NEW DELHI, Jan 18, 2019 (BSS) – Foreign policy experts, academics and
researchers have said that the win of Bangladesh Awami League led Grand
alliance in the recently held 11th parliamentary polls would help bring
positive outcome for the south Asia region and the international community as
well.
“There had been many positive factors. Bangladesh’s economic and social
development during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure was
impressive…it’s an example in the present world,” said Foreign Policy
Expert and Former Diplomat Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty.
Addressing a round-table discussion on “The 11th Parliamentary Election in
Bangladesh” held on December 30, Pinak Chakravarty, who chaired the event
said that Sheikh Hasina led Awami League achieved a remarkable win as there
has been an upsurge of support for Hasina and her party Bangladesh Awami
League.
Indian Council of World Affairs, a research institute, organized the
discussion at Sapru House here on Wednesday.
Pinak Chakravarty, a fellow with Observer Research Foundation (ORF) where
he oversees the west Asia initiative, Bangladesh and other ASEAN-related
issues, acclaimed Sheikh Hasina’s handling of the economy that helped turn
Bangladesh into a developing nation from the LDC.
“Bangladesh is no longer the basket case… Kissinger is still alive and
he would be ruing to see the economic development of Bangladesh,” he added.
Pinak Chakravarty, the former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh said
that the current 7 (Seven) plus GDP of Bangladesh is quite impressive while
social sector development is also far more impressive.
“I think Bangladesh has been through a generational change. Young people
want jobs and better future. Hasina has provided them with jobs and the young
people now have put their faith on her,” he said.
He said that today’s young generation feels proud of their 1971 war
history. It emerges as a big factor now.
Referring to the huge electoral defeat of BNP in the polls, Pinak
Chakravarty said “the BNP must reinvent itself or else it will be thrown into
the dustbin of history”.
He said in the wake of new era of cooperation, India must focus more on
Bangladesh for the benefit of the two countries and the Asia nations as well.
“Investment, connectivity, security, economic cooperation are growing.
They should grow even faster,” he added.
Prof. Samjay Bhardwaj of JNU University, Jayanta Roy Chowdhury, Sr. Editor
of The Telegraph, Dr. Smruti Pattanaik, Research Fellow of IDSA (Institute of
Defense Studies and Analysis) and Ashish Shukla, Fellow of ICWA were the
panelists.
The panelists heaped praises on Sheikh Hasina for her dynamic leadership
in turning Bangladesh from a LDC to developing nation.
Her (Hasina’s) victory is good news for India, the South Asia region and
the international community, they said.