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Development, the yet untamed horse

Mohammad Mohiuddin Abdullah
BANGLADESH is a least developed country (LDC) with consistent economic growth over the years. About a half of the total population lives under the poverty line and its annual per capita income is around $ 848. Bangladesh has maintained, since the fiscal year 1999 till date, annual average growth rate of more than 5.7%, which falls in the range for an LDC. In order to advance reduction with the aim of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) economic growth, social development and governance are the key areas, and it is also necessary to include human security. Poverty is an extremely important challenge in today's world. Bangladesh is one of the largest LDCs in Asia and still needs to improve several socio-development indicators.
The South Asian region has high potential for development as a prospective market and investment destination following China and the Asean countries, in the context of strengthening economic development and partnership in Asia as a whole. Bangladesh is located between South-East Asia and India and its economic ties should be developed among neighbouring countries as well as international agencies.
Because of the bipolar confrontation between Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party; governance problems have become more serious, such as prevailing corruption and deteriorating law and order situation. A notable example is the recurrence of hartal, which inflicts great harm on the economy. In addition, political intervention in administration and planning process is one of the main bottlenecks towards achieving the development goals. We could not achieve any mid-to-long-term development goal since independence.
Social thinkers encourage service to the community, especially to the needy, and this principle is also enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is impossible to identity development as expansion of individual freedom in Bangladesh because the country has relatively less land in proportion to population. Individualist ethic would invite intense competition for ownership of land by fair means or foul as well as activities that would devastate the environment, as is actually happening because of actions motivated by this ethic.
It is difficult to advance with individual resources alone. For poverty allevia-
tion and development that may benefit the disadvantaged, the importance of collective endeavours is indisputable and is independent of any social ideology; So, economic, institutional and political modernisation is desirable to whatever degree it agrees with, or promises to be useful for, obtaining the values held by a given civilisation. We want to increase material welfare and to evolve a socio-political system that will lead to the fuller realisation of a state of being which conforms with our desires.
Diversification of export-oriented industries, increase of private investment, development of social sector, creation of employment and development of agriculture and rural areas arc of crucial importance. Major challenges are the eradication of preventable diseases and achievement of quality improvement in education. Measures to tackle natural disasters such as cyclones and floods are also important. Other major challenges are strengthening policy planning and implementation at the central level, promoting institution and capacity building at the centre level, and enhancing community participation at the local level.
In the context of prevailing global realities and in compliance with constitutional obligations and with the aim of fulfilling the commitments made to the people before national elections, the government has set out its development goals and enunciated supportive policies and strategies to bring about the long-cherished socio-economic transformation for building a happy and prosperous Bangladesh. The sixth five year plan did not stress basic needs of the citizen. There are no poverty alleviation projects that can improve the standard of living of the people by raising their income and meeting their basic needs. T he plan is based on sectoral basis but not on micro basis. We do not find generation of employment opportunities and improvement in the quality of life of the rural population. Planning institutions should act as independent institutions and should not be guided by any individual/political party.
The ongoing development programmes do not stress on transformation of rural socio-economic structure into a more equitable, just and productive one, nor on empowerment of the rural poor, strengthening of local bodies and decentralisation of power at the local level, closing of the gender gap, giving priority to women's education, training and employment, devel-
opment of indigenous people, etc. It is true that our plans and programmes are centrally formulated and implemented by an administration procedure where local representatives have no participation. Our planned development has been frustrated by political instability and foreign aid flow.
Political intervention in administration and planning as well as implementation process should be looked into to achieve socio-economic development. Improvement in governance is indispensable for effective and efficient promotion of economic growth, poverty reduction and social development. Bangladesh is trapped in the vicious circle of poverty, which is characterised by large- scale unemployment and underemployment, low level income, low productivity due to deficiency of capital, weak technological base, market imperfections and lack of skill. Policy makers should stress on elimination of poverty and inequality. Inclusion of non-viable projects in Annual Development Programme by political pressure groups should not be encouraged.
Keeping in view the changing structure of the global economy, future plans should be prepared within a flexible framework. The planning framework should rest more on flexible projections and forecasts of incremental change in various development parameters than on rigid targets for realisation. In the context of increasing globalisation of economy, the plan may place markets at the centre but it must also attach due importance to the appropriate role of the government and the public sector, as required to fulfil the constitutional obligations of the state for raising the standard of living of all citizens.
The aspiration of our people is to live with dignity. With this end in view, the government should ensure speedy development of our human and natural resources for meeting the basic human needs -- food, clothing, shelter, health, education, etc. The indomitable will of the people as demonstrated in the War of Liberation must be aroused once again to move forward towards self-reliance in agriculture, industry as well as health. The urgent need of the hour is cooperation among the people as well as political parties. The government should take steps to strengthen local government so that it can respond to the needs of the people and bring services to their doorsteps.
The writer is a former Joint Chief, Planning Commission. Email: dr.abdullah.bd@gmail.com