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OPINION

"Do We Work Hard Enough?"
Mr S A M S Kibrtas lucid exposition captioned "Do We Work Hard Enough?" made an enlightening reading. Placed as he was In a pivotal position as ESCAP chief Mr Kibria is better equipped to pinpoint the causes of dismal economic situation of Bangladesh and possibly suggest its remedies. II is indeed curious that after more than two decades as an Independent nation and Inspite of astronomical foreign aid received. the country is bogged down in deep morass in all the vital sectors of polity. This probably has, like others, Mr Kibria worrying and thinking .the causes and its solution.
Many countries of this region did not have a 'present' but they now seem to have vibrant 'future'. Last decades saw phenomenal growth of GDP of our neighbouring countries like Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and the like. Many of these countries share similarities of our climate, food habits and physical stature. Germany and Japan were pulverised in the Second World War. Languishing briefly they emerged as economic giants like the fabled phoenix out of ashes. They worked miracles by dint of hard work and definite sense of direction.
Pitted against our all pervading poverty we arc fed on harangue of success stories of Government in power, year after year, day in and day out. Bangladesh received massive aid from international communities in kind and cash. The Government had spectacular programmes for development to tell us. They went by catchy slogans of all shades which we are specially adept at coinage, like Green Revolution, Food Auturky. Accountability and Transparency. Health for All. Education for All by the Magic Year 2000. Each successive Government found Its programmes the best and most patriotic while discarding the earlier ones of Its predecessor as blasphemous. The result was. each Government 1n its anxiety to prove superiority over the past ones, negated whatever was there on the planning board and embarked on '"revolutionary" Ideas and programmes. Thank God. we have more than our share of sycophants; to drum about the successes af the Government tn power. Otjr leaders are often so myopic that they seem to overlook the same mouths singing different hymns. It Is a pity that our leaders, instead of framing a sound strategy for economy and for developing human resources, either through ignorance or through parochial outlook made enpho-
ria of issues in order to play to the gallery In the process, interest of Government political party took the precedence while national interest was relegated to the back seat. This has been an unremitting tale of each successive Government of Bangladesh. Seldom, if ever, members of the public were taken into confidence. They were not told hard realities facing them. On the other hand, the Government in power, in Its myopic pursuit of immediate goals, fed the members of the public on • flattering statistics leading them to believe that milk and honey was only around the corner. No leader ever ventured to say — produce or perish, as they did in Great Britain in those dark post war days.
Generous outpouring of foreign aid over the years has made us aid addicts. Mr Kibria is right wen he gives statistics to prove that Bangladesh enjoys an infamous record of longest spell of public holidays of 24 days a year, and the briefest working hours — six hours and a half daily. Seen in this backdrop impeccably dressed men and women, aircooled cars, high flying life style of a section of towns people, majestic houses of some localities vying for each other In architectural marvel may strike as enigmatic, but one should not forget that our national budget is but entirely dependent on foreign dole which plainly means that from our cradle to grave donors foot all our bills. Chronic aid addiction has made us all a nation of • lotus eaters, robbing us of our self-esteem and wisdom to earn our bread. That explains why we enjoy noon-day qap when our benign donors work their heart out abroad to turn an extra dollar for us. That also partly explains how we go unabashed to the Aid Club with the bowl In hand, albeit In three-piece-suit (with a matching hanky, of course).
One of the poorest countries of the world, Bangladesh can boast of a sizeable population living a luxurious life comparable to some of the richest people of Europe and America. Although It may sound too simplistic a prescription. many of our Ills can possibly be traced to over-dependence on foreign aid and taking charity for granted. As is the case of a parasitic man so la that of a nation. A nation perennially sustained by dole* and charity will find tt hard to " work hard enough'.
M G Mostaq Dhanmondt. Dhaka