EXCLUSIVE: We have many things to learn from Sri Lanka – Muhith

by Swadesh Roy

(June 13, Dhaka, Sri Lanka Guardian) Finance minister of Bangladesh Mr. Abul Mal Abdul Muhith is Harvard educated, versatile person. He is the senior most members in Bangladesh government’s cabinet. He is not only an economist but also an historian. He has a vast knowledge on regional and global economics, politics, and history. He knows very much about people and society of Sri Lanka. He worked long time with Sri Lankan development programs so he has details knowledge on Sri Lanka and its society and people. I talked with him on Sri Lankan economy, social condition, leader of Sri Lanka, people of this country and the regional organization SAARC.

I told him to compare the economy of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Finance Minster of Bangladesh said, Sri Lankan Economy is smaller than Bangladesh but the economy management of Sri Lanka is better than Bangladesh. Bangladesh has accepted free economy also but Sri Lanka is an open country. Their market is small. They are trying to span their market. He added that, their market would span gradually because their social development is healthy Their social development is better than Bangladesh. He hopes that, growth of their economy will be high, due to their present leadership. He did respected comments on Sri Lankan president. He told, `Mahinda Rajapaksa, president of Sri Lanka is a leader of stunning style. His people like him and his leadership very much. He is the man who is bringing peace and prosperity to his country. The people of his country love him from deep down of their heart. He is doing outstanding job for his country. Besides that, there is a stability of the development in Sri Lanka. Bangladesh has many things to learn from Mahinda Rajapaksa’s leadership.’

I was discussing with him about economical and socio-political feature of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with in the boundary of SAARC. He said that, historically Sri Lanka is ahead in literacy than Bangladesh. So, they are advanced in social sector than Bangladesh. Bangladesh did very good in social sector but they more advanced in heath and education sectors than Bangladesh. Finance minister of Bangladesh told that, he visited Sri Lanka many times. He went first time to Sri Lanka in 1972 but as a consultant of world development organizations, he went several times to Sri Lanka. He was involved in many developing programs in Sri Lanka. Therefore, he got opportunity to observe the society and people of Sri Lanka. He is an admirer of Sri Lankan people. His opinion is that, the people of Sri Lanka have extra quality. Their hospitality is remarkable. Besides that, they respect their history. They feel proud of the history of Vijaya and his followers. Therefore, they use to feel Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is a historically close and friendly country. They maintain their social responsibility and they feel proud to engage themselves as a part of the development of the national growth. Education and the characteristics of the people of Sri Lanka have changed the social development of their country. However, the economy of Sri Lanka is smaller than Bangladesh but their social development is stronger than Bangladesh. Social development of a country helps build up a permanent stable economy. For this reason, Sri Lanka will able to build up a stable economy and they are advancing gradually.

This social development helps Sri Lanka to continue their development. That is why in any circumstances they are able to continue their development works.

Finance minister of Bangladesh said, Sri Lanka is the example in the world that in any circumstances they were able to keep their constant growth. They had faced Tamil problem for two decades. It was a major problem then but it cannot interrupt their social and economical developments. Besides that, Sri Lanka had political enmity. Any type of Sharp political enmity is not good for a country. It makes hostility in politics and the socio- economical development of the country. In Bangladesh, we are facing that type of political enmity so the leaders of Bangladesh can learn from Sri Lanka how they overcome it. In Bangladesh, we can make a consensus like Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, winner never gets all. In many position and sector of Sri Lanka, government gives appointment through a consensus. Bangladesh has to learn it from Sri Lanka and we have to follow the example of Sri Lanka for decreasing our political enmity. Besides that, we have to follow Sri Lankan local government system. They have empowered their local government. We need it. Our people density is sky high therefore; we must have to go an empowered local government like Sri Lanka.

He added that, we have to follow the way of free trade and free port policy of Sri Lanka. After the visit of Rajapaksa in Bangladesh, Bangladesh is going to introduce new policy. We are going to make a tie with Sri Lanka, on free port facility policy. We are also thinking about free trade. I asked him about the economical transaction between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Finance minister said that, economical transaction between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is very small, it is due to communications, but there is a possibility. I asked him is it possible to build up an easy communication with Sri Lanka? He said it has a possibility. Bangladesh is going to a have free port facility with Sri Lanka. It will help increase trade between two countries. When trade will go up gradually then communication will be easy automatically.

Besides that, experienced economist and two times Finance Minister of Bangladesh Mr. Abul Mal Abdul Muhith said, now is the time to advance on free trade policy and build up other social and economical relations between the SAARC countries. The attitudes of SAARC countries are going to change by now. Countries like India and Pakistan now want to cut down their enmity. So it is the time to make strengthen the SAARC. Consequently leaders of the SAARC have to follow the ASIAN example. When ASIAN started, it was not so much active; but when they get opportunity, they utilized their maximum opportunity. Opportunity has come to the door of the SAARC now, so it has to be utilized in best possible ways. Finance minister of Bangladesh said that, political problem of the SAARC countries more or less have been solved, so we can follow EU, ASIAN. He thinks that ASSIN experience is very much important to SAARC.