Waheeduddin Mahmud, adviser to the interim government on planning and education, expressed hope that an elected political government would be established in the country next year. He said, 'I hope that the countrymen will get a political government in the new year. But this is just my personal opinion. It is difficult to say for sure what will happen in the future.'
The adviser said this in a conference yesterday at a hotel in the capital. Bangladesh Institute of Development Research (BIDS) organized the conference. In the conference, various issues related to the country and economy were discussed.
Wahiduddin Mahmud's speech highlighted the importance of economic planning along with political stability. Expressing deep concern about the economic situation, he said, 'Currently, economic inequality and income inequality have become a cause of great concern. Although emphasis has been placed on the development of skilled human resources and quality education to eliminate inequality, there is still a long way to go in the development of education and technical skills in Bangladesh.
While praising some good projects like Padma Bridge during the Awami League government, Wahiduddin Mahmud said that several projects of the previous government were taken up just for 'prestige projects' or fame. He emphasized on the need for real impact assessment of these projects.
Apart from this, Wahiduddin Mahmud expressed concern about the money laundering of big companies. Big companies like Beximco show a lot of money in their balance sheet but it is not in the country. Even if people have money in the bank, that money has gone out of the country. Paying wages to workers has now become a big challenge.'
At the conference, World Bank Chief Economist Indermit S. Gill said that Bangladesh should focus on investment and employment growth to get rid of the middle-income trap. Investment in human resource development should be increased. Economic development should be facilitated by creating entrepreneurship and increasing the use of technology.
Businessmen influence policy making
In the public lecture titled 'Agenda for Economics and Social Reform' of this four-day annual international research conference, private research organization Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Chairman Prof. Rehman Sobhan said that there were many businessmen in the National Parliament in the previous government. They influence policy making. For this, a crony capitalism has been created from the parliament to the district, upazila and even the union level. Besides, the development of crony capitalism in various areas has created an undemocratic attitude among the previous governments.
Pointing out that there are structural problems in the country, Professor Rehman Sobhan said, 'Sustainable development will not be possible if institutional reforms are not done. Our export sector should not depend only on garments. Export should be diversified. When the market for our construction industry, ceramic industry and other industries does not work, the state has to intervene. But here the state is not able to play an effective role.'
