Overall progress of economy satisfactory: Finance adviser
No particular govt can take credit Bangladesh’s progress, he says
The overall progress and achievement of Bangladesh's economy are satisfactory, said Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday.
"Bangladesh has struggled for more than 53 years, and we have faced different challenges at different periods. But despite all the challenges, we have achieved remarkable progress, which I might say are milestones," he said at a programme at North South University in the capital today (19 April).
"We have already graduated from lower-middle-income country status and are currently on the way to graduate from Least Developed Country status to developing country," said the adviser.
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The event, titled "Empowering Bangladesh: Pathways to Leadership, Unity, and Growth," brought together national leaders in governance, diplomacy, economic development and youth empowerment to shape Bangladesh's future.
Salehuddin said, "Bangladesh's progress has been possible due to the efforts of successive governments and the people. And no particular government can take credit for that.
"Immediately, after we took over, we faced challenges on the political and economic fronts, along with the administration and the law and order situation. We are working to address these challenges.
Highlighting political challenge, he said, "The political challenge is still there. A free and fair election has to be held, and that is what we are working on."
Regarding reform, the finance minister said, "We possibly cannot reform all the things within a short period. We are kind of a transitional government, but we'll initiate some good reforms in the interest of the people so that we can give a footprint that the political government can follow.
"We are trying to bring reforms during our short term. In the long term, the legal reform and other things will be done by the political government."
Emphasising educating youths, Salehuddin said, "The youths are in fact the reservoir of our manpower, and if we orient them to technology, skills, education and modern techniques, it will definitely benefit Bangladesh."
