Staff Reporter:
Prime Minister’s Adviser on the ministries of Finance and Planning Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said that the government is working on a new economic model aimed at transforming Bangladesh into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034, while ensuring that the benefits of growth reach all sections of society under the philosophy of a “Bangladesh for all.”
He made the remarks yesterday while addressing a roundtable discussion titled “Budget for a Crisis Mo-ment 2026–27”, where he also emphasized administrative reforms, reduction of bureaucratic complexi-ties, creation of equal opportunities for domestic and export-oriented industries, and the formulation of business-friendly policies to boost investment.
He further noted that a Tk 60,000 crore restructuring package is being prepared to revive closed indus-trial units, alongside broader efforts to strengthen agriculture through improved water resource manage-ment, and enhance efficiency in health, education, and grassroots service delivery.
The roundtable was held at the ATM Shamsul Haque Auditorium of the CIRDAP International Confer-ence Centre in Dhaka, organized by the online platform Chaarcha.com.
State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki also attended the event as special guest, a press release said.
Speakers included Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, Managing Director of Apex Footwear Syed Nasim Manzur, researcher and rights activist Maha Mirza, former Finance Secre-tary Muslim Chowdhury, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem, ICMAB President Kawser Alam, and Dean of the School of Business and Economics at North South University A.K.M. Waresul Karim. The session was moderated by Chaarcha Editor Sohrab Hossain.
During the discussion, speakers stressed the need for comprehensive economic reforms to address infla-tionary pressure, investment stagnation, employment challenges, and global economic uncertainty.
They called for modernization of tax administration, enhanced productivity in agriculture and industry, strengthened financial sector governance, and long-term policy stability to ensure sustainable economic growth.
In the private sector perspective, Apex Footwear Managing Director Syed Nasim Manzur called for re-ducing corporate tax rate from 27.5 percent to 20 percent, ensuring a stable tax regime for at least three years, and introducing digital and risk-based audit systems in tax administration.
He also highlighted inefficiencies in airport cargo handling and noted that a large portion of healthcare expenditure in Bangladesh is still borne out-of-pocket by citizens.
Researcher Maha Mirza urged increasing agricultural budget allocation from 5 percent to 10 percent, improving access to modern agricultural machinery, expanding rural procurement centers, and strength-ening cold storage facilities to support farmers and reduce post-harvest losses.
