Dr. Muhammed Idris Bhuiyan :
43 years since Independence, we have built our homes together, raised families, and helped one another as friends, neighbors and compatriots. Despite so many long odds, we have not only survived, but prospered in various fields. Every Bangladeshi can take pride of this.
We are still a young nation, with great promise ahead. Our pioneers those who have sacrificed their lives and those who still alive overcame formidable obstacles with grit and determination to build today’s Bangladesh, we too must create our Bangladesh of tomorrow. Our work continues – to build a fair and just society, regardless of race or religion; to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation. These are the founding ideals in our pledge of independence which we must always uphold.
Now we will have to strengthen safety nets to help the vulnerable and elderly cope with the vicissitudes of life. We will have to enhance retirement adequacy to give greater assurance and peace of mind to all Bangladeshi’s.
We will have to continue support families and communities, so that values such as empathy, filial affection, respect and mutual help continue to be part of our lives. We will have to create the conditions for every Bangladeshi’s to enjoy a better quality of life, with improved transport options, more recreational spaces and rejuvenated neighborhoods for all to enjoy.
It is time to create more opportunities for working adults to have a fulfilling career, to keep learning all their lives, and to realize their dreams and aspirations. We will have to enable young Bangladeshi’s to fulfill their potential, pursue their dreams, and follow their interests in diverse fields.
Any political party or front get the opportunity of serving the country must use to run the government will have to pursue new strategies to achieve these goals. Our environment has changed, and so must our approach to nation building. We will chart this journey together with all Bangladeshi’s. We have heard from the many citizens who participated in the war of independence. We will give substance to these voices, and set out a new way forward for ourselves and our nation.
We will keep ways upwards open to all Bangladeshi’s, regardless of any political or regional background or family circumstances. Bangladesh must continue as a nation of opportunities for all. Those who do not succeed at first should have a second chance, indeed must always have the chance to try again. We want an open and inclusive society, where all have opportunities to learn, and to earn our own success; where we respect fellows, regardless to social status, for the worth we see in everyone; and where we interact informally with one another free of rigid social hierarchy.
Our education system must uphold this ethos to build up a knowledge based soceity. This means inculcating empathy and respect from young, and fully developing everyone’s abilities in a meritocratic society.
Situation demands to investing more in pre-school education, to help those who are born with less get to a good starting point, and give them every chance to achieve their full potential.
We recognize that competition in our schools is keen. We will continue to improve the system, so that no single point in our education will wholly determine our future. We will ensure that every school is a good school, and offer more opportunities for students to honor their interests and talents across many fields.
We will go beyond academic success, to imbue our young with practical skills, good character and sound values that are just as important in life. Character of honesty is the governing element in genius competency. A man of splendid career but utterly corrupt may be shinning for sometime but will be stinky sooner than later.
Beyond secondary and higher secondary level, we need diverse and flexible options to cater to students’ different abilities and pace of development.. We are to expand new degree programmes in our private and public universities – with a stronger focus on practical application.
But education must continue beyond our college and universities. Through lifelong learning, the government is to help our workers upgrade skills and develop expertise in every vocation, and stay abreast of changing industry demands. This is critical because jobs are changing faster, and knowledge is becoming obsolete more quickly. We will focus not only on low-income workers, but middle-income and professionals and executives too. We are to strengthen our system of continuing education and training.
Beyond equal opportunities for fulfillment, every citizen should enjoy a fair share of our nation’s success. We will have to strengthen our social safety nets, not only to give all citizen peace of mind, but also to share the fruits of progress more widely, especially with the lower-income and vulnerable groups.
The government run by any political party or forum shall continue to keep housing affordable for all citizen, and help low- and middle-income households to own their homes, and build up a nest-egg for retirement. We will also develop new housing options to encourage extended families to live closer together, and strengthen our family bonds and ties of kinship.
The Nation demands to ensure affordable and quality healthcare for all, enhanced the Community Health Assist Scheme , and increased subsidies for outpatient care, including those with pre-existing illnesses, better lifelong protection against high medical expenses.
Particular attention needed to vulnerable citizen, including low-wage workers and our elderly people. We will strengthen social safety nets beyond home-ownership and workfare.
Time has come to do more for our elderly. People are now living longer. To ensure that they have enough for their financial needs in their golden years, we will improve the existing old allowance and develop more options for Bangladeshi’s to unlock the value of their homes in their retirement.
But as we do more for the vulnerable, the poor and the old, we must also give people the means and the incentives to help themselves. We believe that personal responsibility and effort are essential to their dignity and self-worth. This was the pioneering spirit that built the nation we see today. Let us preserve this spirit, even as we strengthen social safety nets and give us more confidence to face the uncertainties of life together.
Government spending shall have to increase over the next decade and beyond, especially on social programmes. We have to ensure that our social spending can be sustained, and that we have enough revenues to balance our budget.But at the same time, government spending, by itself, does not create a wealthier, a better or a happier society. It must be matched by individual and community effort and initiatives.
(To be continued)
