Dhaka: BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury today emphasized the necessity of democratizing the economy to ensure equal opportunities for every citizen. Speaking as the guest of honor at the ‘Economic Reform Summit 2025’ held at a city hotel, he criticized the existing economic model, which he argued primarily benefits a select section of the populace, leaving the general public at a disadvantage.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the summit was organized by Voice for Reform, BRAIN, Fintech Society, INNOVISION, and Nagorik Coalition, spanning two days. Amir Khasru Mahmud underscored the importance of an economic framework that benefits everyone, promoting universal participation. He argued that national development without inclusive benefit-sharing points to a defective economic model.
To achieve democratization, Khasru proposed shifting the investment focus from social safety nets to enabling economic participation. He cited the ‘One Product, One Village’ model in countries like Thailand, where villagers produce high-quality goods for international markets, thereby generating significant economic activity. His goal is to make products from marginalized groups tradable locally and internationally.
Addressing corruption, harassment, and bureaucratic hurdles, Khasru advocated for reducing or eliminating physical interactions between citizens and government offices. He pointed out that in developed nations, services such as utility bill payments and passport renewals are managed online. He called for this e-governance push in Bangladesh to extend to all citizen services.
Executive Editor of the Counterpoint Jyoti Rahman and President of the CFA Society Bangladesh Asif Khan delivered keynote presentations at the summit. Other notable participants included Business Initiatives Leading Development (BUILD) Chairperson Abul Kasem Khan, Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Dr. Masrur Reaz, and several other influential figures.
Jyoti Rahman’s presentation focused on macroeconomic stability and economic recovery, highlighting the importance of these goals as prerequisites for future policy discussions. He noted that Bangladesh has untapped labor resources, particularly among women, who make up only about one-third of the labor force compared to nearly half in other Asian countries. He emphasized the need for improvements in the country’s connectivity index to facilitate significant development.
Rahman concluded that the new government will face challenging trade-offs in stabilizing the economy. To manage these challenges, he stressed the importance of establishing credible institutions and ensuring merit-based appointments in key economic positions. He emphasized that the focus must shift beyond stabilization towards implementing a growth model that democratizes the economy.
In his presentation, Asif Khan suggested that Bangladesh could benefit from emulating Vietnam’s recent initiative, which positions the private sector as the economy’s key driver. This model requires setting specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and timelines. Khan advised the government to prioritize investments in high-impact areas where the private sector is absent, such as increasing cold storage capacity in agriculture. He concluded by stressing the need for multifaceted structural reforms to restore investment growth.