The discussion was part of a Development Fair Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi organized to showcase the country’s developments and achievements made in the last 10 years.
Posters and boards depicting the statistics of the development trajectory were set up to add attraction to the event held at the mission’s Maitree Hall.
“Bangladesh, indeed, has been doing miracles in the field of socio-economic development,” said Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali in summing up the discussion, which was attended by foreign diplomats, academics, former Indian diplomats and journalists.
“The last ten years have been transformative for Bangladesh,” said the envoy adding Bangladesh today is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, second largest garment exporters, and third largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping missions.
The High Commissioner said the current GDP growth rate is 7.86 percent, up from 5 percent in 2009, the rate of poverty has declined to 21 per cent in 2018 from 31 per cent in 2009 and per capita income increased from US$ 759 in 2009 to US$ 1,752 in 2018, said a press release.
The panel discussion was participated by Jayanta Roy Chowdhury, Senior Editor-Business at The Telegraph newspaper, Prof Dr Nisha Taneja from Indian Council for Research and International Economic Relations and Prof Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General at Research and Information System for Developing Countries.
It was moderated by Deputy High Commissioner Rokebul Haque, while Head of Chancery A.F.M. Zahid-Ul Islam welcomed the guests. A 10-minute documentary on the history of Bangladesh War of Liberation and its development wonders was screened.
Jayanta Roy attributed Bangladesh’s development achievements to its connectivity not only with India but also with the South East nations.
Prof Sachin spoke highly of Bangladesh’s independent and vibrant foreign policy that has contributed to its development and economic successes.
Prof Taneja said Bangladesh has truly emerged as a development model for other developing countries thanks to visionary leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal) and his able daughter Sheikh Hasina is making that a reality, the panelists observed.