Staff Reporter:
Finance Minister A H Mahmood Ali has announced that the vision of ‘Smart Bangladesh’ will be realized through the integration of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).
“Under Smart Bangladesh, the country’s per capita income would reach at least US$12,500, with less than three percent of the population living below the poverty line, and extreme poverty eradicated,” he said while placing around Taka 7.97 lakh crore national budget for FY25 at Jatiya Sangsad yesterday
afternoon.
In his budget speech, Ali laid emphasis on four key pillars– Smart Citizens, Smart Economy, Smart Government and Smart Society. He said inflation will be contained between 4-5 percent, and the budget deficit will remain below five percent of Gross domestic product (GDP) .
The revenue-GDP ratio is expected to exceed 20 percent and investment will make up 40 percent of GDP, he added.
The vision also includes achieving 100 percent digital economy and literacy based on science and tech-nology, he mentioned.
He said: “Healthcare will be accessible to all, and essential services will be delivered directly to citizens’ doorsteps, including automated communication systems and sustainable urbanisation.”
He highlighted the creation of a paperless and cashless society, aiming for ensuring a just and equal community. “Most importantly, we will establish a society based on justice and equality in Smart Bang-ladesh. The people of Bangladesh are intelligent, creative, and hardworking,” he added.
The finance minister expressed confidence in enhancing the innovative capacity and creativity of the population through the proper use of technology.
To this end, he detailed that short, medium, and long-term goals and action plans are being carefully formulated to build a discrimination-free, developed and smart Bangladesh.
