বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগ

History of Awami League, the largest and oldest political party of the people of this countryis the history of struggles and movements. As a matter of fact, history of Awami League – isthe history of self-determination and emancipation for creating a healthy, conscious andprosperous people under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, thegreatest Bangalee in a thousand years. Though the age of this political party is 55 years it hadbeen in power for only 9 years. Awami league was in power for the first time only for 4 years(1972-75) and was involved in reconstruction of this devastated country after BangladeshLiberation War of 1971, and later on during 1996-2001 when this country was botheconomically and politically in crisis because of after-effects of killing of BangabandhuSheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15th August in 1975 that resulted in misrule and misdeeds ofautocrats. Both of the Awami League regimes had to start governance activities to reconstructthis country (both economically and politically) from the very beginning. In both of theAwami League periods it has played a unique role to reconstruct Bangladesh as a welfarestate by synthesizing thoughts and political sagacity. The party achieved total trust and faithof common people as the largest political party of Bangladesh. After three decades ofBangladesh Liberation War, we are experiencing misrule of BNP-Jamaat alliance ThugGovernment. The anti-Liberation forces have declared open War against the pro-Liberationforces that is why there should be such tyrannies-tortures on pro-Liberation forces, whycommon people along with their families are facing hardships and sufferings, or whycommon people including religious minorities and indigenous peoples are facing suchpersecutions, and why pro-Pakistani forces are indulging in violence and terrorism? Whyblack money and muscle power are competing with each other? Side by side there is constantGoeblesian propaganda in favor of the misdeeds by capturing all the publicity media.Because of all these backgrounds to day Bangladesh Awami League thinks it is high time toexpose some of the stark facts to the greater masses of the people of Bangladesh as truth isthe birth right (which has been recognized/ in our sacred Constitution) of the people. Peopleof this country want to know (which is their birth right), if the Father of the Nation,Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were alive to day, what would be the over all situationof Bangladesh? They also want to know the comparative position of the major changeseffected in socio-economic and political aspects during the Awami League regime (1996-2000) in comparison to BNP regime (1991-1995).What would be the real face of Bangladesh if our great National leader Bangabandhu SheikhMujibur Rahman were alive to day? The answer to this historically important question is notthat very easy. But to draw some scientific inferences about tentative answer to this question,concerned researchers on the subject have used Malaysia as a model because of two primereasons:1. Malaysia is an ideal model for economic progress achieved by patriotic leadership.2. In 1972 G.N.P of Malaysia and Bangladesh was of similar level.A Balance Sheet of Prosperity During Awami League’s Five Years (1996-2000)2After the killing of Bangabandhu, Awami League had to wait for 21 years (1975-96) to beinvolved in the governance of Bangladesh. During this period autocracy was firmlyestablished, many achievements of Liberation War were destroyed in a planned way;democracy has been almost extinct after mixing ultra nationalism with religiousfundamentalism.As a consequence of the protracted struggle, people of Bangladesh gave a verdict in favor ofAwami League to lead the nation during June 1996 to July 2001 through a free and fairelection. We are putting forward, an account of the socio-economic achievements of AwamiLeague government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina imbued with ideas of LiberationWar and Bangabandhu in comparison to the immediate past Khaleda Zia’s government(1991-1995).Avoiding extensive description, rather on the basis of real facts and figures, a comparativeanalysis has been drawn up through graphs and tables in this booklet. It is expected that itwill be easily comprehensible and acceptable to all levels of readers. Several prominenteconomists, and researchers were involved in compiling the booklet. Ex-Prime Minister andAwami League President Sheikh Hasina has enriched this book with her valuable advice andguidance. Awami League Information and Research Division is grateful to all those who arerelated to this intelligent and creative publication.It may be mentioned that, Awami League Information and Research Division published thebook “Five years of Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina: Glorious success and newhorizons of possibility” describing activities to complement the book “Five years of AwamiLeague: A Balance Sheet of Development”. Enthusiastic readers will be benefited if theyread this booklet as a complementary to other publications.Needless to mention that all facts and figures used in this booklet either have been taken frompublished sources of Bangladesh Government or International Organizations. Sources relatedto the Government of Bangladesh are Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Finance Ministry,Bangladesh Bank, Planning Ministry. Sources of information from the InternationalOrganizations are World Bank, UNDP, ADB etc.Information of Government Budget relate to the fiscal year such as for 1991 –1992 (July toJune). For a graphical comparative analysis, we have indicated a fiscal year by mentioning asingle year in this booklet for convenience as in the scale of 1991. Same system has beenapplied for all other fiscal years.

Editors