‘BD economy fragile’
Bangladesh has inherited an “extremely fragile” economy and now ranks among the world’s top loan defaulters, Adviser to the Prime Minister on the ministries of Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said on Saturday.
“The development narrative presented during that period eventually burst like a balloon,” he said while addressing a meeting as the chief guest at the Bhanga Upazila Parishad auditorium in Faridpur on Saturday evening.
The adviser said people had been deprived of voting rights and the opportunity to elect representatives over the past 17 years, resulting in authoritarian rule instead of democracy.
Referring to the tenures of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, Titumir said Bangladesh had examples of advancing the economy despite facing severe challenges.
He said Ziaur Rahman sought new sources of income when the country was struggling with the aftermath of the Liberation War, famine, high inflation and the global oil crisis.
Initiatives to create employment opportunities in the Middle East helped expand the country’s remittance inflows, he said.
Referring to Khaleda Zia’s tenure, Titumir said her government created opportunities for women to participate in formal employment, which subsequently contributed to the growth of Bangladesh’s garment industry and strengthened its position in the global market.
The adviser said the incumbent government has pledged to build a production-oriented economy by creating employment and attracting new investment under its “Bangladesh First” policy.
“To implement this goal, production hubs will be established across the country,” he said.
Titumir said the previous government failed to create adequate employment opportunities in the region despite repeatedly highlighting its development achievements.
He said unemployment remains high in Greater Faridpur, including Gopalganj, and alleged that a system of “plunder” operated there in the name of development.
Faridpur-4 MP and BNP-affiliated Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal Central General Secretary Shahidul Islam Babul, Bhanga upazila BNP President Khandaker Iqbal Hossain Selim, General Secretary Ayub Molla, Joint General Secretary Said Munshi, Organising Secretary Shahidul Islam Bitu Munshi and Bhanga upazila Jubo Dal President Osman Munshi, among others, spoke at the meeting.
Bhanga upazila BNP and its affiliated organisations organised the meeting.
