Bangladesh is on the Way to Prosperous Future

Bangladesh faces tremendous challenges from climate change, infrastructure, corruption and politics, said former Danish ambassador Svend Olling.
“However, as I leave Bangladesh, I am more convinced than ever that Bangladesh is headed for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future. As the past has proven, the challenges are no match for the resilient, ambitious, hardworking people of Bangladesh,” he said in an interview with The Daily Star.
Olling, who has been promoting relations between Denmark and Bangladesh on development, trade, global affairs for the past three years, tipped the shipbuilding industry for greater things.
“The shipbuilding industry has the potential to become a large contributor to the Bangladeshi economy. The global economic crisis has hit the country hard. Despite these challenges, the shipbuilders of Bangladesh have delivered some impressive results.”
More people are progressively becoming aware of the potential of the industry, he said.
“New companies are being established to produce, locally, components for building the ships, something that, until now, had to be imported from abroad.”
Regarding Denmark’s contribution to the industry, Olling said: “Through the years, Danish companies have been involved in many joint ventures aimed at giving Bangladesh access to the centuries of maritime expertise that Denmark has accumulated during our time as a maritime nation.”
Olling cited the case of Western Marine Design Studio, which is now capable of designing their own ships now, instead of relying on the blueprints of other shipyards from different countries.
“Having seen the ferry built by Western Marine that now sails people across Isefjorden as well as the 8 ‘ice’ class vessels they have delivered to Germany, I can say that they have attained a world-class shipbuilding standard.”
Olling, who will join the Trade Council on his return to Denmark, will be informing his countrymen of the “great potential” the sector holds, which will, perhaps, facilitate more joint ventures between the two nations.
Regarding the textile industry, he said: “During the year, the industry has suffered several tragedies that highlight the dark side of this industry, but this is not the whole story.”
The outgoing Danish ambassador said there are many garment factories that “care deeply” for their employees and provide them with a safe and healthy workplace and still manage to remain competitive.
Olling said the information technology sector, more than any other, is “the symbol of Bangladesh’s march towards becoming a middle-income country and the rapid improvement of the skills, education and technology available to the ordinary Bangladeshi”.
“As long as the Bangladeshi economy is growing, there will be an increasing demand for IT-services, which will ensure the growth of this sector,” he said, adding that Denmark has, through its B2B programme, supported more than 20 IT partnerships in Bangladesh.
“I see a bright future for this sector, and also within IT outsourcing.”
On a parting note, Olling said: “We have experienced three wonderful years in this great country. I will be forever grateful for the wonderful hospitality and cooperation extended to my family and me by all Bangladeshis, from the rickshaw puller to those holding the highest offices.”

Looking into above article, i am so happy. I rarely hear good and praisable things about my country and i thought sometimes that Bangladesh has no future at all. But i think i am always wrong. Bangladesh has much brighter future than i thought if wisely govern the country with lesser population, less corruption and religious violence.