Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Wednesday said Bangladesh’s economic policy must be people-centred and inclusive, stressing the need to create equal opportunities for citizens from all walks of life to participate in economic activities.
He made the remarks while speaking at a reception ceremony for newly appointed ministerial colleagues at the conference room of the ministry.
The finance minister said the country must build an economy where participation from every segment of society is ensured, as broader engagement would help bring meaningful changes to the overall economic landscape.
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“A level playing field must exist in the economy so that every citizen has the opportunity to contribute and benefit from growth,” he said.
Referring to the changing public mindset after August 5, he said economic policies and activities must align with the evolving expectations of people.
As a first step, he emphasised the need to address the poor condition of state institutions.
“Our priority should be to recover institutions and strengthen them,” he said.
He said that professionalism, transparency and efficiency must be restored across public bodies to ensure effective governance and sustainable economic progress.
The minister also underscored the need to move away from a patronage-based economic model towards a more democratic and participatory one.
To achieve this, he called for deregulation and liberalisation, alongside efforts to diversify the economy beyond a narrow dependence on manufacturing.
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He said sectors such as sports, culture and other professions should be integrated into economic planning to create wider opportunities and generate new sources of income.
Giving an example, he referred to the traditional ‘shital pati’ (woven mat) produced in Barishal, which usually sells for Tk600 to Tk700.
If artisans are provided with training, access to credit and online marketing facilities, they could develop new designs and produce a variety of products, potentially creating a large market and boosting their incomes, he noted.
At the event, Khasru said the country’s economic framework should be developed in line with the 31-point programme of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, calling for the establishment of a democratic economic system that ensures fairness and inclusivity.
The finance minister sought cooperation from officials at all levels to move the country’s economy forward and implement reforms effectively.
Among others present at the programme were Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur and Finance Division Secretary Dr Khairuzzaman Mozumder, and secretaries and senior officials from various divisions of the Ministry of Finance.