Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed addresses the workshop "Navigating Public Debt in Bangladesh"in Gazipur, emphasizing prudent project approval and coordinated debt management. Photo : BSS

GAZIPUR, June 28, 2025 - Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, cautioned against approving unnecessary large-scale projects that could undermine debt sustainability.

"Before approving any big project, we must assess whether the demand is justified, whether the project is feasible, and whether it promises long-term benefits," he said.

The adviser said this while speaking at a workshop as the chief guest titled "Navigating Public Debt in Bangladesh", at a local hotel in Gazipur on Friday, said a press release today.

Salehuddin said, "We must now translate our strategies into concrete actions. Debt management is not the government's responsibility alone - it's a shared obligation involving the corporate sector, Bangladesh Bank, the bond market, and private actors."

He stressed the importance of a symbiotic relationship among all stakeholders to maintain fiscal stability amid a volatile global financial environment.

He also underlined the need for real-time, integrated data systems.

"Real-time data and institutional interoperability are critical to managing our debt effectively - and that remains one of our biggest challenges," he added.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant for the Ministry of Finance Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury attended the workshop as the special guest while Secretary of the Finance Division Dr. Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder presided over it.

Strengthening Public Financial Management Program to Enable Service Delivery (SPFMS), Finance Division organised the event.

Additional Secretary of the Finance Division Bilkis Jahan Rimi and Lead Governance Specialist of the World Bank Suraiya Jannat were guests of honour.

Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury in his speech emphasized the need for various ministries and departments to work together to ensure coordination in the government's debt management efforts. 

He urged all relevant stakeholders to convene soon to make effective decisions on the matter.

Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder stressed the importance of innovative planning in debt strategies to ensure fiscal sustainability.

He said external borrowing opportunities becoming slimmer and the focus should now shift to domestic borrowing.

He also underscored the need to build a stronger professional base by increasing the number of skilled experts with in-depth knowledge of debt management.

Presentations at the workshop were delivered by Additional Secretary of the Treasury and Debt Management Wing Hasan Khaled Foisal, Joint Secretary Mohd Rashedul Amin, Deputy Secretary Farid Ahmed and IMF Economist Arindam Roy. 

Additional Secretary (Budget and Macroeconomics) Shirajun Noor Chowdhury and Additional Secretary (Macroeconomics-1), Finance Division Dr. Ziaul Abedin spoke in the workshop as moderators. 

Around 75 officials from the Finance Division, Economic Relations Division, Department of National Savings, Bangladesh Bank, and the World Bank participated in the event.