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Density Dividend behind Bangladesh’s development surprise | Faisal Ahmed | TEDxDhaka


if you have to pick between sitting at

if you have to pick between sitting at the tip of the launch or the train which

the tip of the launch or the train which

the tip of the launch or the train which one would you pick

one would you pick

one would you pick I suppose those who are scared of water

I suppose those who are scared of water

I suppose those who are scared of water will pick the train and those who are

will pick the train and those who are

will pick the train and those who are scared of speed will probably pick the

scared of speed will probably pick the

scared of speed will probably pick the boat or the launch but I have a big

boat or the launch but I have a big

boat or the launch but I have a big problem I’m scared of both water and

problem I’m scared of both water and

problem I’m scared of both water and speed this is how the world often views

speed this is how the world often views

speed this is how the world often views Bangladesh and many of us look at also

Bangladesh and many of us look at also

Bangladesh and many of us look at also ourselves this way a PLAs place of

ourselves this way a PLAs place of

ourselves this way a PLAs place of overcrowded land but I have to tell you

overcrowded land but I have to tell you

overcrowded land but I have to tell you this density had dividend it helped us

this density had dividend it helped us

this density had dividend it helped us innovate solutions taking lessons from

innovate solutions taking lessons from

innovate solutions taking lessons from the left and the right from the 19th and

the left and the right from the 19th and

the left and the right from the 19th and the 20th century it helped us spread the

the 20th century it helped us spread the

the 20th century it helped us spread the innovation fast this density helped us

innovation fast this density helped us

innovation fast this density helped us spread ideas innovation much faster than

spread ideas innovation much faster than

spread ideas innovation much faster than we could have imagined and made

we could have imagined and made

we could have imagined and made Bangladesh and the world a better place

Bangladesh and the world a better place

Bangladesh and the world a better place Bangladesh is in the midst of four

Bangladesh is in the midst of four

Bangladesh is in the midst of four critical transitions organization

critical transitions organization

critical transitions organization industrialization demographics and

industrialization demographics and

industrialization demographics and technology 30% of our countries are

technology 30% of our countries are

technology 30% of our countries are benign the amount of people living in

benign the amount of people living in

benign the amount of people living in the urban areas increased tenfold since

the urban areas increased tenfold since

the urban areas increased tenfold since we became independent in 1971 we have a

we became independent in 1971 we have a

we became independent in 1971 we have a large manufacturing base now technology

large manufacturing base now technology

large manufacturing base now technology the mobile penetration is over 90

the mobile penetration is over 90

the mobile penetration is over 90 percent more than hundred thirty million

percent more than hundred thirty million

percent more than hundred thirty million people have mobile technology now these

people have mobile technology now these

people have mobile technology now these transitions are not unique to Bangladesh

transitions are not unique to Bangladesh

transitions are not unique to Bangladesh it’s happening in many other emerging

it’s happening in many other emerging

it’s happening in many other emerging market country what is unique is that

market country what is unique is that

market country what is unique is that this density is amplifying a

this density is amplifying a

this density is amplifying a these transitions which are

these transitions which are

these transitions which are multiplicative in to begin with it’s

multiplicative in to begin with it’s

multiplicative in to begin with it’s changing the way we live businesses our

changing the way we live businesses our

changing the way we live businesses our finances operate government service also

finances operate government service also

finances operate government service also it’s transforming the way we will live

it’s transforming the way we will live

it’s transforming the way we will live in the years ahead this is the older

in the years ahead this is the older

in the years ahead this is the older Brahmaputra niushan Agha he is my

Brahmaputra niushan Agha he is my

Brahmaputra niushan Agha he is my favorite River development like family

favorite River development like family

favorite River development like family history are often flows like River of

history are often flows like River of

history are often flows like River of interconnected streams it rarely erupts

interconnected streams it rarely erupts

interconnected streams it rarely erupts like a volcano with that we have made if

like a volcano with that we have made if

like a volcano with that we have made if you look at our look at our economic

you look at our look at our economic

you look at our look at our economic history we have built on the inheritance

history we have built on the inheritance

history we have built on the inheritance of the past in the past five decades

of the past in the past five decades

of the past in the past five decades since we started our economic journey

since we started our economic journey

since we started our economic journey and national journey in 1971 we have

and national journey in 1971 we have

and national journey in 1971 we have built on the inheritance of every

built on the inheritance of every

built on the inheritance of every decades what I show you here is the way

decades what I show you here is the way

decades what I show you here is the way the rate our economy grew I would like

the rate our economy grew I would like

the rate our economy grew I would like all of you us to take note of the fact

all of you us to take note of the fact

all of you us to take note of the fact that we made progress in every decades

that we made progress in every decades

that we made progress in every decades growth increased in every decades and

growth increased in every decades and

growth increased in every decades and what’s fascinating about growth in

what’s fascinating about growth in

what’s fascinating about growth in Bangladesh its bottom-up it’s not

Bangladesh its bottom-up it’s not

Bangladesh its bottom-up it’s not top-down

top-down

top-down like many station economy it empowered

like many station economy it empowered

like many station economy it empowered women and was empowered by women our

women and was empowered by women our

women and was empowered by women our development story is an amazing story of

development story is an amazing story of

development story is an amazing story of collaboration cooperation between people

collaboration cooperation between people

collaboration cooperation between people government non-governmental organization

government non-governmental organization

government non-governmental organization and development partners it’s an amazing

and development partners it’s an amazing

and development partners it’s an amazing story of togetherness since we became an

story of togetherness since we became an

story of togetherness since we became an independent country think of 1971 four

independent country think of 1971 four

independent country think of 1971 four out of five people in Bangladesh could

out of five people in Bangladesh could

out of five people in Bangladesh could not eat three meals a day we were the

not eat three meals a day we were the

not eat three meals a day we were the second poorest country in the world

second poorest country in the world

second poorest country in the world through social innovations and through

through social innovations and through

through social innovations and through growth that touch the lives of all wheat

growth that touch the lives of all wheat

growth that touch the lives of all wheat in agriculture

in agriculture

in agriculture be it in garments waited through

be it in garments waited through

be it in garments waited through remittance we reduced poverty and

remittance we reduced poverty and

remittance we reduced poverty and improved human development indicators

improved human development indicators

improved human development indicators I’m not going to give you all

I’m not going to give you all

I’m not going to give you all nitty-gritty details of vintage

nitty-gritty details of vintage

nitty-gritty details of vintage indicators how our mortality decreased

indicators how our mortality decreased

indicators how our mortality decreased fertility decreased we had we reduced

fertility decreased we had we reduced

fertility decreased we had we reduced Jimbo gender and Parkman I just want to

Jimbo gender and Parkman I just want to

Jimbo gender and Parkman I just want to share one small statistics that touches

share one small statistics that touches

share one small statistics that touches all of us in 1971 an average Bangladeshi

all of us in 1971 an average Bangladeshi

all of us in 1971 an average Bangladeshi lived 42 years now the average life

lived 42 years now the average life

lived 42 years now the average life expectancy is 73 years its its highest

expectancy is 73 years its its highest

expectancy is 73 years its its highest in the region but to me what matters is

in the region but to me what matters is

in the region but to me what matters is with that life expectancy if this were

with that life expectancy if this were

with that life expectancy if this were 1971 I would not be in front of you

1971 I would not be in front of you

1971 I would not be in front of you giving this TED talk it transformed all

giving this TED talk it transformed all

giving this TED talk it transformed all of our lives through this transformation

of our lives through this transformation

of our lives through this transformation because of the inclusive nature of the

because of the inclusive nature of the

because of the inclusive nature of the growth our growth touch the lives of

growth our growth touch the lives of

growth our growth touch the lives of many and we managed to keep the

many and we managed to keep the

many and we managed to keep the inequality down and as you all know that

inequality down and as you all know that

inequality down and as you all know that the whole world is now grappling with

the whole world is now grappling with

the whole world is now grappling with the high inequality in Bangladesh our

the high inequality in Bangladesh our

the high inequality in Bangladesh our inequality is lower than in 1971 true it

inequality is lower than in 1971 true it

inequality is lower than in 1971 true it has been increasing in the last two

has been increasing in the last two

has been increasing in the last two decades through education land prize and

decades through education land prize and

decades through education land prize and others but relative to the other

others but relative to the other

others but relative to the other countries our performance is something

countries our performance is something

countries our performance is something to be happy about not to be complacent

to be happy about not to be complacent

to be happy about not to be complacent about but to be happy about through this

about but to be happy about through this

about but to be happy about through this growth that reduced moderated inequality

growth that reduced moderated inequality

growth that reduced moderated inequality what’s also very heartening is that the

what’s also very heartening is that the

what’s also very heartening is that the savings rate in Bangladesh is quite high

savings rate in Bangladesh is quite high

savings rate in Bangladesh is quite high relative to other developing countries

relative to other developing countries

relative to other developing countries in South Asia in East Asia and these

in South Asia in East Asia and these

in South Asia in East Asia and these savings allows us to make investment for

savings allows us to make investment for

savings allows us to make investment for jobs and growth and it allows us to

jobs and growth and it allows us to

jobs and growth and it allows us to finance our innovations and the kind of

finance our innovations and the kind of

finance our innovations and the kind of future we want to build as I mentioned

future we want to build as I mentioned

future we want to build as I mentioned to you the inclusive nature of the

to you the inclusive nature of the

to you the inclusive nature of the growth this is I would like to show that

growth this is I would like to show that

growth this is I would like to show that that in finance in the 70s and 80s the

that in finance in the 70s and 80s the

that in finance in the 70s and 80s the microfinance not only empowered women

microfinance not only empowered women

microfinance not only empowered women gave money to start business but in

gave money to start business but in

gave money to start business but in transformed the society relative to the

transformed the society relative to the

transformed the society relative to the other countries Bangladesh is there has

other countries Bangladesh is there has

other countries Bangladesh is there has been the frontier of social innovation

been the frontier of social innovation

been the frontier of social innovation risking humility I would like to say

risking humility I would like to say

risking humility I would like to say that Bangladesh has been the scene

that Bangladesh has been the scene

that Bangladesh has been the scene in value of social innovations for many

in value of social innovations for many

in value of social innovations for many decades and I hope it remains so in the

decades and I hope it remains so in the

decades and I hope it remains so in the decades ahead let me share with you

decades ahead let me share with you

decades ahead let me share with you what’s the structure of our growth in

what’s the structure of our growth in

what’s the structure of our growth in Bangladesh where have the jobs been

Bangladesh where have the jobs been

Bangladesh where have the jobs been created most of our jobs two-thirds our

created most of our jobs two-thirds our

created most of our jobs two-thirds our jobs have been created in in training

jobs have been created in in training

jobs have been created in in training and in manufacturing and those sectors

and in manufacturing and those sectors

and in manufacturing and those sectors are important manufacturing can create a

are important manufacturing can create a

are important manufacturing can create a lot of jobs and can help the economy

lot of jobs and can help the economy

lot of jobs and can help the economy grow much faster than otherwise and a

grow much faster than otherwise and a

grow much faster than otherwise and a lot of this job screamed from smaller

lot of this job screamed from smaller

lot of this job screamed from smaller enterprises the other feature of

enterprises the other feature of

enterprises the other feature of Bangladesh economy which is very

Bangladesh economy which is very

Bangladesh economy which is very important for inequality growth did not

important for inequality growth did not

important for inequality growth did not get concentrated in urban areas the Left

get concentrated in urban areas the Left

get concentrated in urban areas the Left panel here shows that most of the

panel here shows that most of the

panel here shows that most of the increase in enterprises have been

increase in enterprises have been

increase in enterprises have been outside of the urban areas and like our

outside of the urban areas and like our

outside of the urban areas and like our demographics our enterprises are also

demographics our enterprises are also

demographics our enterprises are also very very young and we have to nurture

very very young and we have to nurture

very very young and we have to nurture this enterprises through finance through

this enterprises through finance through

this enterprises through finance through innovation through all other kinds of

innovation through all other kinds of

innovation through all other kinds of supports these are not eggs this is how

supports these are not eggs this is how

supports these are not eggs this is how I wanted to summarize last five decades

I wanted to summarize last five decades

I wanted to summarize last five decades not how we viewed ourselves but how the

not how we viewed ourselves but how the

not how we viewed ourselves but how the world viewed us when we were born in

world viewed us when we were born in

world viewed us when we were born in 1971 we were described simply a mistake

1971 we were described simply a mistake

1971 we were described simply a mistake a basket case the test case for

a basket case the test case for

a basket case the test case for development and we can’t really blame

development and we can’t really blame

development and we can’t really blame the world for that we had couple of

the world for that we had couple of

the world for that we had couple of floods we had famine and we were born

floods we had famine and we were born

floods we had famine and we were born the decade when the global economy faced

the decade when the global economy faced

the decade when the global economy faced a lot of crisis over the decades in the

a lot of crisis over the decades in the

a lot of crisis over the decades in the eighties the social innovation helped us

eighties the social innovation helped us

eighties the social innovation helped us be termed as quite revolution and then

be termed as quite revolution and then

be termed as quite revolution and then we became neither a tiger nor a basket

we became neither a tiger nor a basket

we became neither a tiger nor a basket case last decade the investment men

case last decade the investment men

case last decade the investment men started describing us next xi frontier

started describing us next xi frontier

started describing us next xi frontier five and then the last this this decade

five and then the last this this decade

five and then the last this this decade who have been called out of the basket I

who have been called out of the basket I

who have been called out of the basket I never liked the word that we were

never liked the word that we were

never liked the word that we were described as Bangladesh paradox which

described as Bangladesh paradox which

described as Bangladesh paradox which means that we made the growth despite

means that we made the growth despite

means that we made the growth despite all of these challenges to me I would

all of these challenges to me I would

all of these challenges to me I would like to say that this was the surprise

like to say that this was the surprise

like to say that this was the surprise paradox somehow diminishes all the work

paradox somehow diminishes all the work

paradox somehow diminishes all the work that our women did our farmers did

that our women did our farmers did

that our women did our farmers did rendering tomorrow when I think about

rendering tomorrow when I think about

rendering tomorrow when I think about the economic transitions from tomorrow

the economic transitions from tomorrow

the economic transitions from tomorrow what

what

what growth should we have we have a large

growth should we have we have a large

growth should we have we have a large labor force one of the largest in Asia

labor force one of the largest in Asia

labor force one of the largest in Asia and they can work hard at a relatively

and they can work hard at a relatively

and they can work hard at a relatively low wage I’m not saying that this wage

low wage I’m not saying that this wage

low wage I’m not saying that this wage should continue but what I’m saying is

should continue but what I’m saying is

should continue but what I’m saying is that you should leverage this low wage

that you should leverage this low wage

that you should leverage this low wage to increase our manufacturing lead

to increase our manufacturing lead

to increase our manufacturing lead growth how productive is our workers our

growth how productive is our workers our

growth how productive is our workers our workers with one sixth of the salary of

workers with one sixth of the salary of

workers with one sixth of the salary of Chinese workers produces 80% so in terms

Chinese workers produces 80% so in terms

Chinese workers produces 80% so in terms of competitiveness our competitiveness

of competitiveness our competitiveness

of competitiveness our competitiveness is workers when trained are quite high

is workers when trained are quite high

is workers when trained are quite high and this has to be taken advantage of in

and this has to be taken advantage of in

and this has to be taken advantage of in our growth strategy of a manufacturing

our growth strategy of a manufacturing

our growth strategy of a manufacturing labour growth as in the next decade or

labour growth as in the next decade or

labour growth as in the next decade or so next to the exist chana would vacate

so next to the exist chana would vacate

so next to the exist chana would vacate the labor intensive manufacturing we

the labor intensive manufacturing we

the labor intensive manufacturing we need to attract many of those jobs here

need to attract many of those jobs here

need to attract many of those jobs here and we have done so we have in the last

and we have done so we have in the last

and we have done so we have in the last since 2010 we have taken 1/3 of the

since 2010 we have taken 1/3 of the

since 2010 we have taken 1/3 of the market share

market share

market share China vacated and going forward there is

China vacated and going forward there is

China vacated and going forward there is a big space that China has occupied in

a big space that China has occupied in

a big space that China has occupied in the labor intensive manufacturing and we

the labor intensive manufacturing and we

the labor intensive manufacturing and we can easily do that and moving ahead this

can easily do that and moving ahead this

can easily do that and moving ahead this is the density dividend I have been

is the density dividend I have been

is the density dividend I have been talking about the density that we had if

talking about the density that we had if

talking about the density that we had if you look at the GDP per square mile in

you look at the GDP per square mile in

you look at the GDP per square mile in Bangladesh we are highest in the region

Bangladesh we are highest in the region

Bangladesh we are highest in the region including countries like China Indonesia

including countries like China Indonesia

including countries like China Indonesia India Malaysia and Thailand this means

India Malaysia and Thailand this means

India Malaysia and Thailand this means the economy has reached a certain

the economy has reached a certain

the economy has reached a certain threshold where we not only can rely on

threshold where we not only can rely on

threshold where we not only can rely on the export but also we can rely on the

the export but also we can rely on the

the export but also we can rely on the domestic market this can also support

domestic market this can also support

domestic market this can also support all the innovations that our younger

all the innovations that our younger

all the innovations that our younger generations are inspiring us with I’ve

generations are inspiring us with I’ve

generations are inspiring us with I’ve shared with a lot of stories lot of them

shared with a lot of stories lot of them

shared with a lot of stories lot of them have positive messages but I would like

have positive messages but I would like

have positive messages but I would like to share two things with you about

to share two things with you about

to share two things with you about building our common future who have been

building our common future who have been

building our common future who have been one of the fastest growing country in

one of the fastest growing country in

one of the fastest growing country in Asia in the world but I have to tell you

Asia in the world but I have to tell you

Asia in the world but I have to tell you we have the lowest tax collection in the

we have the lowest tax collection in the

we have the lowest tax collection in the world when one of the lowest what does

world when one of the lowest what does

world when one of the lowest what does it tell us about us about our society

it tell us about us about our society

it tell us about us about our society and the kind of commitment that we have

and the kind of commitment that we have

and the kind of commitment that we have for the future this is we need to

for the future this is we need to

for the future this is we need to increase our commitment to a better

increase our commitment to a better

increase our commitment to a better future of course we cannot forget our

future of course we cannot forget our

future of course we cannot forget our nature remember the density we are all

nature remember the density we are all

nature remember the density we are all in this boat crowded boat together and

in this boat crowded boat together and

in this boat crowded boat together and manufacturing that will create a lot of

manufacturing that will create a lot of

manufacturing that will create a lot of job is very toxic for the environment it

job is very toxic for the environment it

job is very toxic for the environment it destroys environment look what we have

destroys environment look what we have

destroys environment look what we have done to some of our rivers they look

done to some of our rivers they look

done to some of our rivers they look black they don’t look like the old

black they don’t look like the old

black they don’t look like the old Brahmaputra so going ahead we all have

Brahmaputra so going ahead we all have

Brahmaputra so going ahead we all have to do our part to embrace our nature to

to do our part to embrace our nature to

to do our part to embrace our nature to take care of our nature to make our

take care of our nature to make our

take care of our nature to make our growth green very quickly let’s

growth green very quickly let’s

growth green very quickly let’s summarize to you how do I see this

summarize to you how do I see this

summarize to you how do I see this Bangladesh development surprise how do

Bangladesh development surprise how do

Bangladesh development surprise how do we leverage density yes we need a

we leverage density yes we need a

we leverage density yes we need a manufacturing lip take-off that can

manufacturing lip take-off that can

manufacturing lip take-off that can create jobs yes we can’t rely on the

create jobs yes we can’t rely on the

create jobs yes we can’t rely on the export but we are happy to rely on our

export but we are happy to rely on our

export but we are happy to rely on our domestic demand to increase the all the

domestic demand to increase the all the

domestic demand to increase the all the innovation and growth we cannot afford

innovation and growth we cannot afford

innovation and growth we cannot afford to have inequality grow higher than we

to have inequality grow higher than we

to have inequality grow higher than we have remember this density it can also

have remember this density it can also

have remember this density it can also be explosive too so with that density we

be explosive too so with that density we

be explosive too so with that density we need to have a lot of empathy have a lot

need to have a lot of empathy have a lot

need to have a lot of empathy have a lot of empathy for each other for mother

of empathy for each other for mother

of empathy for each other for mother nature we have to upgrade our

nature we have to upgrade our

nature we have to upgrade our infrastructure this infrastructure not

infrastructure this infrastructure not

infrastructure this infrastructure not only the roads highways flyovers but

only the roads highways flyovers but

only the roads highways flyovers but also the social infrastructure the

also the social infrastructure the

also the social infrastructure the cultural in fact charger the in the

cultural in fact charger the in the

cultural in fact charger the in the identity we have the empathy that we

identity we have the empathy that we

identity we have the empathy that we have let me conclude with a very

have let me conclude with a very

have let me conclude with a very personal wish you know I grew up in a

personal wish you know I grew up in a

personal wish you know I grew up in a very densely populated family spoiled by

very densely populated family spoiled by

very densely populated family spoiled by four sister so I have been a big

four sister so I have been a big

four sister so I have been a big believer in density dividend for a long

believer in density dividend for a long

believer in density dividend for a long time now I am a father of two young

time now I am a father of two young

time now I am a father of two young daughters

daughters

daughters Renea and Shila this morning TEDx taka

Renea and Shila this morning TEDx taka

Renea and Shila this morning TEDx taka asks all of us how to render out

asks all of us how to render out

asks all of us how to render out tomorrow I have thought about this

tomorrow I have thought about this

tomorrow I have thought about this question a lot when I miss my father

question a lot when I miss my father

question a lot when I miss my father when I don’t think about my daughter’s

when I don’t think about my daughter’s

when I don’t think about my daughter’s future about their identities the world

future about their identities the world

future about their identities the world the Bangladesh they will inherit my

the Bangladesh they will inherit my

the Bangladesh they will inherit my daughters are lucky they are lucky to

daughters are lucky they are lucky to

daughters are lucky they are lucky to have inspiration from the millions of

have inspiration from the millions of

have inspiration from the millions of women who took the small loans

women who took the small loans

women who took the small loans vaccinated their children empowered

vaccinated their children empowered

vaccinated their children empowered themselves lifted the society surprised

themselves lifted the society surprised

themselves lifted the society surprised Bangladesh and surprised the world who

Bangladesh and surprised the world who

Bangladesh and surprised the world who build a world-class garment industry our

build a world-class garment industry our

build a world-class garment industry our farmers who feed a growing Bangladesh

farmers who feed a growing Bangladesh

farmers who feed a growing Bangladesh our brothers who are going to the

our brothers who are going to the

our brothers who are going to the unknown land far away from the remote

unknown land far away from the remote

unknown land far away from the remote villages they grew up with to support us

villages they grew up with to support us

villages they grew up with to support us with unimaginable unimaginable cry

with unimaginable unimaginable cry

with unimaginable unimaginable cry courage I don’t want my daughters to

courage I don’t want my daughters to

courage I don’t want my daughters to grow up with my insecurities with my

grow up with my insecurities with my

grow up with my insecurities with my self-consciousness when I’m called a

self-consciousness when I’m called a

self-consciousness when I’m called a development paradox I want them to grow

development paradox I want them to grow

development paradox I want them to grow up with curiosity courage and humility

up with curiosity courage and humility

up with curiosity courage and humility most importantly with the empathy and

most importantly with the empathy and

most importantly with the empathy and the humanity with which we have received

the humanity with which we have received

the humanity with which we have received six hundred thousand row hangers the

six hundred thousand row hangers the

six hundred thousand row hangers the largest exodus in Asia since the Vietnam

largest exodus in Asia since the Vietnam

largest exodus in Asia since the Vietnam War the largest and the fastest in the

War the largest and the fastest in the

War the largest and the fastest in the world in over 20 years I don’t want my

world in over 20 years I don’t want my

world in over 20 years I don’t want my daughters to be seen as a paradox for a

daughters to be seen as a paradox for a

daughters to be seen as a paradox for a puzzle or a conundrum

puzzle or a conundrum

puzzle or a conundrum Renea inshallah MA I want you to grow up

Renea inshallah MA I want you to grow up

Renea inshallah MA I want you to grow up to be a part of the hundred sixty

to be a part of the hundred sixty

to be a part of the hundred sixty million resilient Bangladesh to continue

million resilient Bangladesh to continue

million resilient Bangladesh to continue the Bangladesh surprise to make the

the Bangladesh surprise to make the

the Bangladesh surprise to make the world a better place

world a better place

world a better place thank you very much

”

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