‘BD yet to reach desired goals 55yrs after independence’

Bangladesh has yet to reach its desired goals even 55 years after independence, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said on Saturday.

He made the remarks during an exchange of views with journalists working in Bogura at the district circuit house in the morning.

Comparing Bangladesh’s development with that of countries such as Malaysia and Japan, he said those countries achieved remarkable progress within a relatively short period after gaining independence, while Bangladesh still lags behind in infrastructure and industrial development.

Dr Shafiqur said the country’s readymade garment sector is currently facing a serious crisis. Production in the sector has fallen below 50% due to inadequate supplies of electricity and fertiliser, he claimed.

As a result, he said, businesses are struggling to repay bank loans, fears of worker layoffs are increasing, and international buyers may shift their orders to other countries.

He said his party had offered to provide the government with free assistance from a team of local and foreign technical experts out of concern for the country.

However, he alleged that the government denied the severity of the crisis and made irresponsible statements.

He said Jamaat had subsequently launched demonstrations and a long march with six demands: implementing the verdict of the referendum