'Bottomless basket' is now a wonder of the world

The last article that I composed was concerning bureaucratic corruption. It is obvious that corruption inhibits our country's development. In this article, I would like to pen some successes of our country. Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger once ridiculed Bangladesh as a 'bottomless basket'. The bottomless basket is now the role model in the world.
Since Bangladesh's independence, the country has been facing many hurdles. However, the country has achieved unprecedented success in various fields including economics, communication system, education, technology, agriculture, industry, sports, culture and women's empowerment. Recently, Bangladesh has received the recognition from the LDCs (Least Developing Countries) for the qualification of a developing country. Recognizing the developing country is a very prestigious subject for a state. The United Nation's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Committee for Development Policy (CDP) has given this recognition to Bangladesh.
Being a developing country, the government can now attract foreign investors to invest more in various fields in the country. Being laypersons in the field of economics, we don't have any difficulty in understanding that employment opportunities are created in a country where foreign direct investment increases.
Earlier, many countries have been recognized as developing from LDCs. But, Bangladesh has qualified for the first time in three indicators: per capita income, human resources and economic stability. Apparently, the country is moving ahead on the path of prosperity.
In the face of adversity, Padma Bridge dream of millions of people of South-West is not a dream today, but the dream is now the reality. Although the World Bank backed the lame excuse with the promise of funding. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the construction of the Padma Bridge with the country's own financing. This was a great challenge for Bangladesh. Rail connectivity with Padma Bridge is a big step. The breeze of economic development will blow over the South area of the country when the bridge will be completed.
Any risk is not a bed of roses. I want to exemplify in this writing that the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, without taking any loans from external sources, Dr Mahathir Mohammad took the initiatives of mega projects in 1990s: the ambitious air port in KL, the multimedia super corridor, building up new infrastructures in Putrajaya and massive infrastructural development projects. He was much criticized by the World Bank, IMF, other development partners as well as country's other political parties. In fact, these development initiatives led to ladder Malaysia to its peak.
The present government took the initiatives of various projects which will make major changes in the road-communications field. An Elevated Expressway from Shahjalal International Airport to Dhaka will reach Chittagong (Kutubakhali). In Dhaka, some flyovers have been completed. Some ones are in progress.  Four lane highways are being built at different routes with Dhaka. Some work has already been completed. If these tasks are done quickly, the road-communication system will change radically.
One of the most important measurements for development is electricity. Without electricity, we will not have a single day; the industries will get stuck. Therefore, major projects like Rampal Power Station, Matarbari Power Project and Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant are being taken in the hands. According to a report by a Newsletter (Bangladesh Insight), power generation crossed a milestone of 10,000 megawatts for the first time in Bangladesh. The report revealed that the government is committed to ensuring access to electricity for the entire population by 2021. The government has taken steps to build the Liquidated Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal at Moheshkhali in Cox's Bazar in the country. Apart from Maheshkhali terminal, the government will build four more LNG terminals to accelerate the country's development.
Establishing Paira Sea port is the constructive development initiative. When the seaport will be fully ready for operation, new trade routes will be unveiled. Its work has already started. It will be a mile-stone of economic development in Barishal division. As a result of the current government policy, farmers have been interested in jute cultivation. The diversified use of jute has been popularized. The world is now reducing the use of polythene to save environment. Many of our country's jute products are exported abroad.
Women are equal partners in the development of the country. There are currently 45 public universities and above 90 private universities in the country. Half of the female students study in these public and private universities. So, the women are competing with the men in higher education. The Awami League government's 'Digital Bangladesh' is not a dream. Union information center and union digital center have been launched in 4547 unions of the country. In these services, 60 types of services are offered, including admission information, filling in the admission form, birth registration, electricity bill payment, mobile banking, and agriculture. People are receiving various services at the union levels. We would say, this is a great progress.
The government has kept its eyes on establishing a satellite. This is also a visionary attempt. We must thank the present government to develop the country's first satellite, which is known as the Bangabandhu Satellite-1. This satellite is scheduled to launch in April, 2018. Through this satellite, Bangladesh will be able to earn huge money from domestic markets as well as international markets. This satellite will enrich and speed up the country's telecommunication systems, nationally and internationally.  
Since the United Nations has recognized Bangladesh's ability to emerge from the LDCs to developing countries, the formal journey of Bangladesh has started on the way to developing countries. Truly speaking, corruption must be curbed to keep the development wheel active. Otherwise, the wheel will be stopped. It is unequivocally true that there exists corruption in all sectors in the country. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman has recently said, "corruption has somewhat reduced". The root of corruption must be eliminated to develop this country. The present government must play the pivotal role in curbing corruption.  The antithesis of a country' development is corruption.

The writer is a Professor of English and Head, Department of Languages,International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), Dhaka