Bangladesh will be next Asian Tiger: Mozena

US Ambassador Dan W Mozena Friday praised Bangladesh and its people as extraordinary and unmatched, while presenting his clear vision of this country as the next Asian Tiger with revolutionary advances in numerous potential sectors. “The people of Bangladesh are truly extraordinary and exceptional,” he said while addressing a programme organized by America-Bangladesh Friendship Society and Global Alliance for Homeland Security at Bashundhara Convention Centre-2 in Dhaka’s Baridhara to mark the 236th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the United States of America. State Minister for Women and Children Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury and Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, chairman of Bashundhara Group, the largest business conglomerate of the country, attended the function as the guests of honour. Among others, BNP standing-committee member Lt-General (Rtd) Mahbubur Rahman, former minister Barrister Nazmul Huda, University Grants Commission chairman Professor AK Azad Chowdhury and Sammilita Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna addressed the function. America-Bangladesh Friendship Society president and vice-chairman of the Global Alliance for Homeland Security Golam Mehraj presided over the programme while members of diplomatic corps, diplomats, dignitaries, high civil and military officials, business personalities and civil-society members attended it. The officials of the rank of deputy general manager and above of Dhaka-based offices of Bashundhara Group were present on the occasion. The US envoy said he had learnt ‘theory of exceptionism’ and, after coming to Bangladesh, found people of this country exceptional in dynamism, skill, generosity and resilience—and they have an exceptional cultural heritage. Mozena sees a bright future of Bangladesh due to the exceptional characteristics of the people of this country. “I truly believe Bangladesh will be the next Asian Tiger, the Bengal Tiger,” he said. The American diplomat foresees that Bangladesh, not China, will be World’s largest exporter of readymade garments, and launch a revolution in agriculture and education while people will have strong livelihood and get enough nutritious food. “This is not a dream. This is not a dream. This could be reality in a decade or two,” emphatically said Mozena about a Bangladesh that will be a middle-income country. The US envoy, however, listed some obstacles like poverty, crises of power and energy, labour issue, corruption and problems with the rule of law on way to fulfilling the dream. But these can be resolved, can be overcome, he said. “Insallah, in my own lifetime I’ll come back to Bangladesh not to talk about my vision of the Bengal Tiger, but to see it real,” an optimist Mozena hoped. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said Bangladesh has close business relations with the USA and the bilateral relationship between the two countries is also very strong. She hoped that the bilateral ties would be stronger in the future. Abul Hsan Chowdhury said both the US and Bangladesh will have to work together for marching forward. Mahbubur Rahman said Bangladesh is firmly committed to protecting democracy and world peace and the country has full support to the US policy for democracy and development. Mahmudur Rahman Manna said Bangladesh could not make expected development in 42 years of independence for lack of efficient leadership and continuous confrontations between the two major political parties. Messages of US Congress member Joseph Crowley and Gari Ackerman were read out at the function and video speech of Congress member Peter King was projected. An article on World Terrorism was presented by Tanvir Ahmed. The function started with the rendering of the national anthems of Bangladesh and the United States of America. One-minute silence was observed in memory of noted writer Humayun Ahmed and all martyrs who laid down their lives for democracy across the world.