United News of Bangladesh

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday said Bangladesh’s economy must become more participatory and inclusive so that every citizen can take part in economic activities, stressing that cooperation from all stakeholders is essential to take the ‘Bangladesh story’ to the global arena. “Political democracy alone is not enough. We also want democratisation of the economy,” he said while addressing the inauguration of the second phase of the RAISE project titled “Stepping Forward” at the PKSF auditorium in the capital. Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mobarek attended the event as special guest, while World Bank Acting Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Dr Gayle Martin spoke as guest of honour. PKSF Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan presided over the programme and PKSF Managing Director Md. Fazlul Kader delivered the welcome speech. He said the government has introduced strict benchmarks for project approval to ensure transparency, accountability and proper use of public funds. “We are now evaluating projects based on return on investment, employment generation and environmental considerations. If a project does not meet these standards, we will not undertake it,” he said. Khosru said taxpayers’ money must be used carefully and people should know the rationale, expected outcomes and public benefits of every project. Referring to the government’s broader economic philosophy, he said the administration is focusing more on social programmes and public welfare instead of mega projects. He said many ordinary people had long remained outside economic participation due to “oligarchic and patronage-based economic practices”, while poverty continued to rise. The minister said the government has introduced several people-oriented initiatives, including Family Cards, Farmers Cards and expanded healthcare programmes, to strengthen purchasing power, social protection and local economies. Explaining the Family Card initiative, he said women who manage households often receive little recognition despite carrying the burden of family management. Khosru said the government is also moving towards universal healthcare as out-of-pocket health expenditure in Bangladesh remains very high. “We want to strengthen preventive and primary healthcare services, and this will be reflected in the upcoming budget through increased allocations to health, education and social sectors,” he added. Highlighting the importance of utilising the country’s demographic dividend, he said the remaining window of opportunity must be fully harnessed through skill development, employment and entrepreneurship programmes. The minister also underscored the importance of the “creative economy”, saying traditional artisans, cottage industries and cultural workers must be integrated into mainstream economic activities. He said the government plans to provide artisans with financial support, design assistance, branding, marketing and access to international markets through digital platforms. Referring to the “One Village, One Product” concept, he said villages specialising in products such as “Shital Pati” would receive loans, skill development training, branding support and online marketing opportunities to improve incomes and export potential. Drawing examples from Thailand, he said coordinated government support for local producers can transform rural economies and create globally competitive products. The minister also stressed the economic importance of culture, theatre, music and sports, saying these sectors should be recognised as part of the country’s creative industries and contributors to GDP. “GDP is not only about manufacturing. Creative industries, sports economy and cultural activities also generate employment and economic value,” he said. Khosru said the government is working under significant domestic and global pressures, including geopolitical tensions and economic challenges, but remains committed to its long-term vision. “With cooperation from all, we want to present the story of Bangladesh before the world,” he said. PKSF has launched the second phase of the RAISE skills development project aiming to provide skills training and financial support to an additional 200,000 youth and small entrepreneurs. Under the project, jointly financed by the World Bank and PKSF, around 205,000 young people have already received training and loan support to enhance the capacity of informal sector entrepreneurs and create sustainable employment opportunities across the country. Speakers at the event said a total of 423,100 people are expected to directly benefit from the project by 2030.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday told Parliament that the government has a specific plan to develop the country’s stock market and make it vibrant and dynamic aiming to turn it into a long-term source of financing. “The government is firmly committed to strengthening the capital market and transforming it into a sustainable and long-term financing hub,” he said replying to a starred tabled question from ruling party MP from Noakhali-5 Mohammad Fakhrul Islam. The minister said the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has been working relentlessly to achieve this goal. Finance Minister Amir Khosru returns home after hospital treatment “Considering the vital role of the capital market in economic development, the government has included specific commitments in its election manifesto to improve the sector,” he said. Khosru noted that investors’ confidence is closely linked with capital market development. “Therefore, the government has taken initiatives to ensure good governance, transparency, accountability, diversification of financial products, and expansion of investment education to build a sustainable capital market,” he said. The government has taken several initiatives to enhance market depth, including forming a strong bond market, to establish the capital market as a major source of long-term financing, listing fundamentally strong companies in the stock market, and listing unlisted state-owned enterprises, he said. The minister said steps are being taken to introduce Exchange Traded Funds (ETF), Sukuk (Islamic bonds), and green bonds, ensure good governance in mutual funds to attract general investors, and introduce commodity and financial derivatives. To ensure transparency, accountability, and discipline in the market, the government is working to curb irregularities and market manipulation, strengthen investigation and enforcement activities, modernise and digitise the capital market, ensure easy market access from home and abroad, protect whistleblowers, and ensure corporate governance, he said. Khosru said a draft of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Act, 2025 is under review by merging the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969 and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Act, 1993. He also said a draft of the Capital Market Stabilisation Fund Act, 2026 is also under review to ensure proper management and settlement of undistributed dividends, IPO funds, and unclaimed shares. In addition, new rules are being formulated for whistleblower protection, corporate governance rules 2026, amendments to Debt Securities Rules 2021 to include sustainable bonds, and enlistment of panel auditors and audit firms, the minister said. He said to increase investment awareness, the government is planning to include investment education in school, college, and university curricula, organise nationwide training for young entrepreneurs, and involve district and upazila administrations in awareness programmes. The minister said divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and Upazila Nirbahi Officers are being engaged in awareness activities, while district information offices are expanding public awareness campaigns. Under the “Safe Investment, Aware Citizen” programme, grassroots training and campaigns are being conducted. Investment-related content and videos are regularly uploaded on BSEC’s website, Facebook, and YouTube channels, he said. Khosru added that Bangladesh Television has taken an initiative to broadcast a fortnightly investment education programme titled “Pujibazarer Jana-Ajana.”