United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s decades of strong economic growth came at a cost of overlooked governance failures that eventually contributed to political upheaval, economists warned at the opening session of the 9th SANEM Annual Economists Conference on Friday night. Speaking through an online keynote address session, economists Shanta Devarajan, Professor, Georgetown University and Kunal Sen, Director, The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) said rapid economic growth, when it masks underlying governance weaknesses, ultimately breeds political instability, declining investment and economic slowdown. In his keynote titled ‘The Costs of Denial,’ Devarajan argued that many developing countries including Bangladesh experienced robust growth during 2000-2015, which generated optimism and reduced poverty but also allowed governments and development partners to ignore deep-rooted problems such as corruption and weak institutions. He noted that Bangladesh quadrupled its GDP per capita since 1990 and recorded strong manufacturing growth, yet governance remained persistently weak. The country was earlier described as having achieved development “despite corruption,” as individuals and institutions found ways around state constraints while NGOs and the private sector retained space to operate, he said. Devarajan also cited warnings issued in April 2024 that Bangladesh risked becoming a fragile state, a concern that was followed by the Awami League regime fall in August 2024 amid the July revolution, which he identified as one of the major political events that the cost-of-denial dynamic helped produce, alongside the Arab Spring and Sri Lanka's Aragalaya movement. Contrasting the optimism of 2000-2015 with the pessimism of the years that followed, Devarajan said the latter period brought stagnation, rising debt and political instability across several regions, with Bangladesh's growth forecasts downgraded amid the political upheaval. His central hypothesis was that strong growth itself contributed to subsequent slowdowns by enabling denial as economic indicators improved, citizens continued to face poor public services and institutional failures, which eventually fuelled deep resentment. Commenting on the keynote, Kunal Sen called it a “provocative hypothesis” that growth may carry the seeds of its own destruction if governance problems go unresolved. Kunal explained that economies often begin growing when political arrangements shift from disordered to close but ordered deals, typically in sectors benefiting from discretionary rents. Sustaining that growth, however, requires a further transition toward open and predictable policies, a shift that is rarely achieved because elites benefiting from closed deals resist reform, he said. He warned that growth booms frequently create conditions for subsequent stagnation when they reinforce elite interests incompatible with long-term development, citing South Korea as a rare example of a country that successfully made the transition to open, ordered arrangements. Kunal also stressed that the cost of denial is not confined to autocracies, pointing to Sri Lanka and India as democracies where closed-deal growth later triggered institutional pushback, leading to disordered arrangements and slower growth. Both economists concluded that governance and growth reforms must proceed simultaneously, not sequentially. Devarajan urged policymakers to use periods of rapid growth to strengthen governance and improve transparency, while ensuring that poverty-reduction policies do not neglect the middle class. Kunal echoed the point, saying growth should not be treated as an end in itself but as a means to build inclusive and robust economic and political institutions over the long term.

For millions of Dhaka residents, the most basic necessities—food, air and water—have become a daily health gamble, exposing them to risks they can hardly avoid, according to experts. From toxic chemicals in everyday food items to dangerously polluted air and bacterially contaminated water, public health experts say the capital is facing continuous threats with long-term consequences for millions. Toxic Food on Tables Food safety researchers have repeatedly detected formalin, calcium carbide, artificial colours, excessive pesticide residues and antibiotics in fruits, vegetables, fish and dairy products sold in Bangladesh’s markets. These substances are linked to liver and kidney damage, hormonal disorders and increased cancer risks, experts said. They warn that chronic exposure is silently fuelling a rise in non-communicable diseases. Professor Khaleda Islam of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science said long-term exposure to food contaminants is contributing to Bangladesh’s growing health burden. Read more: Expose tobacco industry’s deceptive tactics to safeguard public health: Experts “Nearly one in four adults now suffers from hypertension while diabetes affects about one in three,” she said, noting that dietary contamination is a significant but often overlooked factor. Unsafe agricultural practices, premature fruit ripening and the widespread use of chemicals to keep produce looking artificially fresh are blamed for the contamination. Breathing Dirtiest Air Dhaka continues to rank among the world’s most polluted cities with concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particles regularly exceeding international safety limits several times over. Brick kilns, unregulated construction, ageing and unfit vehicles and open waste burning are the major contributors, according to environmental experts. Doctors warn that prolonged exposure increases the risk of asthma, respiratory infections, heart disease and stroke. “Dhaka’s air pollution has been steadily rising for more than a decade, affecting both physical and mental health,” said Prof Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman of the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS). Read more: Unhealthy air quality recorded in Dhaka on Friday “During the dry months particularly from November to March hospital visits increase sharply as asthma and respiratory patients suffer the most. If hazardous elements persist in the air, the risks can extend even to cancer,” he said. Unsafe Water, Unseen Dangers Despite improvements in coverage, safe drinking water remains a daily concern in many areas. Tests frequently detect E. coli and other harmful bacteria, while some underground sources contain elevated levels of arsenic and ammonia. Leaking pipelines, ageing infrastructure and inadequate treatment facilities are largely responsible, experts say. Adding to the concern, a 2025 study titled ‘Antimicrobial resistant enteric bacteria are widely distributed among environmental water sources in Dhaka, Bangladesh’ found widespread antibiotic-resistant bacteria in freshwater sources. Read more: Dhaka’s air quality continues to be ‘unhealthy’ Researchers detected resistance genes such as blaTEM, mcr-1, qnrB and sul-1, indicating that water pollution is not only causing infections but also threatening the effectiveness of antibiotics. Systemic Failure Environmental and public health experts argue that the overlapping crises point to years of systemic neglect. Bangladesh has long ranked near the bottom of global air quality indices. Acknowledging the scale of the challenge, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said meaningful improvement would take time. “A country that ranks 179th out of 180 cannot jump to the 50th position in one year,” she said, adding that legal and administrative reforms are underway. “If Bangladesh works consistently for five to seven years and reaches around the 70th position the next elected government will have a foundation to build on,” she said. Civil society voices, however, stress that governance and citizen responsibility must go hand in hand. “We expect city administrators to play an effective role in building a liveable city, but change must also begin with ourselves,” said Ibnul Syed of the Pran Prakriti Protibesh Poribesh Rokkha Jatiyo Committee. Architect Iqbal Habib, vice-president of Safety Awareness Foundation, recently warned that Bangladesh is “building a disabled city” unless environmental priorities are urgently mainstreamed into urban planning. Read more: Toxic harvest: Food safety slipping away in Bangladesh During a cleanup drive recently, Dhaka South City Corporation administrator Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan echoed a similar sentiment, saying that social changes are possible only when citizens fulfil their responsibilities.

Awards are the marks of recognition and encouragement given in honour of any special achievement in certain categories, which also signify the credibility and speciality of a person or any organization. Among all the prestigious awards recognizing deserving individuals and entities across the world, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Asia" stands in today's world as a very special, exclusive and significant one. The award was initiated as an annual badge of honour created to commemorate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of honesty in administration, fearless service to the people, and realistic idealism within a democratic society. Established in 1957 by the New York-based Rockefeller Brothers Fund in cooperation with the Filippino Government, the Ramon Magsaysay Award celebrates the value of integrity, courage, and selfless service of Asian individuals impacting Asian landscapes. There is a reason behind elaborating on awards in this write-up, especially the Ramon Magsaysay Award in particular, as Korvi Rakshand, revered for his social activities as the founder of JAAGO Foundation, has been nominated for the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Emergent Leadership category. With this year's award, Korvi Rakshand joins the distinguished list of 344 outstanding individuals and organisations whose selfless service has offered their societies, Asia, and the world, by offering successful solutions to some of the most intractable problems of human development. JAAGO Foundation Founder Korvi Rakshand wins Ramon Magsaysay Award for dedication to education, social change Through achieving this badge of honour, he also joined the prestigious Hall of Fame of 13 Bangladeshis who won the award in the past. The list includes prominent scientist Firdausi Qadri (2021), environmentalist and social activist Syeda Rizwana Hasan (2012), Founder and Executive Director of Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) AHM Noman Khan (2010), eminent journalist and Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman (2005), eminent educationist Abdullah Abu Sayeed (2004), prominent social worker Angela Gomes (1999), revered village society reformer Mohammad Yeasin (1988), Co-Founder of the Notre Dame College in Dhaka Father Richard William Timm (1987), legendary pharmacist and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury (1985), Nobel Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank Dr Mohammad Yunus (1984), Brac founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed (1980) and Tahrunnesa Abdullah in 1978, recognized for her pioneering role as a social reformer for Muslim women in society. From educating a little group of children at the capital's Rayer Bazaar slum to being nominated for the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award, Korvi Rakshand has been leading a revolutionary social transformation all over Bangladesh. For an afternoon chat to deep dive into Korvi Rakshan's role as a journeyman, Dhaka Courier recently visited his office at JAAGO's Banani headquarters in the capital. The entire office setting in the complex redirects as a memory lane of JAAGO's monumental journey for the past 16 years in the country, and within the short office tour and an exclusive interview with DC, Korvi Rakshand elaborated on the eventual past, present and future state of his esteemed organization. "The journey of JAAGO Foundation began in 2007 at the Rayer Bazaar slum in the capital, with the initial goal of teaching English to underprivileged children totally free of cost - because we thought this would help them conquer the language barriers in their next career steps, be it inside or outside the country. We were amazed to see the response of those 17 children as they asked about promotions to the next class, which made us realise that they envisioned our initiative as a school, and that led us to begin our first school in the Rayer Bazaar slum. Our efforts began to get recognized by society through several of our activities, but we realised the need to expand our efforts beyond Dhaka. We modelled a curriculum integration of both classroom-based and remote education that tremendously brought success in terms of educating children, especially in the difficult times during the pandemic, and now we are focusing on mainstream quality education and bridging the learning gaps with skill-based education to students who are unable to complete traditional studies. At present, JAAGO works with five focus areas - Education, Youth, Women, Climate Change and Governance, operated by more than 600 employees and more than fifty thousand volunteers across the country." JAAGO schools showcase 22 projects at Annual Science Fair The reason behind selecting the name: "In Bengali, the name 'Jaago' redirects to make someone wake up from sleep. Education is the light beam for society to get up and shine bright, and we consider it our responsibility to initiate the much-needed wake-up call with education. The bold, capitalised wording of JAAGO redirects as an invitation to everyone, to join our movement with love, support and contributions. The vibrant yellow colour is most commonly recognised as the colour of friendship, and that is what we do. We bridge the gap in society as its dedicated friend." On 'Volunteer for Bangladesh': Under Rakshand's visionary leadership, the JAAGO Foundation also initiated the Volunteer for Bangladesh (VBD) program in 2011. VBD has become a youth movement involving more than 50,000 leaders actively working for social betterment. "Although the initial aim and vision of the JAAGO Foundation was to focus on children and education, our responsibility increased upon witnessing the enthusiasm of the youth. We diversified our efforts, addressing various other issues including youth development and women's empowerment and eventually established the 'Volunteers for Bangladesh' (VBD) to bring together proactive individuals who could collaborate and contribute their energy and dedication to our activities. In VBD, our volunteers elect their local leaders and the power is completely decentralised to ensure the desired performances at the grassroots level." Winning the award: "I was travelling and was at an airport when I received a WhatsApp text from an unknown number. The person introduced herself as Susan Afan, President of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, and wanted to initiate a video call. Initially, I assumed that she was going to discuss someone else, and it was really surprising to know when they informed me that I got selected for this year's Ramon Magsaysay Award. Turned out that they have been following the activities of JAAGO for the last five years, and knowing all these has been pretty surreal to me." The present and future: "In 2020, we obtained NGO licensing, enabling us to collaborate with various international organizations. Currently, we partner with organizations such as UNICEF, USAID, and FCDO, and many donors prefer to remain anonymous. At Jaago, anyone can sponsor a child's schooling by contributing BDT 2,000 each month. We introduced an exclusive scholarship program for women students in public universities, to ease their daily lives and economic conditions. Launched last year, we managed to help 100 students and have enlisted 160 students for 2023." "Accolades are obviously inspiring, but personally I think this award will help us thrive with more accountability. I would really consider myself successful when I see that our work motivates the youth to believe in their capacity to bring about change, and I firmly believe that our youths are that capable," Korvi Rakshand told DC, ending the conversation with gratitude. Read more: When local communities unite to co-create a better city: Jhenaidah shows the way

Water governance and the engagement of youth are crucial for future existence, said the speakers at the 8th International Water Conference held during January 23-25, 2023 in Sylhet. The conference, organised by ActionAid Bangladesh under the theme "Water and Rivers for Life and Living: The Role of Youth," brought the youth groups, policymakers, academicians, researchers, and practitioners, to a common platform to emphasise the importance of incorporating youth mobilisation on issues related to water and rivers. The programme emphasised five thematic areas – watershed history, morphology and changes; rivers as a living entity and anthropogenic impacts on water and rivers; youth engagement in water and river rights; transboundary rivers and water politics, and innovation: water, ecosystem and sustainable livelihoods. In the closing session of the conference, Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said the linkage between water and governance needs to be emphasised everywhere. "As we graduate from LDCs and more development takes place, water governance will continue to become a crucial component." On the first day of the conference, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the event through a video message. He said: "We believe sound water management can be an important factor for regional peace and solidarity." Read more: Transnational policies for water governance in S Asia stressed Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of the Department of International Relations, and director of the Centre for Genocide Studies, at the University of Dhaka said: "This year as we focus on the importance of engaging youth in ensuring river rights, policymakers should also think about how to mobilise student associations of the country to advocate for issues of rivers and environment besides their involvement in politics." "In addition, this regional conference opened a doorway to investigate commonalities of water and rivers of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and China," he added. ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabir said: "The multiple sessions of the conference created a space for sharing insights and best practices. This year we brought in the importance of youth participation while keeping the main focus on river and water as a part of our dreams, culture and lives and livelihoods." Read more: Climate change threatens access to water, sanitation

The commoners are less interested in governance; all they want is a good standard of living, which the Awami League has ensured, Planning Minister MA Mannan said Friday. "The road to governance is very long. We have to understand what the commoners want in the first place," he added. Mannan was addressing the seminar "National Budget and Economic Pathway" organised by The Centre for Governance Studies at a city hotel. At the event, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, former minister and standing committee member of the BNP, said: "Politicisation is taking over the economy, which is a symbol of an authoritarian government." "Inequality is rising as the government is patronising its own people for its political interests," he added. There are contradictions in the budget process, Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid, former chairman of the National Board of Revenue, said. "The scope for discussion is also limited." Also read: Social stability a must to implement budget: Planning Minister