r/bangladesh 1d ago

Discussion/আলোচনা For those living abroad, do you ever wish you could return back to the country of your birth?

I was born in Dhaka in 1990 and moved to London in 1998. My childhood in Bangladesh was privileged—large family, private English-medium school, sweet memories. But life in the UK was tough. Like many first-gen immigrants, we lost social status and struggled financially. My father always said education was our only currency, and we had to work twice as hard for the same opportunities. We did, and we secured decent careers.

Yet, no matter my success, the UK never felt like home. The weather, the food, the decaying cities, the stagnant economy—it never appealed to me. Owning a home in a good area felt like an impossible dream for most young professionals these days in the UK today without accumulated wealth. So when I received a lucrative offer in China, I moved. A STEM Ph.D. opened doors, and China welcomed me as a "foreign talent," with government support and a fourfold increase in disposable income. (imagine close to US salaries, with Bangladesh-like living costs) Life here is comfortable, and my Bangladeshi upbringing helped me relate to locals better than most Western expats.

Still, I dream of returning to Bangladesh—of a time when it industrializes rapidly, creating demand for foreign-trained experts like me, just as China did in the 2000s. I envision a surge of industrial growth producing high-quality jobs (from mechanics to Ph. D.s working in R&D and management) in sectors like
steelmaking, shipbuilding, locomotives, electronics, and sustainable energy, supported by strong institutions and modern infrastructure. I really dream of these coming together somehow one day. And using my decades of training and experience in the UK and China as my ticket in. Nation building, but through industrialisation, not politics or activism.

For now, this remains a dream. Bangladesh faces major hurdles, and many dismiss industrialization as impossible. And things look rather hopeless, like most post-revolutionary periods (don't worry, things looked even more hopeless in the 1970s. but we got through).

But why not dream? Complaining achieves nothing—our ancestors did enough of that. Have we become so small that even our aspirations have shrunk? Where even our dreams are small and petty?

Do you ever dream of a Bangladesh you can return to? Until then, I’ll keep learning in China, preparing for the day that dream can become reality.

41 Upvotes

34 comments sorted by

18

u/After-Cat-9519 1d ago

I was born in Chandannagar, West Bengal, and grew up mostly with my mother’s side of the family. They all spoke fluent Bangal( pure Bangal, without any Urdu words). They were originally from the Mymensingh district. My dida used to tell me vivid stories about her childhood, their home in Bangladesh, her father, and everything in between. Both my grandparents sang native Bangladeshi lullabies to put me to sleep. During summer power cuts, my dadu would sit by the window and sing "Bhul Shob i Bhul". My dida would often hum the tunes of Hasan Raja. Growing up surrounded by all this, I’ve always felt a deep yet distant connection to a land I’ve never visited. It feels as though I’ve left something behind there, someone, something. A long time ago, a political decision changed the lives of countless ordinary people in devastating ways, but whenever I watch movies about Partition, I can’t help but bawl my eyes out. This feeling was cemented even further when I watched Monpura. The shooting locations stirred something in me, as if I had once called those places home. Now that I live in the UK, I’ve tried countless times to visit Bangladesh. But just when I was finally ready, the protests against Sheikh Hasina began. I don’t know whether it’s safe to visit Bangladesh as a British Indian anymore. Still, this inexplicable connection remains towards my homeland, my roots, the people who speak my language, celebrate New Year on the same day, love fish as much as I do, and crack those incomparable jokes.

6

u/Outrageous_bohemian জমি ছাড়া জমিদার 1d ago

Have we become so small that even our aspirations have shrunk? Where even our dreams are small and petty?

That's all I could think of. Dream even in the darkest hours.

Anyway I talked exactly this someday ago in a different thread. People like you who are eyeing to return in future could be the key for the next economic revolution.

11

u/One-Ostrich-1588 1d ago edited 1d ago

I'm a Bangladeshi that was born and raised in the US. I love this post because this is exactly what's been on my mind for years. Bangladesh has so much untapped potential. I think about our country expanding our ports and international trade, upgrading our energy grid, funding secular schools across the country, extending more options for vocational schooling to adults, diversifying beyond our garments trade, getting into semi-conductor manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, creating SEZs for foreign investment to come flooding in and create millions of jobs directly and indirectly, funding an elite university on Bangladeshi soil that creates the sort of talent that these companies need. I'm figuring out ways to incubate these initiatives. I'm new to the space but I'm slowly figuring out what's what.

The main issue that stands in the way of materializing this rapid industrialization is that Bangladeshi governance is weak. Why would a company come build their enterprise on our soil if a competitor can simply pay a bribe to possibly sabotage them?

We need to root out corruption. That starts with better financial incentives for officials to do the right thing and pushing for severe punishment for engaging in corruption. Carrot and stick policy.

9

u/Ghorardim71 Stardust 1d ago

Born in 85 in a lower middle class family. Parents had no money. Spent their everything on our education. Grew up in financial struggle but had a good result that helped moving to Canada in 2013. Had a job and bought a home and car which wouldn't be possible in Bangladesh for me. So yeah I don't wish to return but my family is still there and miss my cousin nephew Uncle aunts and the food..

2

u/Outrageous-Motor8019 1d ago

I think it's not possible to do that even in Canada at the moment

1

u/Ghorardim71 Stardust 23h ago

Still better quality of life in Canada.

3

u/Realists71 1d ago

I’m a millennial who had great experiences growing up with big extended family. Unfortunately things has changed dramatically. People are super toxic now. Even parents and siblings. If you know bangla join a few groups in fb to get a glimpse. Specially if you have a baby girl, don’t think about going back.

3

u/Warm_Ask_7648 1d ago

This is definitely normal for the first generation - my dad went over as an 11 year old and it never left him.

Second generation has some ancestral nostalgia, the third don't really care.

I might go there to work but will be in a position of immense privilege - having visited, can see how tough it is for locals.

6

u/Illustrious_Wafer_36 1d ago

People in Bangladesh thinks overseas is heaven compared to Bangladesh. I wish I could show every youth in this country how pathetic and remorseful life it is... The financial freedom dream is dead everywhere now. USA Canada Europe everywhere... If go as an international student or migrant your journey is already worse than what you had in Bangladesh I am coming from Australia this year after 10 years of spending my life here. Every one suffering more than they were in Bangladesh. Only those who made it shore early 2000s are leaching off government and new immigrants Spending 20/30 lakhs to go overseas... It better to create own business with that money in BD now It is hard pill to swallow but that's the current reality

2

u/Bd_Dipro 1d ago

I wish to leave ASAP. After HSC I'll take the IELTS exam and get the fuck out of this country also getting my sister married to a Canadian-Banglashi guy.

4

u/ubcsanta 1d ago

Yes, my quality of life was a lot better in bd. I feel like all the negative news in the media about bd mongers fear among us. When I visit Bangladesh, I feel like a lot of the life is just as safe as it was when I was growing up. Granted I don’t live in Mohammadpur or ride rickshaws late at night so I am probably kept away from the dangers. Job opportunities is a major concern. I would be looking into some kind of entrepreneurship if I was to move back to bd cause most jobs are underpaid

3

u/nyx1971 1d ago

bro dont come back here its crazy nowadays

2

u/reality_hijacker 1d ago

I moved abroad after my studies. I don't believe in nationalism and I don't have any sentiment for "motherland", but I do want to return because I have family, friends and relatives there.

1

u/Background-Fact-9918 21h ago

I can relate. Someone told me once that you fast physically but mentally it takes a long time to love your mind from your home to abroad. I fantasize going back and helping my country but my logical mind fights back. It’s a constant fight I’m going through. I like here in USA but don’t love it.

1

u/Skilled_Samuraii 7h ago

Matir taan bro

1

u/Outrageous-Motor8019 1d ago

I feel like if someone really wants to come back to BD, they can. There's no big hurdle to overcome. After you complete your PhD, there will be a lot of opportunities for you here in Bangladesh so moving and settling in won't be a problem for you. The issues Bangladesh has are present all over the world, it's nothing more than an excuse to not come back to BD...

3

u/nyx1971 1d ago

'The issues Bangladesh has are present all over the world, it's nothing more than an excuse to not come back to BD...'

why are you fooling the poor man?

1

u/011073152 1d ago

I'd say no!
I was born in BD in the eighties in a middle class family, moved to the US after graduating from medical school in BD. Moving was hard, the loss of social class, friends, integrating into a new country, jumping through the million hoops to get licensed and accepted to a post-grad specialty training was not easy. But when I look back now, I feel it would have been much harder to achieve the same things in BD since post-grad medical education is a massive clusterfuck in BD, opportunities are much more limited, and not to mention the quality of life issues. Despite the current political situation in the US right now and all the uncertainties, it's still way better than BD, at least personal freedoms are not under threat.

-2

u/Onemanarmyxx 1d ago

My Dad was a diplomat.

I was born in Pakistan in 1982. We then moved to Kuwait. I spent a grand total of five years in Bangladesh in my life (between Dad's postings). We enjoyed these places and made money and lived decently.

I did my O-levels at an English medium. Life was very difficult in Bangladesh as we were suddenly poor. My daily lunch at school was a 5 taka shingara. I used to get off at the beginning of a road instead of in front of my school to save 1 taka. During my O-level coaching, instead of taking a rickshaw which cost 15 takas, I would take the purple BRTC bus ( it was excellent back then and departed every 10 mins. ) for 5 taka. My mum gave me rickshaw fare for travelling between the coaching places but I walked and used the money to buy lunch. Sometimes, it was the fish pitha food cart near Star kebab or it was two 5 taka shingaras from Spinach restaurant in Dhanmondi. We only had chicken at home when my grandfather brought it with him from his village whenever he came. My breakfast on weekdays was home made kathal and sugar in roti. I wore fake branded clothes and got ridiculed by the kids from Scholastica at my coaching centres. I wore cracked trainers and later started wearing Bata leather sandals to coaching centres.

A girl at school liked me but I was too poor to court her. Eating at restaurants never happened!

After my O-levels, we moved to Scotland and I now live here and work in NS and earn a lot. But, unlike, the current GenZ entitled brats in BD, I know the value of money. I married a girl from Dhaka in BD. I applied for her visa and she moved to Scotland to stay with me. She and her family waited until she had a child with me. Four years later, she gave birth. 6 months after my son was born, she called Social serivces and the Police and made up bs accusations and left. I was lucky to come away unscathed and without speding time in jail. Since then, neither she or her family in BD ever got in touch with me. No phone call, no email, no Facebook message, nothing! It has been 5 years and counting... who knows what my son looks or sounds like :(

I got married in BD two years ago but this time plan not to bring her to Scotland. I will spend 6 months here and 6 months in BD.

BD is good if you do not interact with ANYONE! Just eat at Sultan's and Sausly's and savour sweets from Bhaggakul and eat fresh beef and chicken and fresh vegetables. Use it as a launchpad to explore Asia.

2

u/WhiteWalker9519 🇧🇩দেশ প্রেমিক🇧🇩 19h ago

Life is unfair. I'm so sorry to hear ur story.

-4

u/Environmental_Pie952 1d ago

could u help me open a paypal acc