WHEN Bangladesh finally became independent on December 16, 1971, after declaration of independence on March 26, 1971 by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which led to a bloody War of Liberation for over nine months, many doubted whether Bangladesh would be able to stand up on her own feet. Now Bangladesh is a miracle to many development practitioners around the world. Just few days ago, on March 15, 2018, on the eve of our 47th anniversary of Independence and National Day (March 26, 2018), the United Nations declared that Bangladesh has met the graduation criteria from the LDC (lower developing country) category to developing country. This is certainly a joyous occasion for all Bangladesh nationals home and abroad. This could be achieved due to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, as under her able leadership for last nearly a decade Bangladesh followed pragmatic development strategies, which resulted with inclusive economic growth, structural transformation and remarkable social progress. It is pertinent to note that Bangladesh met all three criteria for graduation from LDC, its per capita GNI (Gross National Income) is $1,610 whereas UN threshold was $1,230, the HAI (Human Asset Index) is 72.9 whereas threshold was 66 and EVI (Economic Vulnerability Index) is 24.8 whereas threshold was 32. Given this backdrop, Bangladesh is now emerging an important country where there are plenty of opportunities in trade and investment. It is now a role model for developing world. The first task of the government of the day in early 1972 was to get recognition from countries of the world. Bangabandhu made a clarion call in London on January 8, 1972, “. . . I now appeal to all states to extend recognition to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, to enter into diplomatic relations with us and to support our immediate admission to the United Nations. . .” Bangladesh gained enormous support from international community and is now a nation with pride and many successes under the dynamic leadership of daughter of Father of the Nation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She stated in the UN High Level Panel on Rule of Law in New York in September 2012 that “Bangladesh believes in peace and justice within the state, and in state to state relations. Bangladesh also believes in sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations. These emanate from the philosophy of ‘Friendship towards all, malice towards none’ of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, who declared it as the foundation of our foreign policy along with the importance and necessity of the rule of law and justice for all in 1974 at the UN General Assembly.” Bangladesh is now a role model for developing world in poverty reduction, achieving success in health and education, fighting climate change with UN accolade and a major UN troops contributor for peacekeeping operations around the world. In addition to those accolades, Bangladesh under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has shown a face of humanity by extending shelter to forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, over a million, on her soil, among those since August 25, 2017 around 6,00,000 forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals took shelter in Bangladesh due to atrocities and persecution towards them. The world community profusely appreciated the humane role of the government of Bangladesh and its people. Bangladesh is also now well regarded by international community with excellent relations with important countries of the world including Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a very successful visit to Saudi Arabia in June 2016 while she had audience with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, when both had fruitful discussion. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was awarded the Prize — the United Nations Champions of the Earth award — in recognition of her outstanding initiatives to address climate change. “Serving as Prime Minister of Bangladesh — one of the world’s least-developed countries — Sheikh Hasina has proven that investing in climate change is conducive to achieving social and economic development,” said the award announcement issued by the UN Environment Program (UNEP), which conferred the awards in 2015. UNEP noted that Bangladesh is one of the world’s most populated countries, with over 160 million people. It is also one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Bangladesh in the UN Peacekeeping operations Bangladesh first participated in the peacekeeping operations in 1988. Now it is a major contributor, with 7,502 personnel deployed in 10 peacekeeping missions at present. Overall, Bangladesh has provided more than a hundred thousand peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping, and thereby established itself as a staunch supporter and promoter of global peace in keeping with its constitutional obligations. Currently, Bangladesh holds the lead position among all troops and police contributing countries (TCCs/ PCCs). Bangladesh’s value-driven contribution to UN peace operations have thus become an integral part of her foreign policy pursuits. Bangladesh takes legitimate pride in the fact that 126 of its valiant sons have made the supreme sacrifice in course of duty on UN peacekeeping operations. Bangladesh has always underscored the need to plan and conduct peacekeeping operations in a way to facilitate post-conflict peace building, prevent the relapse into armed conflict, and promote sustainable peace and development. As the Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission in 2012, Bangladesh organized the first ever Summit level meeting of the Commission in New York on the sideline of 67th UNGA session. The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mobilized support of global political leadership towards incorporation of a peace-building perspective in the mandates of the peacekeeping operations to ensure longer-term peace-building and sustainable development. In line with Bangladesh’s commitment to this effect, our peacekeepers are now also serving as peace builders in fragile post-conflict situations. Of late, Bangladesh has established a Peace Building Center, second of its kind in Asia, to develop specialized capacity for a range of peace building activities including electoral management, administrative, judicial and security sector reform, human rights promotion and protection, disaster management, women’s empowerment and socio-economic development, among others. Bangladesh is also currently developing a National Strategy on Peace Support Operations to provide general guidance for coordination and capacity building to add further value to Bangladesh’s participation in UN-led peace-support operations. Bangladesh is now considered a ‘role model’ in the Muslim world in respect of its development in economic, social and women empowerment. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set an exemplary leadership model for Muslim women. She embodies what women in the Islamic world can achieve. Given the new height of relationship between Bangladesh and KSA, both countries are embarked upon a new journey to take up new projects for positive impact with intensifying relations with other Muslim countries. — SG