‘Economic and Social Development of Bangladesh Miracle and Challenges’ is the culmination of three-year research project ‘Empirical Studies on Risk and Poverty in Bangladesh’ conducted by JICA Research Institute.
Dr Yasuyuki Sawada, chief economist and director general of Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Dr Minhaj Mahmud, senior Research Fellow of BIDS, led the project.
Planning Minister Abdul Mannan launched the book on Tuesday at BIDS.
The book noted that Bangladesh managed to achieve remarkable progress battling unfavorable situations such as weak governance and political instabilities, inequality, risk entailed in rapid urbanisation, and exposure to severe disaster risks.
Mechanisms of structural transformation, industrialisation success, infrastructure, microfinance and women empowerment have been pointed out as miracles.
Minister Mannan credited good leadership for the success.
“We need researches, assistance and recommendations from experts to continue this development trend,” he said.
Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, former advisor to caretaker government, said Bangladesh needs improve its health and education sectors.
World Bank’s lead economist Dr Zahid Hussain said the economic conditions of Vietnam and China were once like that of Bangladesh.
“But they have come a long way,” he said, noting that Bangladesh should take lessons from Vietnam and China.
Mitoshi Hirata, chief representative of JICA in Bangladesh, and Manmohan Parkash, ADB’s Bangladesh country director, among others, were present at the seminar.