Bangladesh is marching ahead to reach the targets envisaged in the ‘Vision 2021’, when it celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence, to reach the goal of Sonar Bangla, a hunger-free, peaceful, middle-income, digital knowledge-Bangladesh.
This was stated by Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner to Sindh & Balochistan Ruhul Alam Siddique while addressing on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the independence and National Day of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
He said, “The historic Independence Day is a glorious day in our national life in Bangladesh. We, the Bengalis, achieved our long-cherished independence through nine-month-long, bloody, armed struggles and supreme sacrifices of millions of people.”
He also said, “On this solemn day, I pay deep homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the War of Liberation in 1971, and pray for salvation of the departed souls.”
He further said that the Bangali nation has travelled a long way since its independence in 1971.
“Bangladesh is now on a forward march to reach the main objective of our independence that is building a Sonar Bangla, the Golden Bangladesh,” he added.
“Bangladesh is a role model for fighting poverty and extremism, empowering women, disaster-management and coping with the challenges posed by global warming and climate changes,” he said.
Bangladesh has achieved remarkable success and recognition in the social sector by winning the UN MDG award for achieving targeted reduction in infant mortality, and the South-South Award for the use of modern technology in development of women and child health by their prime minister bears testimony in this regard, he added.
He also said that Bangladesh is often cited as one of the 11 emerging economies of the world.
“In respect to global market share, we are the number-two manufacturer of readymade garments in the world,” he said.
Other industries are also coming up fast in Bangladesh, Siddique said, adding, “They are ceramics, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, leather products, information technology and software, and fresh, organic, agricultural products.”
Talking about Pakistan-Bangladesh relationship, he said that both the countries are strongly bonded by common historical background, cultural traditions, values and aspirations.
Citing examples of the warmth and closeness of the relationship, he recalled, “When our brothers and sisters in Pakistan were devastated by the unprecedented floods in 2010 and rain-floods in Sindh in 2011, the government and the people of Bangladesh did not wait to come forward in their help and assistance.”
Also, for the first time in the history of Bangladesh, they sent 54 truck loads of lifesaving medicines, health kits, water purification tablets, 0.12 million blankets, over 9000 tents, huge quantities of tea and sugar worth $2 million; and a 40-member civilian, medical team of specialist doctors, nurses and paramedics specialised in disaster relief provided healthcare services for over a month in the remote areas of Sindh, said Siddique.
He said, “The overwhelming support by the Bangladeshi crowd during the quarter-final match between Pakistan and West Indies at Dhaka in last year’s world cup bears the testimony of the warmth and sentiment of our people for the people of Pakistan.”
