Politics of conflict barrier for dev

Staff Reporter :
World Bank Bangladesh Country Director Johannes Zutt has said the politics of conflict is the main barrier for the economic development of Bangladesh.
He said the development of Bangladesh would be disrupted, if the government cannot ensure uninterrupted power supply to industrial units. As well, the government must improve the communications system to ensure steady growth rate.
Johannes Zutt, also Country Director for Nepal, was addressing a view exchange meeting, titled ‘poverty alleviation and growth rate increase: a priority’, organized by Development Journalists Forum of Bangladesh [DJFB] at WB office in Dhaka on Monday.
He said, “Conflicting politics is creating blockade to the economic development of Bangladesh. It is also creating obstacle in removing multi-dimensional and deep rooted problems of the country…It is natural that the poverty will reduce, if growth rate increases.” Zutt, a Dutch national, who has wide experience in development, further said, “Gross Domestic Product [GDP] of Bangladesh has improved and it will increase day by day. But bureaucratic tangle is the main blockade for economic growth and investment…So, it must be removed,” he observed.
Expressing optimism, he said, “If the increasing rate of GDP remains steady, the Bangladesh will be able to enjoy economic development in near future. However, the flourishing power sector is one of the main challenges for this country’ [Bangladesh] development.”
The WB official said that the Bangladesh should laid more emphasis on increasing power generation, although the government has achieved success in this sector by giving priority to the first track projects.  
“In fact, the power sector is the big challenge for Bangladesh. And all development works will go in vain, if 100 per cent power supply is not ensured to the industrial belt. At the same time, the government must give importance to ensure smooth communication sector,” he said.
 “But the profit-making tendency [of businessmen by any means] will interrupt the growth of GDP. Apart from it, the infrastructure crisis is another barrier for steady GDP growth. The government must increase capacity of Chittagong Port. The existing facilities of Chittagong Port must be increased,” he noted.
Mentioning the importance of special economic zone, the WB Country Director also said, ” The GDP growth rate will increase more if there is more employment opportunity. The employment opportunity can be increased by establishing special economic zones and private-public partnership projects.”
“Besides, the growth rate will also increase, if the government gives importance on some specific industries; like ship-building, medicine, leather and jute,” he added.
Zutt, however, clarified the stance of WB about the multi-billion dollar project Padma Bridge, as saying the global lender has no plan to further financing the project.
Replying to a query of newsmen about the Anti-Corruption Commission [ACC] report where they did not find any evidence of corruption in the Padma Bridge, he said,” I don’t want to make any comment about the ACC report. The Bangladesh is an independent country and its judiciary is free.”