Karachi, 30 November 2022:

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam had an interaction at an event in Karachi with the alumni of St. Gregorian Schools and College in Dhaka. A group of over 40 Dhaka Gregorian’s alumni, who are Pakistan nationals and have been living in Pakistan, of different batches of 1960s and 1970s from St. Gregory School and College in Dhaka were present at the event.  

The Gregorians were very candid in recollecting and sharing their sweet memories of their time in Bangladesh and in the St. Gregory School in the old part of Dhaka before the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Memories of their childhood and youth are vivid. They express that those memories of their lives in Bangladesh are still deep in their hearts. Their days in Bangladesh is invaluable treasure of golden and unforgettable memories of their entire lives. They still feel a very deep emotional attachment to their childhood and youth in Bangladesh.

Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam thanked the Gregorians for their kind sentiments about Bangladesh and the people of Bangladesh. He commented that Bangladesh is a land of love and harmony. Bangladesh is a peace-loving country and a country of traditional heritage, love and affection and with pride of peaceful coexistence. The people of Bangladesh are very hospitable and soft-minded.  Bangladesh is a riverine and fertile country with immense natural wealth, greenery and beauty. Deputy High Commissioner also took the opportunity to share with the distinguished Gregorians the success stories of Bangladesh in socio-economic sector. He said that Bangladesh has become a ‘Role Model’ of socio-economic development in the world. He highlighted on the success stories of socio-economic progress in Bangladesh and cited as an example that Bangladesh has constructed the 6.15-kilometer-long Padma Bridge by her own finance, which is a symbol of her pride and confidence.

Deputy High Commissioner also focused the development trend of Bangladesh and commented that in 1972 Bangladesh was a war-ravaged country with a population of 75 million with per capita income of US$ 94, very insignificant foreign currency reserve, poverty level of 82%, and with life expectancy of 47.14 years. But currently the scenario and statistics are different and encouraging. A country of 160 million population, Bangladesh has recently reached the mark of US$48 billion foreign currency reserve with per capita income of US2,824 and Bangladesh is currently among the five fastest growing economies in the world, ranking 41st in terms of GDP. Only over the past decade, poverty rate in Bangladesh reduced to 20.5%. Deputy High Commission also drawn a comparative statistic by mentioning that with current primary enrollment rate over 99 percent, Bangladesh’s current the literacy rate is around 78 percent, which was only 18 percent in 1971, 49.6 percent in 2002, and 58.6 percent in 2014. He further added that in Bangladesh currently there are around 160 universities including 53 public universities and over 112 medical colleges including 37 public medical colleges, which were only below seven respectively in 1971. Bangladesh is the 2^nd highest UN Peacekeepers contributing country and the 2^nd largest exporters of RMG in the world. Over 14 million Bangladeshi have been living and working abroad and contributing immensely for their motherland-Bangladesh and their respective host countries. Bangladesh achieved 100% electricity coverage across Bangladesh and has been working to establish 100 Specialized Economic Zones across the country. Women and the youth are contributing immensely towards the development of Bangladesh. Deputy High Commissioner commented that the statistics and the success stories reflect how much Bangladesh has achieved and developed during last five decades since her independence in 1971.

Deputy High Commissioner requested the distinguished Gregorians to promote the success stories of Bangladesh. The group of the Gregorian alumni, who are highly established in their respective fields in Pakistan, were impressed at the glimpse of success stories of Bangladesh and expressed their deep love for Bangladesh and the people of Bangladesh. They commented that they feel nostalgic in thinking and talking about Bangladesh and Bangladesh’s success stories. They feel happy and proud to see any success of Bangladesh and the people of Bangladesh. Success of Bangladesh makes them happy. They love Bangladesh and Bangladesh is in the deep in their hearts. They do not live in Bangladesh but Bangladesh lives in their hearts. Bangladesh’s sweet and dreamy memories they have since their childhood are being ever cherished.

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