mists for a long period where he exclusively laid emphasis on creating demand in economy to propel the wheel of growth. In course of time it was also found that the Keynesian recipe also stumbled with stagflation hitting the American economy critically.

In this respect the situation of backward economies is more complicated where the economic tools do not operate in an autonomous manner. By autonomous manner I mean a process where the non-economic factors interfere with the economic process in a minimum scale and the 'economic system' has a status of disciplined mechanism. However, the disciplined economies are also not inured to the effect of non-disciplined factors. Think of the aftermath of power failure in New York city -- looting spree and devastation of unknown degree.

It is now a long history that Bangladesh has been struggling to achieve economic uplift. Different economic strategies and policies have been tried and tested towards the goal but the success has not been of significant order. We tested immediately after the liberation the policy of nationalisation and later on the principles of free market economy. Still we have not crossed five-percentage point in economic development in a sustainable manner. It means if it is achieved in one year, it falters the subsequent year.

In this piece I would report some of my reflections gathered through my recent visit to Hanoi by way of participating in a workshop for two days. In total I stayed there for four days. Of course such a short period of stay is hardly adequate to make justifiable comments on the issue like the process of economic development, but it will at least identify some key factors.

The very first thing that will catch your sight is the discipline in the movement of the people and the vehicles. We landed at Hanoi airport in the evening and while moving to the city streaming through hundreds of motorbikes and paddled-cycles, we watched the condition. It is about an hour's drive but we did not come across the batches after batches of traffic police visible in Dhaka roads sweating enormously to bring under control the unruly traffic (think of the revenue saved through a small contingent of traffic police). You would not see a

speeding bus defiantly ignoring the traffic signal. More interestingly, traffic signal posts exist in a selected manner. For example, we stayed in a hotel overlooking the Hanoi Lake. In front of the hotel there was a busy crossing through which roads pass to five directions. There is no traffic signal on the intersection, but there occurs no jam nor any accident. Most vehicles are moving at a moderate speed and allowing others to move safely. You can cross a road without taking a big amount of risk. Motorbike is the main transport of the middle class irrespective of sex segregation. Girls are riding at ease increasing my level of awe. Perhaps one would only dream that Dhaka girls would move by motorbikes in hundreds on the roads! One should

also notice the scale of security in the movement of women at late night. Certainly you would not be contemplating a gun pointed to snatch your mobile and purse.

Another important event that pinned my attention is the cleaning exercise of the municipal workers. Once it is eleven at night big trucks begin moving slowly in different directions. You find uniformed workers piling the waste bags onto the truck. Thus cleaning is completely done at nighttime. All these are happening in a society, which the other day was branded as poverty stricken and backward.

I went to visit the mausoleum where the body of Ho Chi Minh is kept preserved for the posterity. It is another feat of disciplined respect. You might mistake the standing

sentries for statues. In a very large square people throng everyday to spend some time. In the morning there is service ritual. I met a young boy studying at school final level, whom I asked about the great leader. His eyes glowed to explain the history, replete with the resistance against the two Western powers, the French and the Americans. It was perfectly conveyed to my mind how much proud the Vietnamese are about the history and the present time.

Now what are there that is special about the Vietnamese and their social paths of advancement? It is their patriotism and dedication. Who says that social solidarity is not possible in a short spell of time? It is belied in Vietnam. What you need for making great economic strides is

less of big loans from the multilateral agencies and more of sincere committed leadership and disciplined population. Talking to the academics assembled in the workshop one came to know about the educational achievement in the rural areas. Certainly it is a trying time for Vietnam where they are mingling the forces of market with the infrastructure of socialist party, but do not forget that they are expecting double digit growth in near future. There the people and the entrepreneurs are not grilled with the fear that some notorious extortionists blessed by the leaders of the political parties would soon swoop on them!

Monirul I. Khan is a Professor at the Department of Sociology, University of Dhaka.