Today, Bangladesh is an economy of more than US$ 320 billion with a per capita income of around US$ 2227 and a healthy foreign currency reserve of about US $ 46 billion. The GDP growth rate was more than 8% before the pandemic hit the world. Bangladesh’s apparel industry is the second-largest in the world. Now, it is the fourth-largest producer of rice in the globe, almost self-sufficient in poultry and dairy production and pharmaceutical products. The life expectancy has been raised to 73 years. Thus, the success stories of Bangladesh are endless. Despite challenges, Bangladesh is moving forward. The current leadership has proved that with the right approach, strong will and correct mindset, the most difficult targets can be achieved.

Bangabandhu was born in the year 1920 and this year 2020-2021 - his birth centenary - has been declared as ‘MujibBorsho’ (Mujib Year). The nation has taken an elaborate programme to celebrate the year with various activities to pass on his ideals and principles to the newer generations. On the occasion of MujibBorsho and the Golden Jubilee of our independence celebration on 26 March this year, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi attended as the Chief Guest. Attending the function, he described Bangabandhu as one of the greatest figures of the last century, a sage of peace as well as a man of courage and conviction who was absolutely clear that hatred and negativity could never be the foundation of any country’s development.

While we mourn the death of Bangabandhu, we also pledge in this MujibBorsho to turn the grief of his loss into strength and engage ourselves in building hunger and poverty-free prosperous Bangladesh and establish a Sonar Bangla—Golden Bengal—as dreamt by our Father of the Nation.

—Courtesy: Bangabandhu—The Immortal Legend by Bangladesh High Commission