Education: 

Dhaka was the seat of very high quality education till end 1970s. Dhaka University, BUET, Dhaka Medical College education could be compared even with many top educational institutions of the world. 

Many of the Graduates of these institutions are now teaching with dignity and honor in the top universities of the world and even in Melbourne. But the quality of education of even Dhaka University, BUET and others can no longer be compared with even the top universities of the regional countries. 

BUET graduates still perform very well in professional career anywhere of the world but as BUET alumni cannot say even BUET could maintain its top quality education. Everyone knows why.  

Successive government has politicized education. Teachers are politically favored; teachers and academia are deeply involved in dirty politics and act as party cadres like the students. Private universities and educational institutions have mushroomed making education a cheap commodity. 

Although present government over the last and present term tried desperately to arrest the halt of education and higher education the rate of progress is not appreciable. Government spends lot of money in constructing residential accommodation for students of the public universities which is unthinkable in most of the western countries which have much better and stronger economy.

Many private universities, colleges, schools mushrooming in busy suburbs of Dhaka have contributed to unbearable grid locks on week days. Not only the education quality has deteriorated but also social vices are spreading. Many students of private universities have involved in drug additions and trafficking and other social crimes.

Education, on the other hand, is the second highest revenue earners for Australia. Pre University education is very well organized. Every community in every suburb has many preschool and secondary as well as higher secondary schools. All these have standard education and extracurricular facilities. Education institutions get priority in many matters. TAFE is a special education program which creates special craftsmen. Higher education however is expensive and meant for really deserving and talented few. It is also very competitive. This writer is involved with Monash University and has links with RMIT and Deakin. Our son Shahriar did his Masters from Swinburne University and Wife Rozy goes to Swinburne as well. There is no scope of any student politics or teachers doing anything other than teaching. Universities do not arrange for any accommodation facilities but creates opportunities for students to work part time and earn living of their own.

Leading Universities of Melbourne are:
 

 Melbourne University , Monash University, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) ,Deakin University , Swinburne University of Technology , Latrobe University, Federation University ,Federation University and Australia Catholic University.

Leading Universities of Dhaka are:

Public Universities: Dhaka University (DU), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology (DUET), Jagannath University  (JU), Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh University of Textiles, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University.

Leading Private Universities: We have noted a list 50 private Universities in Dhaka alone. We can mention only top few here: BRAC University, North South University, Ahshanullah University of Science and Technology, American International University, Notre Dame University, East West University, Stamford University and United University. One can imagine what can happen with quality of higher education of Bangladesh where university grows like hybrid. 

Infrastructure:

What Melbourne Possesses? 

Victoria enjoys Australia’s most advanced and best connected system of road, rail and marine transport infrastructure. It also offers fast, reliable and cost-effective access to utilities. The Victorian Government recognizes infrastructure is vital for improving the productivity of Victoria’s economy and maintaining our renowned livability standards, now and in years to come. This is why over the past decade, Government investment in infrastructure has doubled, with investment in roads, public transport, health, schools and other infrastructure over 2014-2015 estimated at A$6.1 billion.

Air links

Melbourne offers convenient domestic and international air links from Melbourne Airport. Located less than 20 minutes by road from Melbourne’s central business district, Melbourne Airport is the aviation gateway to southern Australia. It is Australia’s second-busiest airport, operates 24/7 and is curfew-free. With over 29.9 million passengers passing through it in 2013/2014, including 7.1 million international and 22.7 domestic passengers, it can certainly cater for your needs. Twenty-seven international carriers operate direct from Melbourne, with almost 500 international flights per week. Melbourne Airport is complemented by Avalon Airport, 40 minutes from the Melbourne central business district and 15 minutes from Victoria’s largest regional city, Geelong.

Port of Melbourne
 

The Port of Melbourne is Australia’s busiest container port, located on the edge of the Melbourne central business district. It is able to efficiently handle your import or export goods. The Port of Melbourne handles over 37% of Australia’s container trade - about 3,400 commercial ships and 2.6 million containers each year, and A$87 million in exports each day. The port is well connected via city bypass highways, as well as daily rail services to regional Victoria, metro Melbourne, Adelaide and southern New South Wales.

In addition to the Port of Melbourne, the Victorian Government is continuing its commitment to develop the Port of Hastings as Victoria's second container, with A$110 million in funding being allocated over four years from July 2013. The investment will enable detailed planning for the new port which when completed will complement the Port of Melbourne and cater for the growth of container movements in and out of the state. Other major ports in Victoria are Geelong, south-west of Melbourne, and Portland, in Victoria’s West.

Rail and roads
 

Melbourne has a modern, integrated system of road networks, consisting of a suburban grid overlaid with high speed, efficient freeways. All major infrastructures is well connected with freeways, enabling easy access to and from the Port of Melbourne and all airports, as well as regional Victoria. Melbourne received a perfect score of 100 for infrastructure in the 2013 and 2014 EIU Liveability Report. Ongoing investment in Melbourne’s world-class infrastructure was highlighted in the report for keeping Melbourne at the top of the index. The Victorian Government actively invests in the road and rail systems of Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Planning is underway for an east west road link across Melbourne connecting the Eastern Freeway with City Link, with a connection to the Port of Melbourne area. The East West Link will be an 18 kilometre cross-city road connection extending across Melbourne from the Eastern Freeway to the Western Ring Road.

Work is continuing on the A$4.3 billion Regional Rail Link program, one of the largest public transport infrastructure projects in Australia. It will deliver a new railway line through Melbourne’s west, and standalone tracks for the regional cities of Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, improving capacity and reliability. The Regional Rail Link won the prestigious Infrastructure Project of the Year award 2014.

Telecommunications infrastructure
 

Australia ranked fifth overall in the EIU’s 2011 IT Industry Competitiveness Index. The index compares 66 countries on the extent to which they are capable of supporting a strong IT production sector. 

The Australian market is deregulated, with local and international players providing competitively-priced services.

• 90% of businesses have internet access and 97% of these have broadband as their main type of internet connection.

• 79% of Australian households have access to the internet, which places us in the top 15 OECD countries.

• 92% of those Australian households that have access to the internet have broadband access.

Businesses setting up in Melbourne can be assured of outstanding telecommunications services, with connections to the world via a network of satellites and submarine fibre optic cables that ensure seamless global business links.

Melbourne recently cemented its role as the ICT capital of Australia, with the National Operations and Test Facility for the Australian National Broadband Network (NBN) based at the Digital Harbour development in Melbourne’s Docklands. NBN is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Australia’s history. It will provide high-speed broadband to Australian homes and businesses via fibre to the node (FTTN) based services.

Real estate

Melbourne is a highly competitive global business location in terms of cost and availability of commercial property. A plentiful supply of industrial land accommodates all industrial sectors. The cost of industrial land in Melbourne varies according to size and location, with costs very competitive compared to other cities. Melbourne also offers the lowest industrial lease costs among Australian capital cities. Office space is affordable, easily accessible and well serviced. Melbourne’s central business district offers comparatively low cost office space. 

Water

Melbourne’s water supply is managed by a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system, originally designed for the food industry, which focuses on quality management from catchments to consumer. The Victorian Government understands the importance of providing industry with adequate access to water by proactively maintaining reliable, efficient water systems. Melbourne offers competitive water costs. The price of water is around A$4,000/ML based on 90% being returned to the sewerage system. Trade waste charges are additional (excluding GST).Victoria is home to one of the world’s largest desalination plants, which ensures future water security.

Urban renewal & events infrastructure

Melbourne is the world’s most livable city and consistently attracts premier international events, from conferences to sporting events.

This status has been achieved by investments in infrastructure and urban development, including: The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the largest and most versatile convention and exhibition complex in the southern hemisphere. By the time it’s completed in 2020, the Docklands precinct will have doubled the size of the Melbourne central business district. The A$12 billion project has so far seen construction of apartments, a A$360 million technology park, and television and film studios. It is emerging as an important financial services hub and the home of major companies such as National Australia Bank and Lend Lease.

In May 2010, the A$268 million AAMI Park Rectangular Stadium opened, with seating capacity of 31,000. It’s the home of rugby teams Melbourne Storm (NRL) and Melbourne Rebels, and A-League teams Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart. 

AAMI Park complements Melbourne’s two other world-class sporting stadiums, the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the state-of-the-art Etihad Stadium. All three venues are conveniently located within 10 minutes’ walk of the Melbourne central business district.

Construction is also underway on the A$363 million first stage of the Melbourne Park redevelopment, which will secure the future of Grand Slam tennis in Victoria.

Utility Infrastructure:

Gas , Electricity and Water supply infrastructure is so professionally operated and managed that citizen have hardly have any complaint. There are fair market completion of many service providers and regulators. They only work as watchdog that customers rights and privileges are protected. 

We are living here for a decade. We got connections of gas, electricity and water through internet. We have direct debit provisions of bills for the services used. We were not required to dispute or argue any bill ever and never for a minute were even the services disrupted.

(Note: Comparison of Dhaka Infrastructure will be published tomorrow)

BDST: 1444 HRS, AUG 23, 2014