Interview with Selim Jahan: "Violence Has Become Our Language"

Interview with Selim Jahan: Addressing the Challenges of Human Development in Bangladesh

Prothom Alo: In search of better opportunities, many young Bangladeshis are risking their lives on dangerous routes to Europe via Libya, often facing tragic consequences. Why do you think youth issues are overlooked in our human development policies?

Selim Jahan: This is a very relevant question. Human development is about the progress of an entire population, encompassing both the present and the future. Unfortunately, our policymakers and political leaders do not give enough importance to the aspirations, potential, and capabilities of the youth. When it comes to protests and movements, young people are brought to the forefront, but once the struggle is over, they are sidelined.

Prothom Alo: Despite knowing the risks, why are so many young people still desperate to leave the country?

Selim Jahan: There are two key reasons. First, in economic terms, this is a demand-driven crisis. If the state could provide adequate opportunities, young people wouldn’t need to take such perilous routes. Second, every individual aspires to a better life. When they see opportunities elsewhere, they naturally gravitate towards them, even at great personal risk. This is unacceptable, and the state must intervene. There should be global-level bilateral and multilateral discussions on how other countries can help create opportunities for our youth.

Human Development: An Issue Beyond NGOs and Policy Discussions

Prothom Alo: Many see human development and poverty alleviation as NGO-driven issues or topics for policymakers. Why haven’t these matters become a concern for the general public?

Selim Jahan: People would feel more invested in these issues if they saw their needs reflected in policy planning and implementation. Human development is often presented in vague terms in our plans and budgets, making it difficult for the public to relate. For example, instead of talking about "human resource development" in abstract terms, we should clearly state that it means creating job opportunities and providing skills training. Similarly, poverty alleviation should go beyond theoretical discussions—it should directly impact people's lives. If a farmer receives seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation support, or if rural industries get government assistance, people will perceive poverty alleviation as more than just rhetoric.

Bangladesh’s Role in Global Human Development

Prothom Alo: Given your long tenure at UNDP, how much importance has Bangladesh given to human development on a global scale?

Selim Jahan: Every country has its own challenges and cultural perspectives, but the expectation for human development is universal. In Bangladesh, many believe they already understand both the problems and the solutions, leading to a certain level of arrogance among policymakers, political leaders, and academics.

Globally, research and experiments are continuously conducted on human development and poverty alleviation. We need to learn from both successes and failures. However, in Bangladesh, economic growth often overshadows human development. We get caught up in debates over whether our growth rate is 6% or 8%, but growth itself is meaningless unless it improves people’s lives.

Progress in Social Indicators but Limited Impact of Growth

Prothom Alo: Despite these concerns, Bangladesh has made progress in key social indicators. Our life expectancy is 72.3 years, higher than India’s 70 years. The under-five mortality rate has dropped below 22 per 1,000, compared to India’s 34. How do you view this progress?

Selim Jahan: These improvements are largely due to social service initiatives and NGO contributions. However, if we try to link these achievements to our economic growth, we’ll see that growth has had minimal impact on improving people’s quality of life.

In today’s interconnected world, South-South cooperation plays a crucial role. Bangladesh doesn’t need to rely solely on lessons from developed nations; we can learn from countries like Brazil, Nigeria, and India, which have experimented with poverty alleviation and social security initiatives.

Despite our development plans and budgets, we still prioritize resources and growth over people. True development must focus on expanding people’s capabilities and reducing deprivation. Unless we ensure development for the people, of the people, and by the people, we will not achieve meaningful human development or poverty alleviation.

The Ethical Dimension of Development

Prothom Alo: You have often emphasized the ethical aspect of human development. Could you elaborate?

Selim Jahan: Development must have a strong ethical and philosophical foundation. It’s not just about economic growth or poverty reduction. I would highlight three key ethical concerns:

1. Disparity: While some may view disparity as an economic issue, it is fundamentally an ethical one. A just society cannot allow a situation where some enjoy every privilege while others live in extreme deprivation.

2. Material vs. Social Development: Development isn’t just about increasing economic opportunities. It must also uphold individual dignity and social harmony. If material progress leads to a loss of tolerance and mutual respect, its true purpose is defeated. Unfortunately, our society has become increasingly violent—violence has become our language. Instead of engaging in debate and discussion, people resort to destruction and aggression.

3. Materialism and Success: In today’s Bangladesh, wealth and power have become the sole measures of success. If development is not inclusive and ethical, it ultimately fails its purpose.

A Model for Development: Learning from Costa Rica and Cuba

Prothom Alo: Can you point to any country that serves as a model for human development?

Selim Jahan: Costa Rica and Cuba stand out. Costa Rica, for instance, has no military. Instead of spending on defense, it invests in healthcare, education, and social welfare. Both countries prioritize human dignity and ethics in their development policies, making them exemplary models.

Addressing Rising Inequality

Prothom Alo: Disparity has reached alarming levels in Bangladesh. How can human development progress in such an unequal society?

Selim Jahan: Bangladesh’s Gini Coefficient—a measure of income inequality—has risen to 0.49. If it reaches 0.5, inequality will be at a critical level. But disparity isn’t just economic; it exists in education, healthcare, gender, geography, and ethnicity. These forms of inequality are interconnected, yet we often address them in isolation, which is a mistake.

Disparity also extends across generations. For instance, environmental degradation benefits the present generation while jeopardizing the future. If current levels of inequality persist, Bangladesh will struggle to achieve its human development goals.

Education and Employment: A Mismatch

Prothom Alo: Education plays a crucial role in human development, yet there is little alignment between our education system and employment opportunities.

Selim Jahan: Education is undoubtedly essential, but we must ask: what is its true purpose? Primary education aims to increase literacy, secondary education should build skills, and university education should foster creativity and critical thinking. However, in Bangladesh, we are simply producing certificate holders, not truly educated individuals.

Quality has been sacrificed for quantity. Educational inequality is stark—elite schools have one teacher per 20 students, while government schools have one per 150. Naturally, this results in vast differences in learning outcomes. Additionally, if teachers are undertrained, overburdened, and underpaid, they cannot provide quality education.

In today’s rapidly changing world, skills requirements have evolved. Our students must compete not just locally but globally. Education planning should focus not only on present needs but also on the next 15-20 years.

Beyond Curriculum Reforms: A Holistic Approach

Prothom Alo: Education reform in Bangladesh has largely focused on changing syllabuses and curricula. How do we move beyond this?

Selim Jahan: Unfortunately, our curriculum is often influenced by political interests. While some aspects of education are timeless and universally relevant, political agendas frequently shape our educational content, which is detrimental.

Education reform is a long-term process. It requires comprehensive changes, not just in curricula but also in teaching methods, teacher training, and subject selection, keeping future needs in mind. No education system can overlook fundamental truths and long-term objectives.

Prothom Alo: Thank you.

Selim Jahan: Thank you as well.