DHAKA, June 23, 2024 (BSS) - The progress and changes the country witnessed in economy or social security index and the advancement compared to neighboring countries like India or Pakistan have been possible because of farsighted development plans and policies of the Awami League government, said academics.
 
Talking to BSS on the occasion of AL's 75th founding anniversary, they said in terms of foreign policies, strategies or relations Bangladesh has secured significant success along with maintaining good relations with the ally countries including India or China due to the visionary leadership of AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
 
"Since the country's inception, no other parties who were in power were never able to adopt sustainable and foresighted plans like Delta plan, Perspective Plan or the development roadmap-2041 what Awami League government introduced," Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr ASM Maksud Kamal told BSS.
 
He said the country's mega projects- the nuclear power plant, Padma Bridge, Bangabandhu tunnel or Bangabandhu Satellite-I-which are not only the symbols of development but also the symbols of country's dignity also come with the hand of Awami League.
 
All the success and the visible achievements or the dignity in the global arena the country has achieved so far have come through Awami League leadership (hand), he said.
 
However, being an emerging and rising economy which is called fragile economy, it will be quite challenging for the ruling AL government to keep the country's economic growth smooth dealing with the global economic changes, ups and downs or worldwide inflation caused by external crises like Ukraine-Russia conflicts, said the academician.
 
Besides, another challenge is to make the country's financial institutions including banks well-disciplined and transparent, he said, adding, "If we can overcome the both challenges successfully, we will be able to secure our economic progress under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina."
 
 
About the achievement of AL before the Liberation War, Dhaka University (DU) Pro-VC (administration) Professor Dr Mohammad Samad said Awami League, which was founded on June 23, 1949, had brought freedom for Bangalee nation through long struggle including the historic Six-Point Movement, 1969 mass upsurge and 1971 Liberation War.
"In the long 75 years of journey, Awami League's biggest achievement is attaining the country's independence," he said.
 
He said AL led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman liberated the country with a dream of building a prosperous 'Sonar Bangla' after a long-time struggle, from Language Movement to Liberation War.
 
After the independence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally killed along with most of his family members, he said, adding that then military rulers changed the state's basic characteristics.
 
On May 17, 1981, Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina returned home and subsequently reorganized the party, he said.
 
In 1996, AL led by Sheikh Hasina again came to power and started working to bring smiles on the faces of distressed people of this country to fulfill the dream of Bangabandhu, Professor Samad said.
 
After overcoming different hurdles and conspiracies, AL again came to power through 2008 general elections, he said.
 
Under the leadership of the AL government, the country made massive development in all economic and social indicators and the country's journey towards prosperity is continuing, said the academician.
 
Professor of DU Television, Film and Photography Department Dr. Abu Jafar Md. Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan said Awami League led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started the movement for freeing the nation from long subjugation of Pakistani oppressors and took the movement to successful culmination by achieving independence of the country.
 
After the independence, AL also played an outstanding role in taking the country ahead as Bangabandhu's government had adopted the country's first five-year plan announcing a roadmap for the development of the war-torn country, he added.
 
He said after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15, 1975, AL fell into deep crisis.
 
After returning home in 1981, Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina took the helm of the Awami League and reorganized it, he said.
 
Through long struggle and overcoming different hurdles, Awami League again came to power in 1996 under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, he added.
 
Under her leadership, AL has made a turnaround and accomplished the unfinished works of the liberation war including the trial of the war criminals during the AL government, said Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan.
 
Once people could not imagine that the war criminals like SQ Chowdhury, Quader Mollah and Motiur Rahman Nizami would be executed but it has been possible due to the AL government, he said.

The Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also made massive progress in taking the country ahead, especially transforming the country into a Digital Bangladesh, he added.
 
"Today, Bangladesh is going to be a middle income country. Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina has a big role here," he said.
 
About expectations from the AL government, Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan said the education sector should get six percent allocation of the total GDP and "We expect the government will provide the allocation following the footprint of Bangabandhu as without the development of education, no progress can be possible."
 
About the government's zero tolerance policy, he said the government should take steps against all corrupt people who are building their own fortune with looted money.
 
He hoped the government will continue its efforts to contain the inflation at tolerable level.
 
SM Shameem Reza, Professor of DU Mass Communication and Journalism said it is a big achievement for Awami League to even survive for 75 years and rule the country successfully overcoming the challenges and ups and downs which also proves that the party is well structured and has people's support.
 
The party undoubtedly produced the most significant leaders including Bangabandhu as no party can survive for such a long without having a well structure, dynamic and strong leadership, prudent programmes and activities, he said, adding, "AL's base and major source of power has always been its close connection to common people, public popularity and its connection with the leaders-activists of marginal level".
 
In terms of historic contribution, the party played the most significant and leading role from the country's formative stage to today's developing stage, he said.
 
The party has both experience of ruling and being the opposition for the longest time among the parties of Bangladesh, he said, adding, "Very few political parties in south Asia have that much experience".
 
Shameem Reza said the AL led government played a significant role from formulating the country's constitution to making development plans and keeping the country's economic growth smooth and sustainable amid the several crises and challenges.
 
However, the party needs to bring some structural, internal and organization reformations which are must for all the parties over the time with a particular focus on developing more interaction between party's top layer and marginal level and bringing the voice, views and observations of marginal leaders-activists to the main stream thoughts and decision-making process, he suggested.
The views of marginal people who have been the base of the party should be reflected in the decisions and policy making process not only just during the election period, he added.