Dhaka: Adviser to the Prime Minister on the Ministries of Finance and Planning, Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, emphasized the necessity for Bangladesh to transition towards a humane, democratic, and welfare-oriented state to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Titumir articulated this vision while addressing a seminar titled 'Re-thinking Unmet Healthcare Needs and Dynamics of Out-of-Pocket (OOP) Expenditure in Bangladesh.' The event was organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and took place at its conference room in the capital. The seminar was chaired by former adviser to the interim government and noted economist, Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud, and attended by Professor Dr. A. K. Enamul Haque, Director General of BIDS.
During his address, Dr. Titumir highlighted the economic challenges posed by prolonged inflation and slow growth in real income, which have exacerbated the situation for low-income groups. He stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive, universal, and rights-based social protection system. He argued that the state must provide support throughout the life cycle, from birth to death, as a matter of rights rather than charity.
Dr. Titumir also pointed out the significance of reducing inequality and bolstering state capacity as essential elements of reform efforts. He asserted that equitable socio-economic development must be accompanied by sustainable state capacity, with the vision of a welfare state rooted in democratic and human-centered governance.
Women's empowerment was another focal point of Dr. Titumir's speech, as he insisted that Bangladesh's progress hinges on the advancement of women. In terms of healthcare, he advocated for increased public spending, particularly on primary healthcare, to address inequality and improve accessibility for all citizens.
The adviser also addressed governance challenges within social safety net programs, such as exclusion and inclusion errors, and called for systemic reforms including improved design, implementation, monitoring, and accountability through open data governance. He mentioned ongoing government efforts to develop a five-year strategic reform framework for broader macroeconomic and institutional transformation.
Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud, chairing the session, underscored the critical role of public healthcare expenditure in reducing inequality. He noted that higher out-of-pocket spending on healthcare exacerbates disparities and emphasized the importance of public investment in primary healthcare services for equitable access, especially for lower-income groups.
The seminar featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Abdur Razzaque Sarker, Senior Research Fellow at BIDS, who discussed the dominant role of out-of-pocket expenditure in healthcare financing and its disproportionate impact on poorer households. Participants expressed optimism that collaborative efforts between policymakers, researchers, and institutions would pave the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient economy in Bangladesh.