There is much debate going around about why Bangladesh was not invited to the ‘Democracy Summit’ convened by US President Joe Biden. But just let’s look into the invitees – things would be clear. Democratically fragile countries like Pakistan and Iraq got invitations there. Even Israel, which is engaged in the war on a regular basis, is also invited there. But Bangladesh is not invited because of the global politics and colonial attitude of the West.
Earlier during the coronavirus outbreak, the Westerners spread the propaganda that two million people would die from the pandemic and half a core people from starvation in Bangladesh. But the reality tells a different story. The roads and streets in Europe and the USA were full of bodies of Covid-19 along with economic crisis and joblessness. On contrary, the Bangladesh government mitigated the Covid-19 crisis very boldly and positively by creating awareness among people, enforcing strict lockdown, providing food, rations and financial aids for its people.
The Western leaders cannot accept the success in dealing with the pandemic by a densely populated country like Bangladesh. Even the Bangladesh government has continued with the development of the country’s infrastructure during the coronavirus situation. The construction of the Padma Bridge has been completed tackling financial issues that have surprised world leaders. Earlier, in name of loans, the World Bank used to take control of the national policy of the low-income countries. The development of those countries mostly depended on the wills of the rich countries. But it is the indomitable leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that has changed the whole scenario.
The westerners, in fact, wanted to thwart the Padma Bridge project of Bangladesh by stopping financing. They wanted to give loans on high interests, most of which would be spent on their own people. But the Prime Minister ignored all conspiracies and initiated own financing to construct Padma Bridge. The success of completing the project is a good reply to the West as well as a bold example of implementing such projects on its own initiative.
Even the way the government has progressed in the social security sector over the past decade has largely blocked the way for western NGOs to charge high interest. The government is providing interest-free loans to entrepreneurs, providing low-cost fertilizers and seeds to farmers, and distributing allowances to widows, orphans and the elderly. Even during the coronavirus period, the government provided assistance to madrasa-orphanages, and homes for the homeless people. As result, poor people have come out of the curse from a high-interest loan.
Bangladesh has progressed in every sector including electricity and internet for all, modern, technical and vocational learnings for the young generation who have been earning lots of money through freelancing. The law enforcement agencies have reduced the threats of militant attacks and ensured security for all. This is why the western top brushes find no chance to intervene in Bangladesh affairs.
While neighboring India is still facing the problem of open defecation, Bangladesh has managed to eradicate poverty, starvation, and brought revolutionary success in reducing child mortality. The price of daily commodities has increased manifolds across Europe and the USA in the post-Covid period. In Bangladesh, the price has been up to some extent but remains within the people’s purchasing capability. So, the rich countries, who fail to tackle the price hike, are jealous of Bangladesh’s success.
The United Nations has recommended upgrading the status of Bangladesh from least-developed to developing country for its immense success in increasing per capita income, human resources development, mitigating climate change and economic stability. This has been a matter of disappointment for the West who have not wanted such recognition. This Digital Bangladesh has been able to earn its due respect from the West thanks to the visionary leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina.
Once the western countries used to intervene in the internal political and economic affairs of Bangladesh regularly. But this has been made stop now. So they always look for ways to humiliate Bangladesh from their colonial attitudes. But Bangladesh continues its progress amid the arrogance, hatred and authoritarian behaviour of the West.