By: WAQAR HUSSAIN
Karachi: Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi Mr. S. M. Mahbubul Alam says during a celebration of the 53rd Anniversary of Bangladesh’s Independence and National Day that Bangladesh and Pakistan have huge business potentials. He mentions that Bangladesh Missions in Pakistan have been striving for the bilateral trade to reach USD1 billion mark in near future. He comments that the mutual beneficial relations between the two countries in different areas such as trade, business and investment, art and culture, education and research, tourism, people-to-people contacts have been growing over the years.
Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi celebrated the 53rd anniversary of their Independence and National Day recently. Consuls General of different countries including Bahrain, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, other diplomats from Pakistan, British Deputy High Commission, and Vietnam participated at the reception. Senators, Members of National and Provincial Assemblies, Special Assistants to Chief Minister Sindh, Senior Government Officials of Pakistan and Sindh Province, Vice Chancellors & Professors of different Universities, President and Secretary General and other office Bearers of FPCCI, KCCI, KATI, SITE, ABAD,TDAP, TAP and other Chambers and Associations in Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas of Sindh also attended. Eminent business personalities including Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors, Chief Operating Officers, Directors of different industries and companies, entrepreneurs including women entrepreneurs, cultural activists, eminent media personalities and Journalists also participated the Independence and National Day reception of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in his speech warmly welcomed the distinguished guests to the reception. At the outset of his speech, the Deputy High Commissioner paid his profound tributes to the memory of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He also paid rich tributes to all the martyrs, who have sacrificed their lives for the Independence of Bangladesh.
Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam mentioned that Bangladesh and Pakistan have huge potential for mutually beneficial bilateral relationships. He emphasized on the exploring the issues areas for wider and stronger cooperation between the two countries.
Deputy High Commissioner elaborated on the success stories of Bangladesh and mentioned that under the charismatic and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has become a ‘Role Model’ of socio-economic development in the world. Bangladesh is currently among the five fastest growing economies in the world, ranking 35th in terms of GDP. He further added that Bangladesh has full filled all the criteria for the graduation to developing country from the LDC status and has been confirmed to be graduated from the LDC in 2026. The present per capita income of Bangladesh is USD2824.
Deputy High Commissioner further briefed that Bangladesh has completed or has been working on many mega projects such as the Padma Bridge, which is opened on 25 June 2022. The Padma Bridge is constructed with the own finance worth over US$3.8billion. He also mentioned few other mega projects such as the Metro Rail (opened on 28 December 2022), Karnaphuli River Tunnel-the first even under the river tunnel in South Asia, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Deep-Sea Port, Bangabandhu Satellite-1, Elevated Expressways, hundreds of important river bridges, thousand of kilometers of roads and highways. The development of mega infrastructure I the recent years have changed the development landscape of Bangladesh under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Mr. Alam further highlighted that Bangladesh is the largest delta in the world with over 700 rivers. Bangladesh is a green country which is a production powerhouse. Bangladesh is the 1st in Jute export, 2nd in Jute production, 3rd in Freshwater fish production, 4th in Rice production, 7th in Potatoes production. Bangladesh, a country of 170 million population, is a self-sufficient country in food production.
Mr. Alam further added that Bangladesh is 2nd in RMG production and export. Over 13 million Bangladesh nationals live in over 180 countries and Bangladesh is 8th in Remittance receipt amounting over US$25 billion a year. Total annual Exports of Bangladesh is over US$55 billion. Bangladesh has been working hard for the annual export of US$100 billion by 2030.
Bangladesh will a trillion dollar Economy and the 9th largest consumer market in the world by 2041. Government of Bangladesh has been striving hard to implement “Vision-2041” to turn Bangladesh into an upper middle-income country by 2031 and Developed and Smart Bangladesh by 2041 and building a prosperous and climate-resilient delta by 2100.
Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner mentioned that Bangladesh has been excelling in all socio-economic indices. Bangladesh’s policy for women education and women empowerment is very robust. Bangladesh is a country of religious harmony. Bangladesh is a country of rich cultural heritage and tradition of thousand years. He added that Bangladesh has been working hard for the holistic development of everyone and every sector in the society. Bangladesh is a secular democratic country with traditional inclusive society. Rights of all from all strata of the society are well protected in Bangladesh. The media has been growing very fast in Bangladesh. The media has been enjoying freedom of expression. There are over 1,300 newspapers in Bangladesh.
Deputy High Commissioner added that Bangladesh the current primary enrollment rate is almost 100 percent, electricity coverage is 100 percent, and children’s Vaccination is 100 percent. The literacy rate is around 80 percent. Bangladesh has been working for a 100 percent literate, technologically sound, digitally smart country.
Regarding the foreign policy of Bangladesh, the Deputy High Commissioner mentioned that Bangladesh has been pursuing the foreign policy of “Friendship to all and malice towards none” since her Independence in 1971 as was postulated by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which continues to provide the philosophical underpinning of Bangladesh’s pro-peace foreign policy. In 1973 Father of the National was awarded the prestigious Julio-Curie Peace Prize. He added that Bangladesh is going to award from next year “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Peace Prize” with a prize money of USD100, 000.00 and Gold Medal of 50 grams.
Deputy High Commissioner mentioned that Bangladesh is the proponent of the resolution of ‘Culture of Peace’ in the UN System. Bangladesh is the 2nd in contributing the UN Peacekeepers. Following the foot-steps of the Father of the nation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also pursuing the peace-loving development centric and widely engaging foreign policy. The Government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has provided temporary shelter to over 1.1 million Rohingya of Myanmar nationality. This is an extraordinary example of humanitarian stand of the peace-loving people and the government of Bangladesh.
Deputy High Commissioner emphasized that the potential of trade and commerce and investment in Bangladesh is huge. Bangladesh has been working to establish 100 specialized economic zones across the countries. Items such as raw jute, tea, chemical fertilizer, garments, leather and lather products, plastic items, ceramic products, and pharmaceutical products and so forth are few of the export items, which Pakistan may import from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Missions in Pakistan have been engaging actively for the stronger relations between the two countries and for the promotion of trade and business between the two countries. Deputy High Commissioner invited more and more business delegation from both the countries to explore the business and investment opportunities for the mutual benefits of the two countries. He added that both the brotherly countries have been working for the mutually beneficial and stronger relationships and for the wellbeing of the two peoples.
