Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman laid foundation of the country’s economic development, with formulating necessary frameworks, establishing required institutions and initiating major tasks for rebuilding the war-torn country, said an economist who worked closely with the Father of the Nation.
Dr. Mashiur Rahman, who was a private secretary to Bangabandhu for around three years, said after the independence the focus was on restoring communication, revitalising agriculture and ensuring supply of essentials across the country.
The economist said Bangabandhu put agriculture on top of his economic policies and planned revitalising rural economy so the major portion of the population could get benefit of the independence.
“He (Bangabandhu) also emphasised on more investment in education and health sectors and initiated some major steps to expedite economic growth and social development,” Dr Rahman said.
Among such major initiatives were establishing the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) and cooperatives so rural people could grow more crops and market their products under a coordinated and joint efforts instead of struggling individually for a better livelihood.
“Bangabandhu knew that only few people owned major portion of the rural lands while most of them were not able to cultivate at their own. At the same time, poor sharecroppers were not able to buy necessary agro-input, which resultantly caused lower production”, Dr Rahman said.
He noted that increasing crop production and ensuring better prices of farm produces were the major philosophy behind the Bangabandhu’s initiatives of establishing cooperatives while economic emancipation was the prime target of his economic policies and development activities.
The economist noted that Bangabandhu reorganised the planning commission with appointing famous economists with it while obtained the memberships of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for engaging the international organisation with the country’s development efforts.
Dr Rahman, economic adviser to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the present government has also been following the footprints of Bangabandhu for achieving pro-poor growth and alleviating poverty.
The current priority, however, has been changed against the backdrop of the changing scenario not only inside the country, but also globally, he said, adding that the present government is now attaching its priority to the areas those are helpful in driving inclusive growth.
For instance, he said, the country’s industrial sector has now given priority with increasing investment and improving skills. “Productivity in the industrial sector could be boosted through proper steps, which could not be achieved in case of biological production like agriculture”.
Besides industries, the present government is encouraging and facilitating investment in the sectors, including infrastructure, road transport, power and energy, and port.
