Once a bottom-less basket to now the most fastest and emerging economy in the world, The incredible journey of last 50 Years of Bangladesh can be described in a nutshell by this. After a nine-month brutal War of Liberation with the sacrifices of three million people and the honour of 200,000 women, Bangladesh finally achieved its independence on December 16, 1971 from Pakistan. Bangladesh’s journey was really tough in the post-indepence period. It inherited a war-hit poor economy. The country started its journey with an empty coffer. Due to the war whole infrastructure of the country was damaged badly. The task of rehabilitation and reconstruction after independence was very challenging but it was overwhelmed under the stewardship of its founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. But Within three years of Bangladesh's independence, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in August 1975, by a group of junior army officers, in an attempt to overthrow the incumbent government. Following this brutal killing, a sharp division in political ideology began to take root in the country. It was Bangladeshs misfortune that it has seen many ups and downs of political sectors after independence. It has seen many military assassinations and dominated by Military Generals until it turned into a fully democratic decree in 1991.
Despite of all this barriers Bangladesh has made spectacular and impressive economic progress over the last five decades. The GDP growth rate has touched an impressive record level in the latest decade. In 1972 per capita was 40% lower than in Pakistan. But the country's current GDP per capita is more than 40% higher than Pakistan. Per capita income has risen steadily. Its poverty slashing performance is among the best in the world. The country has achieved near self-sufficiency in food production for its 170 million population. Forex reserve of Bangladesh is now 42 billion dollar whereas Pakistan has only 20.8 billion. Average life time is 72 years, Child mortality rate is 25 per thousand and Primary education is 98%.
Despite of political hickups, the last 13 years of uninterrupted rule by Hasina government was country's most successful period. It is undeniable that the country's economy has risen to a different level under her leadership, Bangladesh has already achieved a revolution in the field of infrastructure. Notable infrastructures are Bangabandhu bridge, Rampal power station, Matabari port, Rooppur nuclear power plant, Bangabandhu satellite 1, Padma bridge, mega projects in Dhaka-metro rail, elevated expressway, bus rapid transit and underground railway(proposed). If the government can successfully finish this projects economy will definitely get a boom.
On the eve of the golden jubilee of independence, many more developments were to take place in this long period; But it did not happen due to corruption, political turmoil, lack of transparency and accountability in public administration. However let's be positive and inspired that Bangladesh will overcome all the odds and become one of most powerful nation in the world.
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