There has been growing a lot of arguments whether Bangladesh is a role model for development, especially for the third world countries. The present government has been continuously claiming that Bangladesh has become a role model for developing countries.  This claim has been endorsed by many of the international dignitaries and organisations.

According to the World Bank, “Bangladesh has a strong track record of growth and development, even in times of elevated global uncertainty.  A robust demographic dividend, strong ready-made garment (RMG) exports, resilient remittance inflows, and stable macroeconomic conditions have supported rapid economic growth over the past two decades. Bangladesh tells a remarkable story of poverty reduction and development. From being one of the poorest nations at birth in 1971, Bangladesh reached lower-middle income status in 2015. It is on track to graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Countries (LDC) list in 2026.”

Despite the above endorsements, fact remains that the country has been passing through mismanagement and overburdened with heavy endemic corruption in almost all sectors.  Excessive price hike of the daily essential commodities makes people very angry especially during the festivals such as Ramadan, Eid etc. Many people are disappointed and annoyed with the nature of the elections and making second homes abroad by the privileged persons and corrupt officials. The power sector Indemnity law against any complaints gives more scopes for corruptions and deters development.

However, I have had an opportunity to look closely what’s happening around me for about ten months in Bangladesh after living a long period of nineteen years in the UK. The unprecedented infrastructure development across the country is very much visible and appreciable. I have been fascinated and amazed by the ever-changing life-style of the poor and lower middle-class people of my neighbouring areas. Some of the instances may help us to understand and get an insight into the development of the people at the lower level as follows.

Mazid Mia (nickname) is one of the renowned plumbers in the greater Kushtia district town who owns a brick-built house and sends his children to the school and college. Before ten years, he was merely a day-labourer used to work in the building construction site assisting masons, plumbers etc. and lives on the daily wages just as hand-to-mouth. In course of time with his sincerity, hard work and inherent talents he acquired all the essential skills to become a highly efficient plumber of this town. He didn’t get any formal training or support from the govt. or any institution. Now he has been able to employ a number of his assistants and leading a comfortable and respectable life in the society.

There are more than twenty types of three wheelers plying the roads of the city and rural areas designed and manufactured by the indigenous people having extra-ordinary talents and skills. They don’t have any academic qualification or training and support from the govt. or any institution. They acquired essential skills working with the people of similar trades and utilising their own talents. They built-up small workshops and employed work-assistants for the production, repair and maintenance of various types of three-wheelers. They have been earning quite a good sum of money and living a respectable life in the society. They are also helping their relatives and in-laws by engaging them in this trade to come out from the poverty.

The most wonderful advancement of the native people is the efficient use of prime movers for various purposes including rolling country boats, in rice or wheat mills, in driving mini-trucks, in paddle rickshaws, in grinding machines etc. These people acquired essential skills while working with the people of similar trades and applied their own innovative ideas, thumb rules, and trial and error methods in making the devices whatever they want. Without any help from the govt. or any institution, they have made this achievement from their own initiative, hard work and instinct talents. It helps them to lead a better off life in the society.

Alvi, an HSC student of the village of Bahalbaria in Mirpur Upazila of Kushtia district, has made a very commendable success in freelancing work without any help from the govt. or any institution. He started online digital work initially with the help of his elder brother four years back and now has been able to raise his income to about Tk. 3000/= per day by dint of his hard work, sincerity and inherent talents.

Besides all the positive and negative arguments, the real-life story of the above working-class people of Bangladesh could be an inspiration for the hard struggling people around the world who can recognise their efforts as role model for development. In fact, the government of Bangladesh deserves credit for creating an environment where working class people get the opportunity to flourish their potentials.

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The writer is a former Editor, Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh