Does Bangladesh have the potential to become a great country with a stable political climate and rapid economic development? I strongly believe that there is a resounding "YES." To achieve this, the country requires honest and capable leadership committed to fairness, honesty, and transparency in all endeavours. The country needs a leader with the necessary background, qualifications, and ability to accomplish all types of tasks, along with practical experience in understanding Bangladeshi socio-economic-political conditions on an ongoing basis. Finding a leader who possesses exceptional people skills, can stand up to any type of threat and pressure, as well as a high-level understanding and practical experience in economic, political, social, cultural, educational, diplomatic, business, entrepreneurial, healthcare, energy, technology, and international business matters, is crucial in today's complex technological world. The understanding and utilization of technology are as critical as providing leadership and managing people.

Corruption, extortion, and a complete disregard for individual duties and responsibilities have become integral parts of daily life. People from Bangladesh are among the top purchasers of properties and bank deposits in Switzerland, Canada, Dubai, Malaysia, and other countries. While daily labourers and ordinary Bangladeshi workers earn foreign exchange and send it home, the privileged class steals these hard-earned foreign currencies through illegal means and transfers them to their personal accounts abroad. We did not arrive at this situation overnight. Both major political parties in Bangladesh and their coalition partners share equal responsibility. 

Having lived, worked, and travelled to over sixty countries on six continents, I have maintained close connections with notable leaders worldwide, allowing me to comprehend the intricate economic, political, cultural, diplomatic, and religious issues necessary for informed economic and foreign policy decisions.

Can Bangladesh be better than or at least as good as Singapore? Once again, the answer is a resounding "YES." To achieve this, the country needs an honest and qualified leader who possesses the physical stamina to work sixteen hours a day, every day, and has the ability to travel to every part of Bangladesh and the world. This leader must be fair and transparent, unafraid to make tough decisions promptly while considering input from stakeholders.

Bangladesh has been the subject of numerous discussions, speculations, conspiracies, and unwanted interferences by both domestic and foreign forces. The country has experienced military coups, counter-coups, and the assassination of presidents and others. A similar event took place in 2011, which became known as 1/11. Unfortunately, the country ended up with a leader who lacked the qualifications and background to make a difference. In recent months, Bangladesh has been embroiled in familiar discussions, speculations, conspiracies, and unwanted interferences regarding the upcoming election. Both domestic and foreign forces are actively involved in shaping the country's political landscape. Speculations and discussions about whether the current government will follow the same path as before, succumb to pressure, and agree to a fair election have reached their peak. Some suggest the possibility of the government accepting an interim administration to oversee the election, while others fear a repeat of the 1/11-style change. Amidst these speculations, a familiar name has resurfaced, just as it did in the past.

In Bangladesh, as a Dhaka University student, I closely worked on several issues with all student organizations and served as the leader of the economics department. In India, as a student at the Indian Institute of Management - Bangalore (IIM-B), I had the opportunity to travel throughout India. Many of my IIM-B classmates hold influential positions in the Indian government and private sectors. While working for BTC, I had the rare opportunity to travel to every part of Bangladesh, meeting numerous people and gaining a clear understanding of how the distribution of goods functions throughout the country, as well as how regional politics and business intertwine. In the early 1980s, I joined Dhaka University IBA as a Lecturer, which provided me with insight into university teacher politics.

In the USA, I had the opportunity to study various systems and earned my Ph.D. degree in economics/trade, as well as leadership certificates from the University of Florida, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Business School, Stanford University, and MIT.

I was excited to work in multiple areas, including education, business, non-profit, international relations, health, technology, and others. I have held administrative leadership positions such as Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, Vice President, Dean, Chair, Director, and Endowed Chair Professor at reputable universities in the United States. I have also served as a consultant to many international organizations, top government leaders, and corporate CEOs worldwide, addressing various issues.

My achievements have been recognized in esteemed publications such as the "Who's Who in America" (Millennium edition) and the "Who's Who in the World." In 2014, the Atlanta Business Chronicle acknowledged me as one of "The 100 Most Influential Atlantans," and Georgia Trend Magazine recognized me as one of the "Notable Georgians 2015." I was the first Bangladeshi American candidate for a United States Congressional Seat, and many individuals are now following in my footsteps by entering the political arena in the USA.

I provided leadership to an annual National Policy Forum on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Higher Education, which brought together university system heads, chancellors, presidents, Fortune 500 CEOs, successful entrepreneurs, high-ranking military officers, and other national and international leaders. I also spearheaded an annual Global Health Summit that gathered healthcare leaders from around the world to discuss innovative approaches and problem-solving in the field.

Despite my busy international engagements, I always visit Bangladesh annually and spend a few weeks to stay connected with the country. I believe that I bring a different, unique, and rare perspective. I do not wish any harm to anyone or any parties. However, I stand ready to assist Bangladesh if the need arises for me to provide impartial, honest, and effective leadership and help make Bangladesh a real Sonar Bangla.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize that one of the most important qualifications for a true leader is personal honesty and no need for money. I have lived a very honest lifestyle with fairness and in a transparent manner. God/Allah has given me plenty already and I am very happy with what I have and do not need any more. I firmly believe that plenty of good people in Bangladesh and of Bangladeshi origin have been sidelined. I also believe that I would be able to attract many of those experts and convince them to step forward and contribute to the best of their abilities in their respective fields of expertise, bringing Bangladesh closer to the vision of Sonar Bangla.

The opinion expressed in this article is totally from the author.