Karachi, 30 April 2024:

Editor-in-Chief Mr. Jawed Ahmed Malik, the Daily News Lark called on the Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam on 30 April 2024 at the Chancery. Dr. Syed Mehboob, Senior Research Editor, Journalist Mr. Yousuf Malik of the Daily News Lark were also present during the meeting.

Deputy High Commissioner warmly welcomed the renowned journalists to the Chancery. During the meeting, the Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam briefed distinguished journalists that Bangladesh has been developing in all the socio-economic indicators. He mentioned that Bangladesh has a very vibrant and a free media. Bangladesh is a secular democratic country with traditional inclusive society. Rights of all from all strata of the society are well protected in Bangladesh. The media has been growing very fast in Bangladesh. He said that the media has been enjoying freedom of expression. The freedom of press and the freedom of expression and freedom of practicing own belief are guaranteed by the National Constitution of Bangladesh, which was adopted in the National Parliament on 4 November 1972. He further said that the number of Private TV Channels/electronic media, print newspapers/magazine/publications has increased tremendously in the recent decades. He mentioned that the number of Television Channels in Bangladesh is 49 with 4 state-owned TVs and currently there are over 35 radio stations in Bangladesh. There are over 1,300 newspapers in Bangladesh. The emergence of satellite television and the spread of internet in Bangladesh in last one and a half decades have changed the media landscape in Bangladesh.

Deputy High Commissioner further highlighted that the media has been playing a vital role in the society in Bangladesh. He added that Bangladesh has launched the Bangabandhu Satelitte-1 on 18 May 2018 and therefore has become a proud member of the Exclusive and Prestigious Satellite Club in the World.  

Deputy High Commissioner also highlighted the success stories of socio-economic progress in Bangladesh and mentioned that Bangladesh has become a ‘Role Model’ of socio-economic development in the world. He added that the per capita income of Bangladesh is currently US2824 and Bangladesh is currently among the five fastest growing economies in the world, ranking 35^th in terms of GDP. He also mentioned that in Bangladesh current primary enrollment rate is 100 percent. He added in 1971 literacy rate in Bangladesh was only 18 percent, which is currently around 80 percent. Bangladesh is currently a 100% electricity coverage country. He mentioned that Bangladesh has been working to establish 100 Specialized Economic Zones (SEZ) across the country. He briefly outlined most of the mega projects in Bangladesh. He shared that Bangladesh has constructed 6.15 Kilometers Padma Bridge with a cost of over US$3.8 billion from her own source, which is a pride and symbol of confidence of Bangladesh. He also mentioned that the first-ever metro rail has been inaugurated in Bangladesh on 28 December 2022. He also briefed on first ever in whole of South Asia the Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River. He further added that Bangladesh has already achieved ‘Vision 2021’ and is striving hard to achieve “Vision 2041” to become a higher middle-income country by 2031 and developed country and Smart Bangladesh  by 2041.

Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam mentioned that Bangladesh has been pursuing the foreign policy of “Friendship to all and malice towards none” since her Independence in 1971 as was postulated by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which continues to provide the philosophical underpinning of Bangladesh’s pro-peace foreign policy. He further mentioned that Father of the Nation propounded the peace and development-centric foreign policy, which remains the guiding principle of Bangladesh’s diplomatic engagements today.

Deputy High Commissioner requested the renowned journalists of Pakistan to publish more articles on Bangladesh’s achievements and success stories. The renowned journalists were highly impressed by the success stories of Bangladesh and they sincerely appreciated the impressive success stories of Bangladesh. They commented that the inputs shared by the Deputy High Commissioner would be useful and they would publish the bright and encouraging success stories and the development model of Bangladesh, which the common readers are interested to know. They also expressed their interest to know more about the development model of Bangladesh. They also expressed their willingness to visit Bangladesh and attached importance of more people-to-people contacts.