Though small and still developing, Bangladesh has attained international recognition for its coordinated response to comprehensive disaster management, effective use of microcredit, role in poverty reduction,  achievement of transparency and neutrality in election process, tree plantation and achievement of positive changes in both social and economic indicators.The country born out of blood of 3 million liberation martyrs had to overcome numerous obstacles to reach this stage. In the 40 years since its birth from ashes and fire, Bangladesh has registered many gains. In terms of Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in the areas of primary schooling, lowering the infant and under-five mortality rate and overall poverty reduction. Amartya Kumar Sen, the an Indian economist and a Nobel laureate, once remarked that Bangladesh has astonished the world with the level of progress it has achieved in certain areas, especially in education, women’s empowerment, reducing birth and maternal and infant mortality rates, health care and sanitation facilities for marginalised people and immunisation coverage among children.

Achievement in education:
Some of the effective initiatives undertaken by the government of Bangladesh in order to attain universal education include- distribution of free textbooks among 100 per cent students and introduction of scholarship schemes  from primary to secondary levels to encourage female education. The present government has nationalised 26,193 primary schools and a large number of teachers’ jobs. The enrollment rate in primary schools has jumped from 61% in 1990 to 92% at present. The Education Assistance Trust Act, 2012 has been passed  and the Education Assistance Trust established to benefit the underprivileged meritorious students.

Achievement in Health:
Bangladesh has made its mark in the global arena through the remarkable progress it has made in child immunisation programmes. The National Health Policy-2011 has been implemented to modernise the health sector. 12, 217 community clinics have been established to reach quality healthcare at the grassroots level. 275 Upazila Health Complex have been upgraded to 50-bed. 2000 new beds have been added to medical colleges and district hospitals.Maternal and infant mortality and birth rates have been slashed by a great extent. Infant mortality has dropped from 149 in 1990 to only 54 at present. Four new medical colleges have been established and over 40,000 manpower recruited to bring healthcare to citizens’ doorsteps.

Achievement in women and children affairs:
In the light of fundamental rights of women recognized in the constitution the National Women Development Policy 2011 has been approved. Several scholarship schemes have been introduced from primary to secondary levels to encourage female education. A wide range of multi-faceted measures have been initiated to ensure women’s equal participation at all social tiers. In order to facilitate women’s participation in the world of technology, one woman entrepreneur has been appointed at every Union Information Service Centres (UISC). A National Children Policy 2011 has been adopted to protect children’s rights. One stop crisis cells have been set up in 40 district sadar hospitals and 20 upazila health complexes. 6 child development centres have been established to rehabilitate street children. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been awarded the prestigious South-South Award for her outstanding contribution towards improving the state of women and children.

Achievements in Women Empowerment:
With a cultural past of worst women deprivation, Bangladesh came a long way in empowering women in a great way. Bangladesh is now the 2nd largest manufacturer and exporter of garments and apparels.  And majority of the garments workers are women. Microcredit has flourished the rural economy in a great way in empowering women in Bangladesh. More than 80% of the microcredit beneficiaries are women. Women entrepreneurship is highly encouraged in Bangladesh. Gender equality is also one of the prime concerns of the government. Bangladesh is one of the rarest nation where the Prime Minister (head of the government), head of the opposition, and the Speaker of the Parliament are females.

Digital Bangladesh Revolution:
The government of Bangladesh has undertaken revolutionary measures in order to realise the vision of a Digital Bangladesh.One-stop information and services kiosks Union Information Service Centres (UISC) have been set up in 4500+ Union Parishads. All the upazilas of the country have been brought under internet connectivity through the world’s largest National Web Portal. Due to the adoption of favourable telecommunication policies, the total  number of mobile phone and internet users stand at 98.6 million and 34 million respectively. E-payment and mobile banking facilities have been initiated to make service delivery transparent and easy. Electronic government procurement mechanism (e-GP) has been institutionalised. The process of bringing the third generation (3G) mobile technology to customers have been initiated.

Food security and success in agriculture:
Bangladesh has been the focus of global discourse time and again for some remarkable achievements in the agriculture sector. Even with a population of 115 million, Bangladesh has managed to achieve comprehensive food security. In the past few years rice production has increased to 5 million metric tons. With direct patronage from the Prime Minister and the Agriculture Minister, Bangladeshi scientist Dr. Maksudul Alam has decoded the genome sequence of jute fibre. Out of the 17 genome sequences that have been decoded globally, Dr. Maksud has decoded 3 of them. His remarkable achievement has made the  nation proud.

Achievements in Worker Export:
Currently, 8.6 million Bangladeshi labors are working in 157 countries. Bangladesh has shown outstanding achievements in expatriating labors in various countries. Branches of Expatriates Welfare Bank has been established in the divisional cities of Bangladesh. In 2013, approximately 1.415 million Taka has been sanctioned as loan with nominal interest. Registration of foreign job-seekers has been ensured at grassroot level through ICT, which ensured participation from remote areas as well. The need for middlemen has been abolished and many labors had the opportunity to travel for job to Malaysia without any harassment.

Bangladesh in UN Peacekeeping Mission:
Since joining UN peacekeeping mission in 1988, the Bangladesh Army has effectively and successfully conducted 63 peace missions in 38 countries. Bangladesh ranks top among the 115 countries that participates in UN peace missions.

Achievements in power sector:
One of the important achievements in the power sector has been the generation of 3, 845 MW of additional electricity to the national grid. This has increased electricity beneficiary coverage from 47% to 60%. The per capita electricity production also increased from 220 kwh to 292 kwh. New power connections have been provided to 3 million consumers. 54 new power plants have also been constructed.

Achievements in Industry and Commerce:
Bangladesh advanced in accommodation, ship building, pharmaceuticals, and processes food export sectors alongside the major Garments sector. The list of commodities exported from Bangladesh now includes ship building, pharmaceuticals, and processed & frozen foods. Bangladesh now has a fast growing IT industry, export of which exceeded $100 million in the fiscal year of 2012-2013.

Achievements in Social Security Sector:
Bangladesh has increased the amount and scope for various social security allowance, which is targeted for poor, distressed, and vulnerable citizens including: senior citizens, widows, abandoned wives, distressed women, poor handicapped citizens, pregnant women, etc. Total allocation in this sector during 2008-2009 was 138.45 billion, but in recent years the allocation increased to 2,275 billion. In a survey in 2010, it was found that 24.5% of the population has been brought under social security allowance.

Achievement in land management:
The government has undertaken an initiative to computerise  the Mouza maps and bhumi khatians in 55 districts with the aim to modernise land management system. Upazila-wise Digital Land Zoning Maps have been prepared for 152 upazilas. Draft “Land Use & Management Law” has been prepared, which will be finalized very soon.

Success in countering economic downturn:
At a time when the global economy was reeling from the effects of economic meltdown, Bangladesh government, through the use of various incentive packages, has not only managed to stave off economic downturn but also succeeded in maintaining GDP growth rate above 6%. In stark contrast to global economic crisis, Bangladesh has recorded an increase in the rate of both import and export and the volume of foreign remittance. Bangladesh has earned the equivalent status of the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam in terms of loan repayments.