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True meaning of Independence Day

Much to be proud of much remains to be done
AS we celebrate the 38th anniversary of our independence we must once again look at the twin aspirations with which this nation embarked on its arduous but ultimately glorious march to freedom.
We had dreamed of a land of prosperity and opportunity for all, free from the shackles of oppression and exploitation, but more than mere economic aspirations, we also aspired to the full flowering of life in freedom.
In economic and developmental terms, we certainly have much to be pleased about. Thanks to the industry and ingenuity of our farmers, we have become seli-suificient in food production, and thanks to the vibrant NGO sector, social goods and services have been delivered to nearly every comer of the country.
There is no need to enumerate again here the impact of micro-credit, an authentic Bangladeshi innovation that the world has now adopted. It is one of the success stories of our independence. Indeed, in terms of almost every indicator, from women’s empowerment to education to health, we have made great strides in independence, though, of course, there is much that remains unfinished.
But, of course, while we have cut poverty rates and created opportunity and growth, it has come at a cost. The gap between rich and poor yawns wider titan ever, and inequality, poverty, and hopelessness still exist in large measure.
It is no exaggeration to say that the social upheavals and economic mismanagement that leave too many of our fellow countrymen and women mired in poverty and misery, no less than the culture of political confrontation, has resulted in space being created for misguided fringe and extremists elements to wreak havoc. We must redouble our efforts to include everyone in the fruits of freedom and ensure that no one is left behind.
But where there is the most work left to do is in creating and establishing a culture of freedom. The country had periodically been subject to military rule and in the past even democracy, when we attained it, has not been inclusive or allowed for the voices of the people to be heard and their best interests protected. Today, we can once again take pride in the renewal of democracy, after two years, and hope fervently that this time around the government fulfills the liberal and democratic yearnings of the people.
While we have had elections in the past, scarcely any other marker of democracy and freedom, from rule of law to tolerance of dissent or opposition, to the right to live in security and free of fear, has established itself or flourished, and the end result is that true freedom still eludes far too many of us.
A big part of the problem is the political culture that remains mired in dysfunction and does not at all reflect the aspirations of the people. Bangladeshis have proved again and again that they choose democracy and their own right to determine their destiny and want their leaders to do the right thing. Now it is up to the political class to rise to the challenge and provide the people with the wise and mature leadership that they deserve.
Even more of a frustration than the political dysfunction is the personal and political freedom that Bangladeshis are still denied. Human rights violations, death in custody, and extra-judicial killings still blight the landscape. Access to justice, due process, and rule of law exist only in theory for the vast majority of our fellow countrymen and women. More than anything else, we need to secure these freedoms for our people if March 26 is to truly be the celebration of our independence.