Bangladesh, a nation of 160 million people, is heading to parliamentary elections by early January. Nestled between India and Myanmar, Bangladesh has actively cooperated with the US in the “war on terror” and offered refuge to more than 650,000 ethnic Rohingya fleeing from neighboring Myanmar.
Amid turmoil, Bangladesh has managed to grow economically, cut poverty and empower women. As the International Monetary Fund framed things this year, “Bangladesh is undergoing a transformation from a low-income to a middle-income economy.”
Yes, rising tides can lift all boats. For starters, economic growth in Bangladesh has averaged more than 6% annually over the past 10 years, and is projected to top 7% this year and next.
Meanwhile, the poverty rate hovers at the 15% mark, down from nearly 45% in 1991 and more than 18% eight years ago. Foreign direct investment ballooned from less than US$750 million in 2008 to more than $1.7 billion in 2017, an increase of more than more than 100%.
So, what’s behind the story? Economists chalk the good news up to consumer spending, increased investment and the expanding role of women in the workplace. In a sense, modernity is peering in and Bangladeshis have gone with the flow.
Moreover, agriculture continues to loosen its grip on the economy. Manufacturing and services are driving the economic uptick. Second only to China in the ready-made clothing market, Bangladesh-made products line the shelves at US shops.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has led the government since 2009. On her watch Bangladesh has endeavored to resist the siren song of religious fundamentalism in a country that is overwhelmingly Muslim and home to the world’s fourth-largest Muslim population.
Hasina has paid close attention to educating girls and bringing women into the public square. Public health has also received a boost. Life expectancy in Bangladesh now stands at 72 years, compared with 68 years in India and 66 in Pakistan.
Together with the government, Bangladesh’s non-governmental organizations deserve credit for this. Civic involvement has made a difference. What makes the achievement particularly noteworthy is that Bangladesh spends less per capita than either India or Pakistan.
According to a poll released by the International Republican Institute (IRI), more than three out of five Bangladeshis view their country as headed in the right direction. Nearly seven in 10 respondents give a thumbs-up to the economy. Based on that top line, the prime minister and her Grand Alliance, an amalgam of six political parties, should be favored to win re-election when Bangladeshis go to the polls.
Still, nothing should be taken for granted. Opposition parties will likely contest for parliamentary control in contrast to 2014 when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted the elections. Further, public satisfaction with democracy appears to have ebbed, according to the IRI.
Despite the country’s rosy economic outlook, this past summer saw student protests across the country. The government got its back up. Meanwhile, overall confidence in democracy has dropped among a populace that has been historically supportive of democracy – having thrown off 16 years of military rule in 1991.
Rising living standards create their own demands for increased freedom, responsiveness, good government and quality of life. According to Freedom House, Bangladesh is counted among the ranks of “partly free” countries, a group that includes Pakistan, Nepal and Malaysia. As a result, whoever wins will be forced to grapple with this reality, and the world will be watching.
The prime minister will make a case for re-election, but the elections will not end demands for liberalization. Freedom has a way of making itself heard.
A man who only rely on books or articles or hearsay with almost zero interactions with people on ground tends to propagate lies and half-truth. Better keep your legal job than trying to show how knowledgable you are about other nations.
People on ground will give you anecdotal information, hearsay and even Chinese whispers, this man is giving data well known and collected multi national companies that have working NGOs in Bangladeshi as well as international financing companies IFM, World Bank, that have the stats to determine the bigger picture as to which way a country is economically heading. Of course this many not reflect every individual or family or even region of Bangladesh for that matter but its a better indication of a country’s economical state then asking ‘people on the ground’ you can appreciate you will get a different answer depends on who you speak to using your method.
Asking people will give you a whole bunch of anecdotal information, hearsay and Chinese whispers. This man is using data that is well known by multi national companies and NGO’s who work in Bangladesh and collect information on its economical status such as World Bank, IMF, yes it wont reflect every person, village, or even region for that matter but its a good indication as to which way a country is economically headed. I’m sure you can appreciate its better then asking ‘people on the ground’ which will give you a different answer depending on who you speak to.
Asking people will give you a whole bunch of anecdotal information, hearsay and Chinese whispers. This man is using data that is well known by multi national companies and NGO’s who work in Bangladesh and collect information on its economical status such as World Bank, IMF, yes it wont reflect every person, village, or even region for that matter but its a good indication as to which way a country is economically headed. I’m sure you can appreciate its better then asking ‘people on the ground’ which will give you a different answer depending on who you speak to.
Abul-Hussain Nazarali The data he uses have many errors. Bangladesh GDP has been over 7% for the last 3 consequtive years with next year’s estimated to be around 7.8%. I’ve been listening to many lectures from almost every ministries in Bangladesh in regards to her economy and politics throughout this year and yes there are many errors to his write up
Abul-Hussain Nazarali The data he uses have many errors. Bangladesh GDP has been over 7% for the last 3 consequtive years with next year’s estimated to be around 7.8%. I’ve been listening to many lectures from almost every ministries in Bangladesh in regards to her economy and politics throughout this year and yes there are many errors to his write up
All the survey mentioned in your writing is wrong regarding the popularity.
All the survey mentioned in your writing is wrong regarding the popularity.
It’s true, democracy and right of voting may be controlled.
It’s true, democracy and right of voting may be controlled.
Conscious people vote for development. So we want to see how much the people want to take Bangladesh forward or backward. I think the upcoming election will be historical election in every aspect.
Conscious people vote for development. So we want to see how much the people want to take Bangladesh forward or backward. I think the upcoming election will be historical election in every aspect.
My opinion is voters should choose – Development First. Because if you develop other will count you. So limited democracy will fit for this country.
My opinion is voters should choose – Development First. Because if you develop other will count you. So limited democracy will fit for this country.
The economic indicators and social indicators are found to be better than India and Pakistan . Acvording to 2 named business news papers of India ,if Bangladesh maintains this rate of economic growth ,then the par capita income of Bangladesh would be higher than the per capita income of India in 2020 .Bangladesh would also cross pakistan and chile in 2019 iin respect of total GDP and would be likely to cross even Denmark ,colombia and probably Makaysia and singapore in 2021 ..The dream of becoming a devloped country has been unstilled in the people of Bangladesh by present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina which triggered the people to work hard with intelligence and in a planned manner .. Our economiy has become 43 vrd from 56 th economy of the world already and we hope that our economy would be 36 th economy off the world in 2021 which if materialised would be a great achievement for our people . We just need badly continuation of this govt for another 5 years which
has become more experienced and matured and we need continuation of peace in the country free from strikes ,hartals etc . If Awami league comes to power as expected by all impartial onservers ,then there would no chance of incidents of vendetta ,and disorder .
The economic indicators and social indicators are found to be better than India and Pakistan . Acvording to 2 named business news papers of India ,if Bangladesh maintains this rate of economic growth ,then the par capita income of Bangladesh would be higher than the per capita income of India in 2020 .Bangladesh would also cross pakistan and chile in 2019 iin respect of total GDP and would be likely to cross even Denmark ,colombia and probably Makaysia and singapore in 2021 ..The dream of becoming a devloped country has been unstilled in the people of Bangladesh by present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina which triggered the people to work hard with intelligence and in a planned manner .. Our economiy has become 43 vrd from 56 th economy of the world already and we hope that our economy would be 36 th economy off the world in 2021 which if materialised would be a great achievement for our people . We just need badly continuation of this govt for another 5 years which
has become more experienced and matured and we need continuation of peace in the country free from strikes ,hartals etc . If Awami league comes to power as expected by all impartial onservers ,then there would no chance of incidents of vendetta ,and disorder .
Correction …probably Malaysia ……has been instilled in the people …
Correction …probably Malaysia ……has been instilled in the people …
Bangladesh is now on the verge of developmen.
PM sheikh hasina will be the right choice in next election.
We want development, good lifestyle not to be the victim of proverty.
Bangladesh is now on the verge of developmen.
PM sheikh hasina will be the right choice in next election.
We want development, good lifestyle not to be the victim of proverty.
Save Bangladesh
Give Free Fare Election
Save Democracy
Save Bangladesh
Give Free Fare Election
Save Democracy
It’s not free and fair election, government are designed
It’s not free and fair election, government are designed