Bilal9
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2014
- Messages
- 26,569
- Reaction score
- 9
- Country
- Location
First of all thanks to @ziaulislam bhai for opening the thread. I have been a direct witness of the Bangladesh transformation and Bangladesh was lucky enough to have a much more stable political landscape compared to Pakistan.
I know this thread is for Pakistani discussion only in a sense - but then I see that some Sanghis and cheap bigots are piping up here too with their hate posts, so why not share my own sober unbiased opinions (we Bengalis are the toughest critics of anything in Bangladesh)...
Why don't I find things to hate about Pakistan like some hate everything about Bangladesh? Maybe because Pakistanis deserve human respect? Some here don't think Bangladeshis deserve the same.
Being rather involved personally for the last decade in Bangladesh industrial/chamber-of-commerce circles, it is breathtaking to see the amount of misinformation and propaganda spread around by some in this forum on WHY Bangladesh developed.
Here are some of my opinions to clear the air and bring some clarity to the discussion.
- No Bangladesh simply does not export apparel only. Though apparel exports are a lions share...decreasing gradually.
- Exporting apparel (which some clueless folks feel is non-glamorous) is still about adding value. It DOES NOT MATTER if your value addition LEVEL is low, but if there is enough QUANTITY you'll still do fine. Trying to add first world level of VALUE by making high tech products (and that too in LOW quantity) is an impractical exercise. Making autos in Bangladesh has always been possible, but finding markets for those exports in first world markets is a difficult prospect. Bangladeshi elite 'get' this, those in Pakistan still don't. China came up to 2nd class rank by making inexpensive keychains, flashlights, disposable electronic items, shoes, clothes and toys. Nothing glamorous about exporting these - but still profitable nonetheless. If China can make money from these, why not Bangladesh?
- Ultimately it's all about the total amount of cold hard cash and how much of it comes into the country. This is how the Asian Tigers developed and Bangladesh is following the exact same model. It is a tried and true formula.
- Some of the improved social indicators had the involvement of Upper Middle class and Upper class folks too (all involved in NGO's) - Bangladeshi people are the least feudal in the sub-continent. Giving jobs to women revolutionized their emancipation level. This was a necessary step for infant health, education too.
- Yes (Per Quwa bhai) Bangladeshis generally do not believe in luxury spending in excess like the Pakistani elite, though there is some of that.
- Interesting fact - Bangladesh is the world's second largest source for freelancers. Google it.
The rise of Bangladesh were for three main reasons,
1. Because of the Bengali entrepreneurial risk-taking attitude (starting in the mid seventies with apparel) and,
2. Cheap reliable labor (labor cost is half that of both India and Pakistan, especially in apparel, but also pharma, IT shipbuilding etc.).
3. Lastly - but not least, Public-Private partnerships in improving infra (Bangladesh infra I'd argue is a heck of a lot more involved and difficult to improve, being in the middle of a swamp. Land prices are high and you need bridges every half kilometers).
And - I do not get the fascination by some here about some working class Bangladeshi brothel in some podunk town. What kind of non-classy individual discusses brothels and characterizes a whole nation by it? And how is that relevant to the discussion at hand?? These are not subjects of conversation in educated and polite company...
These are all the business and export sectors in Bangladesh below. We don't want to be Pakistan's role model, given the different ground realities. but there are some things people in Bangladesh are doing RIGHT, and those can be good lessons for folks in Pakistan. I will be happy to share my insights.
I know this thread is for Pakistani discussion only in a sense - but then I see that some Sanghis and cheap bigots are piping up here too with their hate posts, so why not share my own sober unbiased opinions (we Bengalis are the toughest critics of anything in Bangladesh)...
Why don't I find things to hate about Pakistan like some hate everything about Bangladesh? Maybe because Pakistanis deserve human respect? Some here don't think Bangladeshis deserve the same.
Being rather involved personally for the last decade in Bangladesh industrial/chamber-of-commerce circles, it is breathtaking to see the amount of misinformation and propaganda spread around by some in this forum on WHY Bangladesh developed.
Here are some of my opinions to clear the air and bring some clarity to the discussion.
- No Bangladesh simply does not export apparel only. Though apparel exports are a lions share...decreasing gradually.
- Exporting apparel (which some clueless folks feel is non-glamorous) is still about adding value. It DOES NOT MATTER if your value addition LEVEL is low, but if there is enough QUANTITY you'll still do fine. Trying to add first world level of VALUE by making high tech products (and that too in LOW quantity) is an impractical exercise. Making autos in Bangladesh has always been possible, but finding markets for those exports in first world markets is a difficult prospect. Bangladeshi elite 'get' this, those in Pakistan still don't. China came up to 2nd class rank by making inexpensive keychains, flashlights, disposable electronic items, shoes, clothes and toys. Nothing glamorous about exporting these - but still profitable nonetheless. If China can make money from these, why not Bangladesh?
- Ultimately it's all about the total amount of cold hard cash and how much of it comes into the country. This is how the Asian Tigers developed and Bangladesh is following the exact same model. It is a tried and true formula.
- Some of the improved social indicators had the involvement of Upper Middle class and Upper class folks too (all involved in NGO's) - Bangladeshi people are the least feudal in the sub-continent. Giving jobs to women revolutionized their emancipation level. This was a necessary step for infant health, education too.
- Yes (Per Quwa bhai) Bangladeshis generally do not believe in luxury spending in excess like the Pakistani elite, though there is some of that.
- Interesting fact - Bangladesh is the world's second largest source for freelancers. Google it.
The rise of Bangladesh were for three main reasons,
1. Because of the Bengali entrepreneurial risk-taking attitude (starting in the mid seventies with apparel) and,
2. Cheap reliable labor (labor cost is half that of both India and Pakistan, especially in apparel, but also pharma, IT shipbuilding etc.).
3. Lastly - but not least, Public-Private partnerships in improving infra (Bangladesh infra I'd argue is a heck of a lot more involved and difficult to improve, being in the middle of a swamp. Land prices are high and you need bridges every half kilometers).
And - I do not get the fascination by some here about some working class Bangladeshi brothel in some podunk town. What kind of non-classy individual discusses brothels and characterizes a whole nation by it? And how is that relevant to the discussion at hand?? These are not subjects of conversation in educated and polite company...
These are all the business and export sectors in Bangladesh below. We don't want to be Pakistan's role model, given the different ground realities. but there are some things people in Bangladesh are doing RIGHT, and those can be good lessons for folks in Pakistan. I will be happy to share my insights.
- Agro & Agriculture
- Apparel & Fashion
- Arts, Crafts & Gifts
- Automotive & Automobile
- Business Services
- Chemicals
- Computer & IT
- Electronics & Electrical
- Energy & Power
- Food & Beverage
- Furniture & Decor
- Health & Medical
- Home Appliances
- Lights & Lighting
- Machinery & Industrial Supplies
- Minerals & Raw Materials
- Office Supplies
- Paper, Printing & Packaging
- Rubber & Plastic Products
- Textiles Leather & Jute
- Tools & Hardware
Last edited: