US Ambassador in Bangladesh Dan Mozena on Saturday hoped that Bangladesh would be one of the richest countries of the world after 30 years in the fields of culture, agriculture, hi-tech and industrialisation.
The envoy and his wife Grace Mozena visited the country’s first private English medium boarding school for boys, Pledge Harbor School and Sports Academy (PHSA), in Gazipur to distribute prizes in school essay competition on “What will Bangladesh be like in 2040.”
Children from all over the country participated in the competition. Samiha Mahbub, 15, from Green Gems International School won the first prize. She has also got free educational trip to the United States.
International Business Forum of Bangladesh and PHSA organised the event.
One of the top-10 participants was Hame Ebnul Karib, a class V student of Green Herald International School. He told the Dhaka Tribune: “I think in 2040 we can make our Bangladesh like the European countries where every citizen will know about his or her responsibility, where building collapses like the Rana Plaza tragedy will not happen...”
Mozena in his speech spoke passionately about his vision of what Bangladesh would be after some 30 years. “Bangladesh will be one of the richest countries in culture, agriculture, hi-tech, and industries.
I believe Bangladesh will become number one exporter in textile industry and will be pivotal to the shipping industry in the Indo- Pacific region.”
He said: “The students are the future of the country. What they do today will impact their lives and the lives of all living in Bangladesh in future.”
PHSA Chairman Saidul Alam requested the US ambassador to re-establish the Peace Corp or similar educational support that the USAID used to provide years ago to the Bangladeshi teachers. Mozena assured him of considering the matter.
In response to queries from newsmen, the envoy said the expected dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties would happen. “We do not want any political violence.”