Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh, in its development journey, wants to join hands with the rest of the region and world to transform the lives of people for a better world; for a better planet; and a peaceful and prosperous world order.
Hasina, a winner of the U.N. environment award Champion of the Earth, said this in her article titled “Bangladesh: a new development paradigm” published by The Japan Times, Japan’s largest English-language newspaper, ahead of her visit to the country. Dhaka, UNB News Agency Reported.
“Bangladesh is truly a land of potentials. Our development narrative speaks for itself. We have proved the doomsayers wrong – and this was through our resilience, our determination, and our innovative and indomitable spirit,” wrote the Prime Minister who leaves for Japan on Thursday morning.
Bangladesh, Hasina said, is now showcased as a development role model. “We saw how Japan was rebuilt within a short span of time after World War II to emerge as an economic superpower. Our aspirations and determination to emerge as an economic powerhouse are no less.”
She said she believes in the strength of people’s power, and Bangladesh is on course to emerge as a middle-income country by 2021 – when it will celebrate 50 years of independence. “And we hope to join the ranks of the developed countries by 2041.”
Hasina in her article mentioned that she is happy to see that women’s advancement will be discussed at the Ise-Shima Group of Seven Summit.
“In Bangladesh, we have placed the highest priority on mainstreaming women in the country’s development process. We have an ambitious and bold pro-women development strategy, which aims at ensuring equal opportunity and entitlement for women.”
She said Bangladesh has emerged as a “development surprise” in terms of GDP growth and socio-economic parameters.
“When war-ravaged Bangladesh gained independence in 1971, and even into the 1980s, many observers doubted that it could survive as an independent state. But we have proven them wrong,” wrote the Prime Minister.
Vision 2021, the election manifesto of her party Awami League, that envisioned turning Bangladesh into a “Sonar Bangla” – Golden Bengal – as dreamed by the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has now become a reality, she said.
