Bangladesh continues to rely on other countries and international bodies for its development even as other developing nations advance by harnessing their own strength, Prof Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, former special assistant to the chief adviser of the last interim government, said on Sunday.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organised by the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI), he said the country's tendency to look abroad for help whenever reform or development is discussed reflects "mental poverty," adding that countries in worse positions than Bangladesh are outperforming it simply by shedding this mindset.
Criticising Bangladesh's dependence on India, Anisuzzaman, the Emeritus Professor of Western Sydney University, said India helped the country achieve independence during the 1971 Liberation War, but that this did not mean Bangladesh should remain “subservient” to New Delhi decades later.
He said gratitude could be expressed for a lifetime, but development will remain difficult without a firm backbone of self-reliance.
Citing Vietnam as an example, Anisuzzaman said many mistakenly believe the country developed through China's support. In reality, he said, war-ravaged Vietnam rebuilt itself by relying on its own strength and only later began trade relations with China.
Turning to reliance on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said Vietnam has rejected a loan offer from the World Bank, while Zimbabwe declined United Nations financial assistance during its economic crisis despite the offer being extended.
The Emeritus Professor said while other nations were surviving with their self-respect intact, Bangladesh's attention remained fixed on loans from the World Bank and IMF, questioning when this mindset will change.
Addressing his role in the interim government, Anisuzzaman clarified that although many believe he is related to Prof Muhammad Yunus, this is not the case.
He said he was not personally acquainted with Prof Yunus beforehand, despite their homes being located close to each other, and that he was contacted over the phone with a proposal to work with him, which he accepted.
PRI Chairman Zaidi Sattar moderated the event.