Bangladeshis upbeat about country's future

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The Bangladeshi High Commissioner has given a positive vision of the country's future at a meeting in Westminster this week.

Dr. M Sayeedur Rahman Khan addressed the all party Britain-Bangladesh group on the day of a historic legal decision in Bangladesh.

Yesterday the country's Supreme Court rejected final appeals from five former soldiers sentenced to death in the 1975 killing of Bangladesh's independence leader in a military coup.

"The crimes of 1975 will finally see the culprits punished," Khan told the group.

"I would like to express a sense of relief on behalf of the whole nation.

"It has been one of the greatest trials which carries with it a historic verdict.

"The assassins have been brought to justice."

He expressed "satisfaction with the support from both Houses of Parliament as well as the British media".

Khan continued his presentation on the political and economic situation of the country.

"The economy is not very bad. It has maintained a positive rate of growth," he said.

He briefly spoke of the aid from the Department for International Development (DfID) saying it was "satisfactory but we expect more".

Khan spoke of the "2021 vision of Bangladesh."

"The year is significant as Bangladesh will celebrate its Golden Jubilee.

"The government has set out projects for the short, medium and longterm basis.

"In education, we wish to attain one hundred per-cent primary enrolment by 2011.

"In energy, Bangladesh will generate 5,000 mega-watts of new electricity by 2013."

The country's government is liaising with energy companies on the best way to take this forward.

"Poverty elevation is also high on the agenda, as is the empowerment of women," Khan told the group.

"Presently there are sixty female members of Parliament."

He expressed confidence that in time, more women in powerful roles would emerge.

Khan said climate change is "obviously of great concern to Bangladesh".

"Unless something is done, the country will lose a great portion of its land to sea-level rise which may displace as many as forty-million inhabitants in thirty to forty years time," he said.

"It is clear that we need both assistance and the transfer of technology to contribute to this global struggle."

He closed his remarks by reiterating his "gratefulness" at the active support of Britain.

"There is a large British-Bangladeshi diaspora which continues to contribute to economic programmes," Khan said.

"They are actively involved in politics and it is hoped that others will continue to come forward."