DHAKA, Feb 16, 2019 (BSS) – Planning Minister MA Mannan today hoped that
Bangladesh would be able to reach 9-10 percent growth in a sustainable way in
the coming years with further reducing poverty and addressing inequality
through utilizing its large human labour force.
“We’re in the region of 8% growth now, precisely a little short of 8% and
we hope that we can reach 9-10% in a sustainable way. We think we can attain
that and in that journey or struggle we need help from our all friends
including from overseas, in the region, our neighbors or beyond,” he said.
The planning minister was addressing the inaugural session of the 4th South
Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) Annual Economists’ Conference 2019
at the Brac Center Inn in the city. The title of the inaugural session was
‘Governing New Challenges: Inclusive Development, Trade and Finance’.
Chaired by SANEM Chairman and Dhaka University Economics Department Prof Dr
Bazlul Haque Khondker, Director of ESCAP-SSWA, New Delhi Dr Nagesh Kumar and
Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Dr
Binayak Sen made the key-note presentations.
Executive Director of SANEM Prof Dr Selim Raihan made the opening remarks.
Mannan said that the present government has been using human resource in a
judicious and just way with increasing dose of skills and technology, adding
that through this, the government would be able to address poverty and the
issue of inequality.
The minister also said the government is addressing the issue of poverty
and inequality, but it also peruses growth. “Because, growth pays it and
gives us wealth. So, our strategy is now that the government will continue to
address poverty through increasing growth so that others can benefit from the
extra growth,”
Mentioning that the issue for the government is now plain and simple which
is addressing poverty and perusing growth, the planning minister said over
the last 10 years, everybody has seen that Bangladesh was growing appreciably
fast and nobody can deny it.
“Since our strategy over the last 10 years was giving us larger growth
…..Since the strategy is working on the ground, we’re happy to stick into
the strategy and sustain it, give it more push so that growth generates more
growth,” he said.
Highlighting various achievements of the government in different fields
over the last 10 years, Mannan said that Bangladesh attained a revolutionary
achievement in the power sector, inclusive development is being unleashed,
many social safety net Programmes are being carried out which is helping to
alleviate poverty, hunger has been largely reduced.
Noting that the biggest inclusive strategy for the government is democracy,
Mannan said if the government can establish sustained democracy, if the
country’s people are fully aware about their strength, then it would be
possible to attain other social, economical and intellectual inclusiveness.
He also assured that the government would provide all necessary support to
SANEM and others to do more relevant researches.