§ Laws that allow and protect the right of women – the other 50% of Bangladesh – to inheritances equal to that of their brothers or other male family members.
§ Literacy rates close to 100%
§ A country where violence to settle disputes is such a major exception that the party in power apologises to the people for any violent act by any of its affiliated wings.
§ A political religious culture where real , tuned ideas can form and be translated by organisations without reliance on duffer ideas and funds from white Arab powers.
§ In the same vein: a day when Bangladeshi Muslims have no doubts that turning towards Riyadh, Manama or Doha is very different from turning towards Makkah. AKA Strengthening of religiosity in some parts of religious society.
§ No ministry/department for expatriate affairs because all Bangladeshis abroad are given rapid assistance by the Foreign Ministry through our incredibly efficient embassy staff abroad and, besides, Bangladeshis don’t migrate as much anyway because of the flourishing employment opportunities at home.
§ Bangladesh is known around the world as a pioneer in the widespread use of non-fossil fuel based energy – whether renewable or not. (This is not a global warming concern.)
§ Universal laughter greets any overt or covert attempt at military rule because everyone knows that that is not how we do it in Bangladesh. The protagonists behind such a move resign immediately to write Humayun Ahmed-style farces, and are never given book deals/newspaper space to write about truth commissions and food security.
§ A religious intelligentsia fluent with religion and the people instead of giving themselves up to “culture wars” rhetoric – e.g. the imam of the local mosque gave a khutba at the jumma prayers before February 14th against Valentine’s day. Not once have I heard him talk about the open garbage dump in front of the entrance to his mosque, which probably cause more harm than some weird pink day.
§ Bangladeshis, regardless of religion, race, class are allowed to travel through/walk into the areas/buildings their tax money builds for those who rule and protect them, be it the Shongshod Bhobon, Cantonment, Pilkhana or Secretariat.

What else can I say, thanks a lot.

A Freedom Fighter in Exile

http://www.dailynayadiganta.com/fullnews.asp?News_ID=136175&sec=6

I think the pivotal point, facing Bangladesh, is not that of haves vs. have nots. I do not wish to insinuate class struggle either, here. I think it is, rather, the rampant double standard, i.e., application of one policy for one or a few and another for the majority, which is alarmingly threatening to tear apart the socio-political fabric in Bangladesh.

We must not forget the innocent and brave sons of the soil lost on the 25th of March night genocide perpetrated by the savage Pakistani army.

We must not forget for a moment the native collaborators of the barbarian Pakistani army who killed millions during the nine month long War. They must be tried and prosecuted according to the law of the land.

We are a resilient nation. We have shown our resolve to move ahead in spite of natural and man-made disasters.

Bangladesh now has the strongest democracy in place since independence. It is only quality leadership that is needed to take Bangladesh to prosperity and progress in the next ten years.

Fug/Ahbab, the 2nd list was compiled by Rumi bhai. The link to his original post wasn’t working before. Fixed now.

Ahbab, I don’t have any data to back up those things. But they don’t sound far fetched. In 2007, there were over 100,000 registered passenger vehicles (cars, 4wds, motor bikes), a five-fold increase since 1995. I don’t know how we can measure ‘urban middle class’, but the essence of Rumi bhai’s point — most urban middle class having access to family vehicle today, whereas this wasn’t even dreamt of in the 1980s — doesn’t seem unreasonable. As for the internet point, again, don’t have any data. But there are 43 million sims used in Bangladesh, most net compatible, and is pretty cheap. Plus there are net cafes even in places like Sitakundu and Jamalpur.

On your point about the peaceful path to development being blocked, the story is more complicated than one might think. On the one hand, it is definitely the case that we have seen a widening wealth gap between haves and have nots. But this is only half the story. Look at the haves. Most wealthy Bangladeshis today (successful professionals/businessmen or corrupt politician/bureaucrat or whatever) has a relative in the rural heart of Bangladesh, and scratch the surface, and most of us have our roots in the rice fields.

The last few generations (starting from the first quarter of 20th century, boosted by partition, and fully blooming after liberation) have seen a lot of former have nots becoming haves. This is something often overlooked in our collective moaning and ha hutash. The question really is, will today’s have nots get the same chance that the parents of today’s haves did? Or more importantly, do today’s have nots believe that their future will be better?

If the answer is ‘yes’, then peaceful path to development is not blocked. If the answer is ‘no’, then we have a problem.

My personal observation — which is not substitute for any rigorous survey (but then, no one has done one, so it’s not like I can be proved wrong) — is that the have not overwhelmingly believes in the possibility of a better tomorrow. The lady who works as a bua today is sending her daughter to school so that she can learn and get a job in a factory. The guy who is working as a helper in the local garriage is saving money to buy to open his own shop someday. I look at these and I don’t see class war and revolution, I see the spirit of liberty and unbound Prometheus.