Is globalization good for Bangladesh?
Mohammad Salah Uddin Moon
British Columbia, Canada
e-mail: tusarboy@hotmail.com

One night I was chatting on-line in a Yahoo chat room at home in Bangladesh. Suddenly my grandfather came into my room and asked me, “What are you doing now? Its 3 o’clock in the morning, go to sleep.” I told him, “I can’t go to bed now … I am chatting… please don’t be angry with me.” He surprisingly asked me, “What’s that?” I told him, “I am talking to a teenage girl in Brazil.” He seemed to think I had become mad. He was astonished to hear about online communication. His comment was, “You have become too modern.” Yes I agreed with him, but how are we modern? Bangladesh has a reputation as one of the poorest countries in the world. We struggle with poverty and hunger, but globalization gives us more freedom to fight poverty and hunger. However, Bangladesh has become a modern country after opening its borders to free trade and investment.

The idea of globalization and modernization was born out of the capitalist market mentality in the age of technology. “Globalization occurs when an organization extends its activities to other parts of the world, actively participates in other markets, and competes against organizations located in other countries” (Holton p.36). Bangladesh allows foreign companies to enter into our market. Our companies are also allowed to enter foreign markets. Globalization makes international borders vanish and increases competition in the market place. In the modern world, globalization also has an impact on our culture and social life. For example, MacDonalds introduced American fast food to other parts of the world. Foreign media introduces different cultures to the different nations. In my last essay, I discussed the disadvantages of globalization in Canada. Other countries, like Bangladesh benefit from opening their borders for trade and investment by increasing their modernity.

Our history says that we have been behind from the modern world during the colonial rule, for our anti-globalization movement. Both Britain and Pakistan ruled Bangladesh for 200 years and 23 years respectively. They used their power to exploit the Bangladeshi people and there was no democracy or freedom. This kept us separate from the rest of the world and made it impossible for us to become a modern country. “The birth of Bangladesh in 1971 was the first instance of an ethnic linguistic nationalist movement succeeding in creating a new state in the post-colonial period” (Jahan, p12). Our independence gave us the opportunity to share knowledge with other nations and led us towards modernity.

Globalization is increasing the living standards of poor people in Bangladesh. Industries from foreign investments create employment opportunities for a large number of people including young women who, for the first time, can visibly enter the male dominated public space. Because of the traditional cultural norms of behaviour for young women, they were not allowed to show their faces in pre-modernized Bangladesh. “Foreign investment creates 10,000 new jobs every year in Bangladesh” (Jahan, p.64). Foreign and export oriented industries are changing the economic and social scenario of Bangladesh which, results in an increase of living standards. Mr. Temple, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh examined the 1990 average ratio of trade to GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in Bangladesh and explained that it has risen from 19 percent to 35 percent. He also described the story of a village woman whose life was changed for globalization.

…Hosne Ara Begum, a 40-years-old garments worker at Dekko Apparels Ltd… hardly had a chance for a decent job… Now [she] can not only to survive physically, but also dream of a future in which her school-going children [will] have much better prospects. Hosne Ara is not looking back anymore. She is striding forward to the future. For a Hosne Ara, the [introduction] of Bangladesh’s garments industry to the global market was a blessing. (Temple)

There are many women like Hosne Ara who have found a better way of life. In most cases, these jobs have empowered women, who are now in greater demand for marriage and they receive more respect in their families because of their monthly income. Our women have made our society modern by breaking the traditional cultural norms.

Increasing globalization is motivating the Bangladeshi people and increasing the modernity in our society. “Motivation refers to the forces within a person that effect his direction, intensity, and persistence of voluntary behavior.” (McShane, p62). Foreign investments create high paying jobs, which require more knowledge and skill, therefore motivating people to work for a higher education. Bangladeshi students are performing better than before. Advertisements for foreign products also motivate people. Globalization allows foreign companies to advertise their products in our country. When people watch advertisements for expensive foreign products, they want to buy them even if they don’t have the ability. This motivates people to strive for a higher education to increase their skill level thereby increasing their income. Personally I am motivated since I grew up in the Bangladeshi global environment. I came a long way for a higher education to fulfill my dream for a higher standard of living. Motivated Bangladesh people are making our country modern.

Bangladesh has largely benefited from the transfer of technology. One nation cannot produce everything, because it has limited resources. Globalization gave us the opportunity to use modern technology. We got world-class telecommunication technology, which was not possible without foreign investment. Foe example, a telephone company that had been monopolizing mobile telecommunication services since 1992, was diminished by the global movement. At that time only a few people were able to use it, for it was incredibly expensive and their services were below average. They also provided very few jobs in that sector. When some other foreign companies entered our market, the monopolist company lost its power. Now the competitive activity of many telephone companies has increased competition, people’s income levels, and employment opportunities, which in turn has substantially reduced poverty. Modern telecommunication technology connected us to the rest of the world. In comparison with the modern world, our country is also getting technological advantages like computers and the Internet, transportation and online banking. We are earning foreign currency and creating many new jobs by exporting computer software. Globalization has made a big social and economic change in Bangladesh.

There can be no doubt that the result of globalization in Bangladesh has been positive. When my grandfather was in my age, it was a dream for him to use Internet. May be he never thought about today’s modern technology. Most people in our country do not know what globalization is, but they got higher living standard for globalization.
Finally, I hope we will be able to overcome poverty and hunger within very short and introduce Bangladesh as one of the best modern country in the world.

Works Cited
Holton, Robert J. (1998). Globalization and the Nation-state. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press.
Jahan, 2001. Bangladesh: Promise and Performance. New York, Public Affairs.
McShane, 2001. “Canadian Organizational Behavior”. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. Temple, http://worldbank.org/