In contemporary Myanmar, it’s not at all fashionable to look to Bangladesh. When it comes to pro-poor development strategies, though, this nation of 155 million people is a global leader. At a time of great tension, it might therefore make sense for Myanmar to turn to its western neighbour for policy guidance – and in this way supplement the many negatives dominating public discourse with a few positives.

I have to admit that the available data do not paint a clear picture. UNDP’s Human Development Report 2013 placed Bangladesh marginally above Myanmar: 146 to 149 on the 2012 human development index. But all the way back to 1980 the two countries have been reasonably close, with Bangladesh always slightly ahead. On other key indicators, Myanmar currently has a much better rank than Bangladesh: 80 to 111 on the 2012 gender inequality index, for instance. Maybe, then, there’s not much to learn?

Still I think there is. In November 2012, the Economist carried a lengthy analysis arguing that Bangladesh, with a huge population boxed into a flood plain swept by cyclones and devoid of major natural resources, had done surprisingly well at improving the lives of the poor. Its data showed that in the previous two decades some of the biggest human development gains had been registered in this, the original “basket case”.

From 1990 to 2010, life expectancy rose by a full 10 years from 59 to 69, infant mortality more than halved from 97 deaths per thousand live births to 37, child mortality fell by two-thirds, and maternal mortality was cut by three-quarters. From 2000 to 2005, female enrolment in primary school doubled to more than 90 percent, raising it slightly above male enrolment. In almost every respect, Bangladesh now outperforms not only Myanmar, but also India (ranked 136 on the 2012 human development index).

How did all this happen? The Economist notes that the general backdrop is not good: dysfunctional politics and a stunted private sector. Against it, though, four main factors have come into play to drive development. First, women have been empowered through family planning, investment in primary education, employment in garment factories, and microcredit initiatives. Second, agricultural improvements and remittances have helped to sustain household incomes. Third, the political elite, though deeply divided, has maintained a consensus in favour of social programmes. Fourth, the government has been unusually NGO-friendly, enabling stellar local agencies like BRAC and Grameen to flourish.

Bangladesh is far from perfect, and many challenges have not yet been successfully addressed. Yet there is in its recent development record a great deal for countries across the global South to learn. As Myanmar continues to piece together a development strategy, it surely has nothing to lose and much to gain from looking to Bangladesh.