The government is committed to building a country whose citizens are able to live prosperous and happy lives. The year 2021 will mark the golden jubilee of Bangladesh??s independence, while the year 2020 will be the hundredth anniversary of the birth of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

We envision a democratic system where people choose their government freely and get services from it without hassle, enjoy freedom from fear and intolerance, live with dignity; where every citizen is assured of social justice, environmental protection, human rights and? equal opportunities; and where the rule of law and good governance flourish.? We envision a liberal, progressive and democratic welfare State. Simultaneously we envision a Bangladesh which by 2020/2021, will be a middle income country where poverty will be drastically reduced where, our citizens will be able to meet every basic need and where development will be on fast track, with ever-increasing rates of inclusive growth.

Bangladesh as we want to see it in 2021

1. Democracy?and effective parliament

Democracy and strong democratic institutions will be established for holding reliable election at regular intervals, accountability of government and effective Parliament. All necessary steps will be taken for making Parliament effective.

2.?Political framework, decentralization of power & people??s participation

Local government will be given due importance with a view to effecting radical change of the political system. The local government institutions will play a critical role in development programmes. Self-reliant local self-government institutions will be established at upazila and zila levels to ensure representative, responsive and functional governance at the grassroots levels.

3.?Good governance through establishing rule of law and avoiding political partisanship

Human rights will be established on a strong footing with a view to ensuring the rule of law. Independence of the judiciary will be ensured and the institutions of the state and administration will be freed from partisan influence. The basis of appointments and promotions will be merit, efficiency, seniority, honesty and loyalty to the Republic; political connections will have no relevance.

4.?Transformation of political culture

Terrorism, corruption and use of religion for politics will be eliminated. Steps appropriate to the time will be taken to establish democratic principles in the political parties, transparency of political funding, civility and tolerance.

5.?A society free from corruption

The institutions of the State will be made more effective along with an independent and strong Anti-corruption Commission for curbing corruption. Social resistance to corruption will be promoted along side legal steps. All possible steps will be taken to stop corruption, such as charter of citizens?? rights, right to information, computerization of official documents, and decentralization of power. Adequate checks at every level of public spending would be built into the financial management system of the government.

6.?Empowerment and equal rights for women

The Women??s Policy of 1997 will be revived for ensuring equal right and access for women to the state and social space; laws which discriminate against women will be amended and 100 seats will be reserved for women for direct election.

7.?Economic development & initiative

a.?Meeting basic needs: With a view to providing food, clothing, shelter, education and health care to the citizens in accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution, gross domestic product will be raised to 8% by 2013 and 10% by 2021 which will be sustained thereafter.

b.?Population and labour force: Population in 2021 is estimated at 165m, and labour force at 105m. Programmes will be taken up for employment of at least 85% of the work force.

c.?Alleviation of poverty: We aim not at reduction of poverty, but removal of poverty, through?which we shall try to achieve the Millennium Goals declared by UN by 2015, and by 2017 latest. Beginning in 2021, poverty will be reduced to 15% from 45% now, progressively. Number of poor people will rise from 45 million now to 65m in 2021, and then fall to 25m in 2021. Sustainable safety nets will be established for the extreme poor until poverty is removed.

d.?Food & nutrition: Food deficiency will be removed and self-reliance in food production achieved by 2012, which will enable us to meet the nutrition needs of 85% of the population.

e.?Health care: By 2021, a minimum daily intake of 2,122 kilo calories of food, elimination of contagious disease, primary health care and sanitation for all will be ensured. Average longevity will be increased to seventy years, and efforts will be made for the reduction of child and maternal mortality.

f.?Education: Enrolment at the primary level will be increased to 100% net by 2010. Elimination of illiteracy by 2014, improvement in the quality of education, creation of a generation educated in science and technology, graduation degree level education made free by 2013 and ensuring higher salary for teachers are the other educational goals.

g.?Industry: A strong foundation for industrialization will be established by 2021. Contribution of the industrial sector to national GDP will be doubled. Primacy will be given to agro and labour intensive industries and the highest emphasis will be given to the information technology sector. The investment policy will be geared to implementing a strategy for attracting both domestic and foreign investment.

h.?Energy security: An energy policy will be adopted tapping all sources of traditional and non-traditional energy to ensure an accelerated rate of economic development and industrialization. A three year crash programme will be taken up to meet the existing crisis. By 2015, electricity production will be increased to 8,000 megawatt. By 2021, demand for electricity is projected to increase to 20,000 megawatt. We will take all possible actions aiming at enhancing our generation capacity. To increase gas production, regular survey of gas resources and work on well development will be undertaken. To meet energy demand, efforts will be undertaken for regional energy security through mutual cooperation in addition to exploring internal sources.

i.?Infrastructural development: Road, rail, river and air transport and telecommunication systems will be expanded. Construction of bridges and tunnels for Padma and Karnaphuli rivers, connecting Bangladesh with the Asian highway and Asian railway, improvement of port facilities, building of a deep sea port to open up Bangladesh’s ports to countries of Asia will be implemented. In Dhaka, construction of a metro tunnel, elevated rail and circular rail to remove traffic jams and to solve public transport problems will be studied forthwith in order to undertake a feasible project. The project will then be implemented on a priority basis.

j.?Housing: By 2015, housing for all will be ensured. In every union and upazila, ??growth center?? centric village housing and in towns housing with modern amenities will be implemented.

k.?Environment: All measures will be taken to protect Bangladesh, including planned migration abroad, from the adverse effects of climate change and global warming. Facing natural calamities, planned reduction of air pollution, prevention of industry and transport related air pollution and disposal of waste in scientific manner will be ensured. Steps will be taken to make Bangladesh an ecologically attractive place through retention of forests and water bodies and prevention of river erosion.

l.?Water resources: Bangladesh Awami League will take the initiative to formulate a comprehensive regional water policy along with India, Nepal and Bhutan for regional water security. In addition, in keeping with a comprehensive water policy, articulated earlier by Bangladesh Awami League, measures will be taken for development of our water resources and their rational use.

8.?Bangladesh in the global arena

a.?Achievements of liberation: Multi-pronged measures will be taken to uphold the glorious history and the fruits of our national independence and liberation, to energize the new generation with the spirit of liberation, struggle, patriotism and love for humanity. Highest priority will be given to the development of an?innovative spirit in the younger generations and opportunity will be provided for them to participate in nation building activities.

b.?Culture: Measures will be taken to remove obstacles in the development of Bengali culture, literature, art, music and sport and to provide all opportunities by the state to enable the younger generations to attain international standards and to contribute to the nation.

c.?Foreign policy: In international affairs Bangladesh will follow the policy of ??friendship towards all and malice towards none??.

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Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit Seoul from May 16 to 18 for a summit with President Lee Myung-bak, Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday.

The summit, which will take place at Cheong Wa Dae, will focus on strengthening bilateral economic and energy ties.It is reported the PM and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will hold crucial talks on expanding Dhaka-Seoul cooperation in varied fields including investment and infrastructure development to shipbuilding and transfer of green technology to environment. It is reported Dhaka and Seoul are likely to sign three agreements on manpower, IT and energy during the visit.

The leaders will also discuss ways to boost their partnership on climate change, the financial crisis and other global issues, the office said.

On May 17, Prime Minister Hasina will participate in the opening ceremony of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) conference in Incheon and deliver a keynote address on the relations between developing and developed nations.

She will also attend a reception in Seoul hosted by Korean economic associations.
The relations between the two nations are excellent and have been strengthened by high-level visits between the two countries. South Korea’s prime minister visited Bangladesh in September 1994, and the then prime minister Kim Suk-soo visited Bangladesh in November 2002. Several high officials of Bangladesh, including ministers, also visited South Korea.

Currently, South Korea’s profile has been raised in many ways. First, it is the host of a G-20 meeting in November this year. Second, it has signed a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union and its economy is gradually being integrated with EU’s economy. Third, the current Secretary General of the UN is a South Korean national.

South Korea, with a per capita income of about $28,000, is one of Asia’s economic tigers. With the restoration of its economy after the global recession, it has both confidence and money to make its own mark. Aid has been stepped up in Asia, in particular to Asean.

Since 1973, Bangladesh and South Korea have concluded eight agreements, which include trade and economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, promotion and protection of investments, and scientific and technological cooperation.

South Korea has been a significant development partner in Bangladesh, and many infrastructure have been built by South Korean contractors. South Korea’s official assistance, as of 2008, amounted to $340 million to be spent on infrastructure development in railways, telecommunication, Sylhet transmission lines and e-government infra-networking sectors. Bangladesh is the second largest recipient country among 45 countries.

By 2009, South Korea had provided $30 million as grant. South Korean aid is directed toward education, health, ICT, rural development and governance sectors. South Korea donated $500,000 in the preparation of electoral roll for the country’s parliamentary election in 2008.

Trade between the two has been growing, and light electronic goods and computers from South Korea are making inroads into the Bangladeshi markets. South Korean cars are also making their presence felt in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s exports to South Korea during 2007-08 amounted to $169 million, and included raw jute, jute products, jute yarn, newsprint, tea, leather goods, tobacco and fertiliser, while South Korea’s exports to Bangladesh during that period stood at $1,095 million, which included chemicals, dyeing materials, tanning, medical and pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, electrical goods and motor vehicle machinery.

South Korea has reportedly invested $1,006 million in Bangladesh in various sectors, such as ready-made garments, textiles, tanning and shoe factories. Many joint ventures in Bangladesh’s Export Processing Zones (EPZ) have been set up by Korean investors. South Korea is reportedly the largest foreign investor in the EPZs, employing nearly 100,000 Bangladeshi workers. It might increase to 350,000 with the present continuing investment. .

In 2008, South Korea opened 75 percent of total tariffs for Bangladesh. In 2009, the coverage was expanded to 80 percent with the addition of 253 products. In 2010, an additional 5 percent will be added so that more Bangladeshi items can enjoy the benefit.

Apart from economic cooperation, Korean painters and art connoisseurs have expressed keenness in Bangladeshi art and culture by their frequent participation in the Asian Biennale held in Dhaka. A Korean painting exhibition took place in 2008 in Bangladesh.

In May 2009, the Bangladesh Embassy in South Korea and Korean Foundation jointly organised an exhibition of eleven Bangladeshi painters at the Korea Foundation Cultural Centre. The exhibition displayed around 100 paintings by eleven renowned Bangladeshi artists.

The exhibition introduced the best of contemporary Bangladeshi art to Korean enthusiasts. It featured abstract, semi-realistic, semi-abstract and folk-themed paintings. All participating artists also had solo and group exhibitions in the country and abroad.

Perhaps the most encouraging development in bilateral relations is the growing relationship between the private sectors of the two countries. South Korea’s investment and business opportunities in Bangladesh are on the increase.

The basic course of Bangladesh’s relationship with South Korea has been firmly set and will continue for further expansion. The prime minister’s visit, although a brief one, is a gesture of friendship and will consolidate further bilateral relations for mutual benefit of peoples of both countrie

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Bangladesh and China is long time examined friend contry.China is ready to work with Bangladesh to further promote the bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation in all fields, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here on Thursday.

????Yang made the statement as he was meeting with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on the sidelines of the high-level UN conference on the world financial and economic crisis and its impact on development, which opened here on Wednesday and is to end on Friday.

During the meeting, Yang told his Bangladeshis counterpart that China and Bangladesh are friendly and close neighbors, the Chinese government attaches great importance to the Sino-Bangladeshi relations, and it is China’s adamantine policy to strengthen and develop the relations of friendship and cooperation with Bangladesh.

????China is willing to work with Bangladesh to further expand the bilateral cooperation in political, economic and trade, agricultural and cultural fields, the Chinese foreign minister said.

????In return, Moni said that Bangladesh and China enjoyed relations of friendship and cooperation for a long time, and Bangladeshi sees China as its close friend and cooperation partner.

????Bangladesh and China have frequent exchanges at all levels, and the bilateral cooperation has made great achievements, she said, adding that her country will work with China to promote the bilateral ties to a new level.

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