The Heart of a Nation: Bangladesh at 50

 An excerpt from a story in the Dhaka Tribune published in July, 2021

From Kissinger’s “bottomless basket” to the Miracle on the Meghna, you can’t begin to talk about 50 years of Bangladesh without mentioning its phenomenal economic growth.  Few could have predicted at the outset that this tiny nation born after nine months of war, battered by cyclones, would turn it around and become a paradigm of development.

With an LDC (least developed countries) graduation in the cards, we’ve been able to translate these economic gains into some commendable achievements over the years.  From domestic successes such as higher average standard of living and lower infant/maternal mortality rates to bold strides in the international arena, with notable contributions to everything from climate science to peacekeeping efforts to cricket, we’ve come a long way and that deserves to be celebrated.

It’s all well to acknowledge these successes and take pride in them, but when one really looks back at the past 50 years, one also becomes aware of how much work there is left to be done.  We may now have access to more facilities and amenities than ever before, and several glitzy infra-structural showpieces to signal our development, but there’s more to the growth of a nation that its economic advancements.

At the heart of this nation is its people, a diverse, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic population that makes up the vibrant canvas of Bangladesh.  And we need to learn how to be better to them, to be kinder to one another. 

Yes, we’ve made some admirable strides, in terms of access to education, increasing female workforce participation, and increasing visibility of women and gender minorities in many fields and sectors.  We’ve shattered many glass ceilings, so much so that the highest seats in authority are currently occupied by women.

Despite this, we have somehow not been able to ensure the safety of women.  We continue to be plagued by child marriage, gender-based violence, acid violence, dowry related violence, and sexual assault.  There is an urgent need for legal reform to increase the protection for women, children, and minority groups.  Our battle against intolerance has never been more intense. 

This country was born out of the idealism of its youth, and it is the dynamism of our young population that powered the engines that have brought us this far.

The start-up boom, which gave our cities an upgrade and are now tackling heavy challenges such as climate change and sustainability, was born out of the innovative spirits of young minds.

It is worth remembering these things, and empowering the youth of present day Bangladesh to take us where we need to go next.  As they stare down the barrel at a future our forebears could hardly have dreamed up, we much ask ourselves if we are doing everything we can to prepare them for the same.  Do they have the tools they need to build the future Bangladesh seeks?  Are their needs being met?  Are their voices heard?

We are a nation of dreamers, but we must also be a nation of doers, and we thrive best in a space that allows us to express ourselves.  There are so many stories that are yet untold, waiting for their moment in the sun.

Sabrina Fatma Ahmad is a journalist and author, and former Features Editor of the Dhaka Tribune. She is also the founder of the Sehri Tales annual creativity challenge. We thought you would enjoy a Bangladeshi’s perspective on their 50th Anniversary as a country.