Achievements

Though small and still developing, Bangladesh has attained international recognition for its achievement of positive changes in both social and economic indicators. In terms of Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in the areas of primary schooling, lowering the infant and under-five mortality rate and overall poverty reduction. Nobel laureate Professor Amartya Kumar Sen remarked that Bangladesh has astonished the world with the level of progress it has achieved in certain areas, especially in education, women’s empowerment, reducing birth and maternal and infant mortality rates, health care and sanitation facilities for marginalized people and immunization coverage among children.

Some of the effective initiatives undertaken by the government of Bangladesh in order to attain universal education include- distribution of free textbooks among 100 per cent students and introduction of scholarship schemes from primary to secondary levels to encourage female participation. The present government has nationalized 26,193 primary schools and a large number of teachers’ jobs. The enrollment rate in primary schools has jumped from 61% in 1990 to 97.7% at present. The Education Assistance Trust Act, 2012 has been passed and the Education Assistance Trust established to support underprivileged meritorious students.

Ref: Department of Primary Education

Bangladesh has made its mark in the global arena through remarkable progress in child immunization. The National Health Policy-2011 has been implemented to modernize the health sector. 12, 779⁽¹⁾ community clinics have been established to reach quality healthcare at the grassroots level. 312⁽²⁾ Upazila Health Complex have been upgraded to 50-bed. 2000 new beds have been added to medical colleges and district hospitals. Maternal and infant mortality rates have been slashed by a great extent. Infant mortality has dropped from 149 in 1990 to only 53⁽³⁾ at present. Twelve⁽⁴⁾ new medical colleges have been established and over 47,000 manpower recruited to take healthcare services to citizens’ doorsteps.

To reduce the shortage of skilled manpower in the remote areas the government has created posts for 3,000 midwives. The midwives will be trained to conduct safe deliveries at home and to identify the risks and complicated cases so that they can motivate the women and their family members to refer to the nearby health facilities.

At present world, Autism of children is a huge disorder. Bangladesh remains in the leadership and forefront position in global awareness creation on autism. Present government has taken different steps by prioritizing the issue. A center for Neurodevelopment and Autism in Children has been established at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and nurses, paramedics, and doctors have been trained on autism.

 Ref: 1, 2, 3, 4

In the light of fundamental rights of women recognized in the Constitution the National Women Development Policy 2011 has been approved. Several scholarship schemes have been introduced from primary to secondary levels to encourage female education. A wide range of multi-faceted measures have been initiated to ensure women’s equal participation at all social tiers. In order to facilitate women’s participation in the world of technology, one woman entrepreneur has been appointed at every Union Digital Centre (UDC). A National Children Policy 2011 has been adopted to protect children’s rights. One stop crisis cells have been set up in 40 district sadar hospitals and 20 upazila health complexes. 15 child development centers have been established to rehabilitate street children. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been awarded the prestigious South-South Award for her outstanding contribution towards improving the state of women and children.

Ref: Multi Sectorial Program on Violence against Women

With a cultural past of worst women deprivation, Bangladesh came a long way in empowering women in a great way. Bangladesh is now the 2nd largest manufacturer and exporter of garments and apparels. And majority of the garments workers are women. Microcredit has flourished the rural economy in a great way in empowering women in Bangladesh. More than 80% of the microcredit beneficiaries are women. Women entrepreneurship is highly encouraged in Bangladesh. Gender equality is also one of the prime concerns of the government. Bangladesh is an exception in the global trend where the Prime Minister (head of the government), head of the opposition, and the Speaker of the Parliament are females.

 The government of Bangladesh has undertaken revolutionary measures in order to materialize the vision of a Digital Bangladesh. One-stop information and services kiosks Union Digital Centres (UDC) have been set up in 4550 Union Parishads. All the upazilas of the country have been brought under internet connectivity through the world’s largest National Web Portal. Due to the adoption of favorable telecommunication policies, the total number of mobile phone and internet users stand at 123.70 million⁽¹⁾ and 44.60 million⁽²⁾ respectively. E-payment and mobile banking facilities have been initiated to make service delivery transparent and easy. Electronic government procurement mechanism (e-GP) has been institutionalized. The processes of bringing the third generation (3G) mobile technology to customers have been initiated.

Ref: 1, 2

Bangladesh has been the focus of global discourse time and again for some remarkable achievements in the agriculture sector. Even with a population of 160 million, Bangladesh has managed to achieve comprehensive food security. In the past few years rice production has increased to 5 million metric tons. With direct patronage from the Prime Minister and the Agriculture Minister, Bangladeshi scientist Dr. Maksudul Alam has decoded the genome sequence of jute fiber. Out of the 17 genome sequences that have been decoded globally, Dr. Maksud has decoded 3 of them. His remarkable achievement is a pride for the entire nation.
 

Currently, 8.6 million Bangladeshi labors are working in 157 countries. Bangladesh has shown outstanding achievements in expatriating labors in various countries. Branches of Expatriates Welfare Bank has been established in the divisional cities of Bangladesh. In 2014, approximately 277 million of Taka has been sanctioned as loan among 3,669 persons with nominal interest. Registration of foreign job-seekers has been ensured at grassroots level through ICT, which ensured participation from remote areas as well. The need for middlemen has been abolished and many labors had the opportunity to travel for job to Malaysia without any harassment under a government-to-government arrangement.

Since joining UN peacekeeping mission in 1988, the Bangladesh Army has effectively and successfully conducted 64 peace missions in 39 countries. Bangladesh ranks top among the 115 countries that participate in UN peace missions and has been praised by the UN for it's proactive role in conflict-prove regions.

One of the important achievements in the power sector has been the generation of 6,323 MW⁽¹⁾ of additional electricity to the national grid. This has increased electricity beneficiary coverage from 47% to 62%⁽²⁾. The per capita electricity production also increased from 220 kwh to 348⁽³⁾ kwh. New power connections have been provided to 3.5 million consumers. 65⁽⁴⁾ new power plants have also been constructed.

Ref: 1, 2, 3, 4

Bangladesh advanced in accommodation, ship building, pharmaceuticals, and processes food export sectors alongside the major Garments sector. The list of commodities exported from Bangladesh now includes ships, pharmaceuticals, alongside processed and frozen foods. Bangladesh now has a fast growing IT industry, export of which exceeded $100 million in the fiscal year of 2013-2014.

Bangladesh has increased the amount and scope for various social security allowances, which is targeted for poor, distressed, and vulnerable citizens including: senior citizens, widows, abandoned wives, distressed women, poor handicapped citizens, pregnant women, etc. Total allocation in this sector during 2008-2009 was 138.45 billion, but in recent years the allocation increased to 253.71 billion⁽¹⁾. In a survey, it was found that 24.5% of the population has been brought under social security allowance.

 Ref: 1

The government has undertaken an initiative to computerise the Mouza maps and bhumi khatians in 55 districts with the aim to modernise land management system. Upazila-wise Digital Land Zoning Maps have been prepared for 152 upazilas. Draft “Land Reform Act-2014, Protection of Agricultural Land and Land use Act, 2015 and Land Development Tax Act-2015 have been prepared, which will be finalized very soon. An  electrmic land record system has been implemented which is set to trams from the traditional land managment system.

At a time when the global economy was reeling from the effects of economic recession, Bangladesh government, through the use of various incentive packages, has not only managed to stave off economic downturn but also succeeded in maintaining GDP growth rate above 6%. In stark contrast to global economic crisis, Bangladesh recorded an increase in the rate of both import and export and the volume of foreign remittance. Bangladesh has earned the equivalent status of the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam in terms of loan repayments.

Ref: World Bank