Bangladesh : A story of progress.

A portrait of Bangladesh with Susan Hampshire where poverty is widespread. She comments that as a film crew, they were not permitted to take footage of slum conditions (thinking it would damage international investment) so these sequences are illustrated with still images and Hampshire's narration. Hampshire (dressed in flowing white clothes) sets off with group of young children as her guides in the slums. Children are enlisted in earning money for the family. Amongst many issues, the quality of water is problematic. Even in the country, water is polluted by sewage. In the slums drainage is rudimentary with disease being endemic. Ghashful Clinic was established to address some of the issues; Hampshire visits. Family planning is offered, with sensitivity to the muslim population. Contraception and vitamins are free. Educating girls is seen to be a priority with the view to offering higher education and possibly a degree of independence, if not choice in the future. Various women are at work either in menial tasks (breaking up rocks) or learning basketware. Hampshire, talks about a success story in a village. A female doctor from Population Concern runs a clinic.