
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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