Hope to see an elected government next year, says Advisor Wahiduddin

“This is my personal opinion. I don’t know what will actually happen,” says the advisor of planning and education

Wahiduddin Mahmud, the interim government’s advisor on education and planning, says that Bangladesh may see an elected government take charge next year.

However, he later clarified: “This is my personal opinion. I don’t know what will actually happen.”

He made the remarks during a question-and-answer session at the inaugural ceremony of a four-day seminar on “Equality, Opportunity, Freedom, and Dignity: Restructuring Institutions for Equitable and Sustainable Development” organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies on Saturday.

Businessman Tanvir Mohammad Dipu asked the advisor whether it was possible for a 'poor country' like Bangladesh to become a rich country by ignoring countries like Canada, the US, Australia, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

In response, Wahid said: "Then [after an elected government takes charge] we can all do it together. Then we can all think together how such a thing can be done."

The planning advisor said that economic and income inequality is a major concern at the moment. Quality education is needed to eliminate inequality, which Bangladesh is far from attaining, he said.

Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina resigned her premiership and fled to India on Aug 5 in the face of a mass student-led uprising. An interim government led by Muhammad Yunus then took charge. It has since taken initiatives to reform various sectors, including Bangladesh’s economy, elections, and law enforcement.

Wahid said, "All the money from many big companies has gone abroad. The money of banks has also gone abroad. The balance sheets of large industrial groups, especially the Beximco Group, show a lot of money. But in reality, they have no resources, no money.”

The advisor asked, “Under such economic circumstances, you have to spend a lot to build an egalitarian society. How is that possible in such a state?”

To create a just and egalitarian society, the farmers’ organisations in outlying areas must also be strengthened.

He said, “The sandbar islands, reservoirs, wetlands and canals of the entire country are being taken over by influential people. If farmers’ organisations were strong, and there was structural democracy, and democracy at the local level was strengthened, then there would be many benefits.”

Indermit S Gill, chief economist of the World Bank, recommended a focus on greater investment and job creation to avoid the middle-income trap.