Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s government.

While critics attribute the crisis largely to Mujib’s misrule and corruption within the ruling Awami League. Corruption has become deeply rooted in many institutions.

Public procurement and infrastructure projects often suffer from embezzlement or inefficiency. Political appointments in bureaucracy, law enforcement, and public services reduce meritocracy.

Weak enforcement of laws and lack of accountability foster a culture of impunity, especially among powerful elites.
Bangladesh got good governance during the time of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, the proclaimer of the Liberation War.

As a result, Bangladesh exported food for the first time and Bangladesh became self-sufficient in food. Independent leader Zia was martyred through the conspiracy of Bangladesh’s enemies while trying to keep the country independent. And with that, the rapid rise of Bangladesh stopped.

The rule of corrupt people began. Corrupt Ershad took power by undermining Bangladesh’s democracy and tried to make Bangladesh a haven for corrupt people.

With the help of Bangladesh’s external enemies, Ershad ruled for almost 9 years. ?? Political Rivalry: AL vs. BNP
Since the return to democracy in 1991, power has alternated mainly between, Awami League (AL), led by Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), previously led by Khaleda Zia. Their rivalry is deeply personal and politically intense, leading to, Frequent strikes (hartals), sometimes violent, disrupting the economy and education. Policy reversals with each new government, harming long-term planning.

Boycotts of parliament or elections, weakening democratic institutions. Instead of working collaboratively on national issues, politics often became confrontational and zero-sum.
?? Impact on Development: Investment uncertainty: Political instability scares away both domestic and foreign investors.
Public sector inefficiency: Key services like education, health, and justice often suffer from underperformance and politicisation. Slow reforms: Essential reforms (in judiciary, police, civil service, tax system) are delayed or abandoned due to political gridlock or fear of losing voter support.

Political instability and poor governance have slowed Bangladesh’s development, eroded trust in institutions, and diverted energy from nation-building to power struggles. For Bangladesh to reach its full potential, institutional reforms, rule of law, and political maturity are essential.

Lack of Long-term Vision: Short-term, populist projects were prioritised over sustainable, long-term planning. Policies often changed with each government, disrupting continuity. Bureaucracy often slowed progress and was not results-oriented.

Poor Investment in Education & Health:
For decades, investment in education, science, and healthcare was insufficient. Developed countries advanced through strong institutions in these areas. A weak education system limits innovation and skilled labour.

Over-reliance on Agriculture: While agriculture is important, Bangladesh took longer to diversify into industrialisation, manufacturing, and services compared to many East Asian countries.

Infrastructure Deficits: Roads, electricity, ports, and public transportation have lagged behind due to underinvestment and mismanagement.Poor infrastructure has hampered trade and industrial growth.

Global Inequality: Developing nations like Bangladesh have also been affected by, Unfair trade systems. Foreign debt traps. Brain drain (losing skilled workers to richer countries.
Despite the failures of incompetent governments, Bangladesh is striving to achieve massive GDP growth through the fierce struggle of the people.

Despite the routine government promises to build the Padma Bridge, develop roads and build metro rail, fascist Hasina has wasted public money by spending a huge budget through widespread corruption and has built the Padma Bridge and limited metro rail.

The people’s tax money is being diverted to a huge conspiracy, and the Hasina government, which is laundering people’s money, thinks that it has done all this with Hasina’s father’s money.

The people of the underprivileged country are trying to establish the garment industry with utmost effort and sacrifice, but despite this, they are constantly being held back through various conspiracies.

The people of the country struggle for their lives, work hard, spend a lot of money, go abroad, and earn money through labour, which the people’s government sits on and enjoys by taxing their money.

The country’s medical system has been taken out of public trust, so people are always eager to seek treatment abroad, for example, in 2019 alone, 6 million people from Bangladesh sought treatment in India. A huge budget of public tax money is allocated to the medical sector every year, but the people do not get much benefit from it.

The citizens of the country will not be able to say what the civic benefits are.

Public Servants or Public Masters? The Betrayal of Duty in Bangladesh In Bangladesh, a painful irony persists: those who are paid by the people – the government officials, bureaucrats, and public servants – often act with arrogance, neglect, and corruption against the very citizens who fund their salaries.

Instead of being protectors of public welfare, many have become gatekeepers of inefficiency, bribery, and exploitation. Paid by the People, Yet Working Against Them.

Every government salary, car, fuel allowance, air-conditioned office, and foreign trip is funded by taxpayers – the rickshaw puller, the garment worker, the small business owner. In return, citizens expect basic services: Education, healthcare, safety, and justice. But instead, they often receive, Endless bureaucracy. Demands for bribes, Rude behaviour, Delays without accountability.

Corruption as a Way of Life : Corruption is not limited to a few individuals – it has become institutionalised. To get a land deed, a passport, or a hospital bed, citizens are often forced to pay under the table.

Promotions and postings within the civil service are frequently sold or influenced by politics, not based on merit. This breeds a culture where serving the people is secondary to personal gain.

Neglect That Feels Like Contempt: In rural health centers, doctors are absent.In government schools, teachers are unmotivated. In police stations, justice is delayed or denied unless money is involved.

Ordinary people feel powerless in the face of this system – a system that is supposed to protect them.

A System Paralysed by Self-Interest: Because of widespread neglect and corruption, development is slowed, public projects fail, and trust in the government erodes. Good policies often fail in execution because the institutions meant to implement them are broken from within. The system isn’t just inefficient – it’s morally bankrupt in many areas.

For Bangladesh to move forward, it’s not enough to build roads and bridges – we must rebuild the integrity of our institutions: Public servants must be reminded: they are employees of the people. Corrupt officials must be punished – not transferred. A culture of merit, service, and accountability must replace the culture of impunity.

Until then, the dream of a developed Bangladesh will remain out of reach – not for lack of resources or talent, but because those in charge forgot whom they are meant to serve.
?? A Tale of Two Paths: Bangladesh vs. Rapidly Developing Nations South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia.

In the 1950s-60s, these countries were economically poor, war-ravaged, or colonially exploited, much like Bangladesh. Yet, they advanced rapidly through. Visionary and disciplined leadership. Efficient, corruption-resistant governance. Heavy investment in education, health, and innovation. A strong culture of accountability and meritocracy It’s not too late – But time is running out.

Bangladesh still has immense potential – a young population, strategic location, and rich cultural resilience.But to close the gap with the developed world, the country must. Replace greed with vision. Replace corruption with accountability. Replace division with unity of purpose.

Because every year wasted in misrule and corruption does not just delay progress – it steals the future of the next generation.