Development and democracy in Bangladesh
Syed Faruk Hossain :
Democracy and development are interrelated. It is impossible to establish people’s right to development in a country without a democratic environment.
Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as a government of the people, by the people, and governed for the good of the people.
That means government of the people, by the people and for the people.
It is clear from the language of Lincoln that when the government in a state is managed and controlled for the overall welfare and development of the people, then that state is considered to have a democratic government.
In fact, democracy is an ideological form, as a result of which importance is placed on the individual in a state or society, the recognition of the functions and roles of voluntary associations, the formation of an environment of tolerance-sympathy-love among the public, spontaneous cooperation with others, and being bound in a bond of interdependence.
Recognizing that all human beings are born free and equal, emphasizing every sector of society, is deeply linked to welfare objectives and their implementation.
In last five years Bangladesh GDP Per Capita (which was half of Pakistan and 75 percent of India) figure has surpassed Pakistan.
The garment sector ranks second in the world, which is possible under the visionary democratic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to scholars, if Sheikh Hasina’s government continues to be in power, Bangladesh will stand tall as a developed democratic country in the world by 2041.
The Prime Minister inaugurated Jessore Technology Park for the welfare of the people of Bangladesh.
The work of Bangabandhu Hi-Tech Park in Kaliakore is progressing in full swing.
The work of setting up nuclear power plant in Rooppur is going on and electricity will be generated in a third world country like Bangladesh.
On June 4, 2017, the first nano-satellite made by Bangladesh was launched into space.
Bangladesh’s first artificial satellite Bangabandhu-1 was sent into space in 2017.
By adopting these scientific activities, people in the districts, upazilas and villages of the country are being created with science-based consciousness, employment is increasing and the problem of unemployment is decreasing.
The government is taking necessary and timely measures for the welfare of the country, the well-being of the people and all-round development. Currently the education rate in the country is 74%.
Free books are being distributed among hundreds of students to spread education at all levels by giving importance in the field of education to create public personality, humanity, honesty-devotion-responsibility in the graduates.
It has introduced stipends from primary to secondary level with special emphasis on women education.
According to a survey, the number of children enrolled in school was 61% in 1990, it is currently 97.7%. In the modern welfare state, gender inequality is diminishing.
With the sole efforts of the Sheikh Hasina government, Bangladesh has progressed 41 steps in reducing the inequality between men and women in the span of an era.
The average life expectancy in the country is currently 73.6 years, compared to 68 years in India and 66 years in Pakistan.
Freedom of the press is one of the hallmarks of a democratic state.
Freedom of press is recognized and protected in Article 39 (1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh and journalist-friendly Sheikh Hasina has given 100% freedom to report news in the country.
Today Bangladesh has reached the peak of development. Among the many reasons are the freedom of expression of the people, the freedom of the press and the security of the life and livelihood of the journalists, the adoption and implementation of all development measures.
World leader Sheikh Hasina has formed Journalist Welfare Trust, Information Commission. All journalists irrespective of party affiliation are receiving grant-in-aid from Kalyan Trust.
Sheikh Hasina has taken up the programme of universal pension which will also include journalists.
The government continues to govern uninterruptedly in the interest of the entire people above the particular groups and classes of society.
A fundamental aspect of developing democracy in the state is the peaceful coexistence of the people.
Bangabandhu’s Dream of Sonar Bangla-Bangladesh is the meeting place of followers of different religions and castes.
Measures of happiness include a country’s social amenities-generosity, personal freedom, gross domestic product-GDP, life expectancy, and anti-corruption.
Indeed, to rise to these standards means to develop and promote democracy.
Sheikh Hasina government has opened all the ways for the development of the people. It should be noted that moral education is mandatory for children in Japan until the age of 10.
Our government has also laid special emphasis on moral education in primary schools.
Not to mention one thing that our beloved leader Sheikh Hasina’s government has taken all measures to make dozens of laws effective and practical with the aim of balancing and developing the country’s environment.
The world has learned from the climate conference in Paris that the global climate change, including Bangladesh, has been taken to balance the life and adaptation of mankind and other animals.
By removing the cultural sterility of the nation, the government has taken various steps to highlight its own national and Bengali culture in the world.
UNESCO has recognized 21 February as International Mother Language Day.
These are the manifestations of the visionary leadership qualities of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In this way, so many developments are possible in all areas of the country as a positive result of the good governance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the epitome of development.
It should be noted that the government cannot be forced to carry out developmental works.
Knowing this, our learned prime minister and her government are carrying out many developmental works one after another for the needs of the country and for the nation.
In particular, the recently launched universal pension scheme to bring all the citizens of the country under pension is a landmark initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government.
(The writer is Registrar, Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Science & Technology, Jamalpur.)
