Bangladesh is not small
Saturday, 9 February 2008
BANGLADESH is not small. We are the seventh biggest country in the world with over 140 million people. We do not consider our vast population as a source of weakness but strength. We will form a vast market some day to be among the most lucrative in the world. Our vast population, already on the move-up from various push-pull factors, will create great wealth early in the present century to take us to great heights of national greatness and individual contentment.
The signs of Bangladeshis being galvanised into such a huge workforce are evident though the short-sighted ones may not see it or recognise it. A continent size country is barren today and it has to entice away people from other countries to it because it is indigenously short of people and needs migration of people from other countries to help expand its economy and harness its resources. We are, thank God, not dependent like it and are greater in that respect.
Who says Bangladesh is small? How many countries have such distinctions or leads the world such as our possessing the world's longest natural and unpolluted sea beach, the world's greatest mangrove forest, world renowned culinary skills and a culture and civilisation that dates back thousands of years in contrast to leading countries in the world today whose civilised histories are but several centuries old.
Bangladesh in antiquity was a land of plenty, finery, artistry and excellence. It was among the few distinguished lands in the world then for its prosperity and high civilisation. Colonial interventions and other ill developments had upset our fortunes and stalled our progress. But this is temporary.
With patriotism pulsating in the bosoms of its people, Bangladesh can be one of the world's few leading nations in all respects sooner rather than later. This is the thought that comes powerfully to mind in this month of February, the month dedicated to the martyrs of the language movement and remembering of their matchless patriotism. We need to disseminate the spirit of those martyrs in all sections of our people to restore afresh our national greatness.
Enayet Karim
Gulshan Dhaka
The signs of Bangladeshis being galvanised into such a huge workforce are evident though the short-sighted ones may not see it or recognise it. A continent size country is barren today and it has to entice away people from other countries to it because it is indigenously short of people and needs migration of people from other countries to help expand its economy and harness its resources. We are, thank God, not dependent like it and are greater in that respect.
Who says Bangladesh is small? How many countries have such distinctions or leads the world such as our possessing the world's longest natural and unpolluted sea beach, the world's greatest mangrove forest, world renowned culinary skills and a culture and civilisation that dates back thousands of years in contrast to leading countries in the world today whose civilised histories are but several centuries old.
Bangladesh in antiquity was a land of plenty, finery, artistry and excellence. It was among the few distinguished lands in the world then for its prosperity and high civilisation. Colonial interventions and other ill developments had upset our fortunes and stalled our progress. But this is temporary.
With patriotism pulsating in the bosoms of its people, Bangladesh can be one of the world's few leading nations in all respects sooner rather than later. This is the thought that comes powerfully to mind in this month of February, the month dedicated to the martyrs of the language movement and remembering of their matchless patriotism. We need to disseminate the spirit of those martyrs in all sections of our people to restore afresh our national greatness.
Enayet Karim
Gulshan Dhaka