Bangladesh on right track, says Abdur Razzaque

The ruling party presidium member Abdur Razzaque has said Bangladesh is in right direction to achieve the goal for which the whole nation participated in Liberation War in 1971.

Razzaque, also agriculture minister, said this in an interview with The Business Post.

“Now we are economically more advanced and self-sufficient in food production. In 2041, our per capita income will reach over $ 10,000, and by 2030 it will be $ 4,000. Rice production rose to 44.7 million metric tons in last fiscal from only 11 million metric tons in 1971,” he said.

There is no acute discrimination in the country and the form of discrimination now lies between rural and urban; the state-level discrimination has been wiped out through liberation, according to the minister.

“Now there is no Pakistani. You can say that the discrimination remains between towns and villages. But it is true that the rural economy has advanced a lot in terms of education, transportation and other features necessary to increase economic activities,” he viewed.

“The main spirit of Liberation War was secularism and building a democratic Bangladesh that will be hunger - and poverty-free and a wealthy Bangladesh.”

“If asked what the spirit was, I just have to reflect on the past. We the Bangalees got enthusiasm of liberation after August 14 of 1947 when Indian sub-continent became independent through movement against the British colonialists.”

Pakistan and India were two states created. The eastern part of Pakistan was introduced as East Pakistan that bespeaks the story of the depressed. After 1947 western Pakistani rulers and their collaborators started conspiracy against the people of East Pakistan -- a fertile land for farming, of which the yielding rate was high compared to other regions in India.

A majority of people lived in East Pakistan, and when a regional language of West Pakistan was declared to be the state language for whole Pakistan, it became clear that social, economic and political rights of inhabitants in East Pakistan would be hijacked.

This was rooted in the heart of Bangalees who staged protest. On the other hand, the rulers and bureaucrats of West Pakistan tried to paint the movement as a sort of conspiracy against religion. The Bangalees protested this theory too, according to Razzaque.

The Juktofront government led by the Awami League got a huge victory in 1954 election. People declared 21-point movement at that time in which the autonomy of East Pakistan was among them.

Public opinion grew on the basis of autonomy. Within three months, Pakistani rulers declared that government void.

“Movement got off the ground and I joined it. I was a school student then. The spirit of liberation became concrete,” he said.

After the release of Bangabandhu from jail in Agartala conspiracy case, there was a huge victory in the national election of 1970 due to the spirit achieved by the Bangalees.

Actually, Liberation War began from the night of March 25. People of all sections including armed forces united to fight for independence when Bangabandhu made the call.

The Father of the Nation led the government three and a half years. He gave emphasis on agriculture as 70-80 per cent of total population was farmer.

He also emphasised the need for rural development.

“However, after 100 years of liberation in 2071, we will see a nation of happiness,” hoped the agriculture minister.

“At the 100 anniversary of independence, the country will be totally hunger-free, and people will enjoy a quality life. All rural areas will not become city, but all modern facilities will be at the doorsteps in rural areas,” concluded Razzaque.