A deep look into the present-day realities of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is negotiating a difficult path in the present-day global scenario as it is beset with myriad problems that a developing nation, having its own characteristics, generally faces. Nevertheless, the country of 160 million people is making remarkable strides on many fronts - especially in the economic and social arenas - for attaining a meaningful identity in its quest for progress.
The challenges are manifold, ranging from domestic problems to international socio-economic dynamics. It is imperative that the country attain the ability to adapt itself to the complexities of the political scenario both at national and world levels. Socio-economic matters cannot be divorced from the larger political issues, since in many ways both are inextricably related to each other. In essence, it is social and economic advancement that matters to the people of Bangladesh, and hence both concern and curiosity are often noticed in this regard among different quarters. But the bottom-line is that good governance and the expected development need to be ensured as far as possible for achieving the larger goal of all-round progress. The political and other problems, like corruption and varied forms of menaces, are great impediments to the fulfilment of this desire. And hence there emerges the need for eradication of all these ills.
Democracy deficiency and shortcomings in   governance are fundamental issues that an author keen on government and people's aspirations would love to deal with.
Aziz Rahman, a former senior civil servant, who has also worked abroad as a Bangladesh diplomat, has had the opportunity of viewing matters related to development and progress at home and abroad. He has sought to analyse and give his points of view on various issues that are inseparably linked with the crucial subject of socio-economic progress of his country. His book The Open Secrets of Democracy and Development is a serious attempt to effectively identify many shortcomings and drawbacks that exist in different systems in Bangladesh, and also in foreign nations.
He has drawn parallels on several fields between divergent economies and situations with a view to helping Bangladesh realise its problems and find ways on how to make efforts to emulate the models of progress and development in the other developing countries. However, the quest for democracy's true spirit and meaningful development is unquestionably the focus of all the chapters in the book.
The articles included in the book were earlier published mainly in two leading newspapers of the country -The Financial Express and The Daily Star.
The author has touched upon assorted subjects ranging from the need for strengthening the spirit of democracy in Bangladesh to making Dhaka a liveable city. He has not excluded such international issues like the Syrian crisis and the role of the big powers.
He has also written on some respected figures like Late President Zillur Rahman and the author's mentor, former civil servant Late Mujibul Huq. Mr. Rahman has endeavoured to give counsels to persons of importance to "talk less and work more", while also stressed the need for taking lessons from Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). A chapter titled Around the Country in Ninety Days' draws the readers' attention to the very title of the article. The author has also written about his experiences abroad, especially in Sweden where he was posted at the Bangladesh embassy.
The book covers wide areas and issues that are of interest to Bangladesh readers. He has gone deep into the challenges putting them in historical perspectives in several chapters in the four parts of the book. The publication provides food for thought, even though many observations may evoke some debates, which, once again, are only expected from the book of a writer, who has of
late developed a penchant for journalism.
Published by Pritish Prottoy Smabesh at Aziz Super Market in Dhaka, the 287-page book has a simple but meaningful cover with a Shapla - the national flower. The emphasis is evidently to make Bangladesh truly worthwhile to its independence and separate identity.
The book will be useful to many for different reasons, as it can serve as a catalyst for a lot of constructive ideas in numerous fields.
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