Planning Minister MA Mannan said on Monday that positive changes have occurred in the past decade and a half but these changes are not sustainable, and there is a constant pressure looming over them. The planning minister said this while addressing as chief guest at a national conference held at Hotel Sheraton in Banani. Deaths from dengue now 1,417 with nine more reported Monday Mannan also said a significant portion of the country’s population resides in villages, with many living near the poverty line. "We need to focus on women’s development in these rural areas," he said. He added that breaking the cycle of poverty and integrating these marginalized communities into the mainstreamed society have become an urgent issue. He expressed hope that the people’s mindset regarding resource-sharing has been improved, indicating a step in the right direction. Bus carrying passengers set on fire in Dhaka’s Gulistan While addressing as special guest, Dr. Atiur Rahman emphasized the importance of education as a gateway to civilization. He underscored the necessity of quality education and expressed concern over the current lack of assurance in this regard. The conference, jointly organized by Popy, DRRA, and CDF in collaboration with the Malala Fund, aimed to promote girls’ education in areas affected by climate change. Popy’s Executive Director Murshed Alam Sarkar chaired the event, with the Executive Vice Chairman of Microcredit Regulatory Authority Md Fashiullah as special guest. CDF Executive Director Abdul Awal delivered his speech as special speaker while DRRA Executive Director Farida Yasmeen delivered the welcome speech. Malala Fund Bangladesh In-Country Representative Musharraf Tansen presented the keynote paper. Dhaka Flow’s 2nd Festival of Yoga-Wellness Promises to be a Holistic Healing Event for All from Nov 8 to 11 However, representatives from various government and non-government organizations participated in the program. It is worth noting that this conference highlighted the challenges hindering the expansion of girls’ education in climate-affected areas and proposed several recommendations to address these obstacles.

The government will not build any more roads in haor region but flyovers will be constructed where necessary, said Planning Minister MA Mannan on Sunday.  The minister said this while distributing relief among flood-hit people of Patharia union in Shantiganj upazila in Sunamganj reiterating the Prime Minister’s stance against building roads in low-lying areas.  Read:Flood: Netrokona fish farm owners suffer losses of Tk 11.57 cr “The government has a mega plan for disaster response and rehabilitation of the flood-hit population has been given priority in it,” said MA Mannan.  Already the Prime Minister has visited the flood-hit region of Sunamganj and a big project will be taken for the devastated people here, he added.  “At first relief will be distributed and then will come the issue of rehabilitation. Those who have lost their houses will get assistance. The assistance is inadequate compared to the needs but humanitarian aid will continue and we will need to work jointly,” said the minister. Read: Flood waters receding again in Sylhet but food, water crises persist

Planning Minister MA Mannan said on Friday that although the government has given an opportunity to the money launderers to bring back their smuggled money from abroad in the new fiscal’s budget, the entire matter is morally unacceptable. Mannan was speaking at a shadow parliament competition organized by Debate for Democracy at the FDC premises in Dhaka. Mannan said that it is impossible to bring back the total amount of money that has been laundered from Bangladesh over the years.  That’s why the government will be able to bring back only a tiny amount of money at best in this process. “A section of people in the country have huge amounts of money lying idle in their hands. They are transferring this money to various countries other than Bangladesh. The countries that are receiving this money are giving these people opportunities to invest without checking the sources of this income,” said Mannan. Mannan added that it won’t be bad if some of this money comes back to Bangladesh. But the money launderers didn’t smuggle their money out to bring it back. Presiding over the function, Debate for Democracy President Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron said that the government has favored the money launderers through its provision of bringing back laundered money by paying a mere seven percent tax. Read: 'Dhaka to ensure safe water, hygiene & sanitation for all by 2030' “This fiscal year’s budget has been devised mostly for businessmen and those who embezzle money in various ways. This can send a signal to the people that those who create and unseat governments have been the primary beneficiary of the current budget,” said Kiron. Debaters from Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) became champion of the competition by defeating Government Titumir College debaters. Development Specialist Dr SM Morshed and journalists Rizvi Newaz, Kaberi Maitra and Arifur Rahman were the judges of the competition.

The commoners are less interested in governance; all they want is a good standard of living, which the Awami League has ensured, Planning Minister MA Mannan said Friday. "The road to governance is very long. We have to understand what the commoners want in the first place," he added. Mannan was addressing the seminar "National Budget and Economic Pathway" organised by The Centre for Governance Studies at a city hotel. At the event, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, former minister and standing committee member of the BNP, said: "Politicisation is taking over the economy, which is a symbol of an authoritarian government." "Inequality is rising as the government is patronising its own people for its political interests," he added. There are contradictions in the budget process, Dr Muhammad Abdul Mazid, former chairman of the National Board of Revenue, said. "The scope for discussion is also limited." Also read: Social stability a must to implement budget: Planning Minister

Planning Minister MA Mannan on Sunday said the economy is facing tough challenges now, and social stability is a must in such a situation to implement a budget whatever its size. Bangladesh Bank and National Board of Revenue are working under pressure to control inflation and keep fortunes of fixed and lower-income segment stable, he said. Also read:Growing per capita income contributed to reduce child marriage: Planning Minister Mannan said this while speaking as the chief guest in the post-budget discussion organized by American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham), held in a hotel in Banani on Sunday. Former adviser of a caretaker government AB Mirza Azizul Islam, Ahsan H. Mansur, Executive Director, Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI), and Masrur Reaz, Chairman of Policy Exchange, Bangladesh spoke on the occasion. Mirza Aziz said the budget size is acceptable but allocation in different sectors needs to be revised considering present economic challenges. He also urged reform of the NBR and bond market, both of which need modernization and reformation to attract investment as well as foreign direct investment. Ahsan H Mansur presented a keynote paper on different sides of the proposed budget and illustrated that two major problems have emerged: sharply widened trade account deficit due to a surge in imports leading to an unsettled foreign exchange market, and inflationary pressure. Also read:Now is good time to invest in Bangladesh: Planning Minister Global price shock in the aftermath of the pandemic due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has led to a decline in inflow of workers’ remittances following reopening of international travel and the widening of the gap between the kerb market and interbank “exchange rate,” he added. Slow and inadequate flexibility in the exchange rate and the inability to use monetary policy given the interest rate caps on the lending and deposit rates, are acting as restraints on policy, he said.

Planning Minister MA Mannan on Wednesday said Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant won’t be affected directly by the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war as the project is being executed completely under a bilateral agreement with Moscow. “Equipment, manpower and finance (for the project) are coming through the single channel. No third party is involved here. So, the project will witness no direct impact,” he said while briefing reporters after the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC). NEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting, joining it from her official residence Ganobhaban. Other NEC members including ministers and secretaries attended the meeting from the NEC Conference Room and the Cabinet Division’s Conference Room. Read: No disruption foreseen in construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant: Rosatom Replying to a question, whether the meeting discussed the war and its impacts on Rooppur plant, being built by Russia, the planning minister said Bangladesh is against any war. “The prime minister has clearly said we are a peace-loving country. We want peace,” he added. Though they are fighting, both the countries are the friends of Bangladesh, he said. “Ukraine is our friend. And Russia has been our friend for a long time. We always recognise the Russian role in our Liberation War. We had been able to achieve independence despite having many barriers due to their bold role,” he added.

Planning Minister MA Mannan on Tuesday said growing trends of per capita income will help to reduce child marriage in the country. He said child marriage incident is happening due to various reasons such as the father being unable to meet the wedding expenses of his older daughters as his income is low. The minister made the remarks while addressing the 20th session of the Child Parliament titled 'Progress of Digital Bangladesh and Child Protection', held in the city on Tuesday. READ: Now is good time to invest in Bangladesh: Planning Minister Children from 16 disadvantaged and marginalised areas in 15 districts participated in this session. The planning minister said child marriage has taken place in many countries of the world while many countries have reduced it. “Child marriage is still going on secretly in our cities and villages. We have to protest against it. I see many protests, when a child gets married, the child resists on his own. I salute them. The field administration is also working to prevent child marriage,” Mannan. The minister said, “There are many in our society whose average monthly income is Tk 5000, again, there are many whose average income is Tk 5 crore.” Reducing income discrimination and easy access to digital system for all would help eradication misconception regarding child marriage in the society, Mannan said. "We are working on 5G internet," he said. READ:  Energy efficiency essential for industries: Planning Minister “But reality is that many people in the country still use 2G internet. We will move forward to development highway of the prime minister with everyone,” he added.

Planning Minister MA Mannan on Thursday said Bangladesh's growing economy offers good opportunities for local and foreign investment. He said every country gets a chance of such favorable opportunity once and this can used to develop like Japan, Korea and China. The planning minister was addressing as the chief guest at BIDA-BBF investment summit 2021 at hotel Le Meridien in the capital. He urged government officials and businesses to work more for investment and talk less. Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority BIDA Md.Sirajul Islam was the special guest in the function. Read: Energy efficiency essential for industries: Planning Minister Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Naoki Ito, High commissioner of Sri Lanka to Dhaka Professor Shudarshan Seneviratne, charge d affairs of the embassy of European Union Jeremy Opritesco, acting high commissioner of Australia to Dhaka Ms Nardia Simpson, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturer Association (BGMEA) Faruque Hasan, among other spoke here. Professor Masud A Khan, chairman and CEO Better Bangladesh Foundation (BBF) moderated the summit. BIDA Director Arifur Hoque presented a paper on Bangladesh investment opportunities in different sectors. BIDA Chairman said “We try to bring both product and invest diversification so that all kind of investor can get space here.” He said currently BIDA provides 56 services online by single window which is ensuring hassle free and quick services for the investors. The Japanese ambassador said Bangladesh is becoming Asian Tiger and will lead the manufacturing sector for this reason. He said more Japanese companies will invest in Araihazar exclusive economic zone and it will be an excellent international investment hub. Read: Investment proposals grow 46.33 pc in July-September 2021: BIDA Sri Lanka High commissioner termed Bangladesh as a very good friend of his country and hoped for a balanced trade and investment relation between the two countries. The EU envoy said a good investment environment is prevailing now in Bangladesh and bilateral trade of EU countries with this country is increasing. BGMEA president said there is a huge potential of investment in Bangladesh and foreign investors can invest here with confidence.  More than 150 green factories in the RMG sector in Bangladesh and more eco-friendly factories are underway to establish here, he said. United News of Bangladesh (UNB) and ATN Bangla was the media partner of the summit which was organized on the occasion of 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence. Assure group, ASL, Sentry Security Services sponsored the BIDA-BBF investment summit2021.

Planning Minister M.A. Mannan emphasized on developing skilled accounting professionals in the country to meet growing demand in this sector. He also highlighted the role of cost and management accounting (CMA) professionals in terms of fair spending and management of large as well as multinational companies. Read:Bangladesh Bank announces 4 pc export subsidy on bicycle, cement sheet, and MS steel The minister was addressing a discussion meeting on the occasion of “International Accounting Day” organized by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) on Wednesday) night. Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh (CAGB) Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury and A. K. M. Delwer Hussain FCMA, President SAFA, Past President and Council Member, ICMAB attende the program as special guests. Muslim Chowdhury said that the accounting profession is facing challenges and hoped comprehensive reporting system will come soon. The new generation has to take up the challenges and adopt at modern accounting, he said. Marking the day, the ICMAB arranged a get together in its office building in Dhaka where former presidents, council members, members, students and institutes employees attended in this occasion. Read: Soaring gas prices: Demand and supply management ‘getting tough’ AKM Delwer Hussain sought the cooperation of the government in expanding the scope of cost audit. Abu Sayed Md. Shaykhul Islam FCMA said that the accounting reports have to be transparent. It also needs to understand the Digital Transformation.

Bangladesh remains a compelling growth story, despite the global pandemic, said Standard Chartered’s leading economists. The bank’s global research team was speaking at a media session held following the 2021 Bangladesh session of the Bank’s Global Research Briefing series. Planning Minister MA Mannan attended the event held recently as the chief guest while around 300 of the Bank’s clients joined via video conferencing, said a media release on Thursday. Eric Robertsen, Global Head of Research and Chief Strategist, Standard Chartered, said while the pace and distribution of global recovery remains highly uneven, Bangladesh has made a strong comeback with one of the highest GDP growths in the world in 2020. Read: Economists urge government to present pro-poor budget “A robust vaccination program and implementation of strategic infrastructure projects are expected to further increase momentum towards the nation’s LDC graduation”. Saurav Anand, Economist, South Asia, Standard Chartered said Bangladesh’s economy is set to accelerate after a speed bump, with GDP growth forecast at 5.5% in FY21 and 7.2% in FY22. “The momentum will be driven by an export demand recovery, strong remittance inflows and public investment. Policy support is a prerequisite for a smooth transition to middle-income status, with per capita GDP set to reach USD 3,000 by FY26.” Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh said the government of Bangladesh has navigated the internal and external challenges of the pandemic remarkably well. “The resilience of Bangladesh economy gives us cause for optimism. As the vaccination drive continues, the economy is set to accelerate, while lower debt levels compared to its peers provide medium term fiscal runway for growth,” Bijoy said. Read: Economists emphasise agro-based infrastructure He said there are significant opportunities for productivity gains through technology adoption, technology inclusiveness through mobile-based solutions and the ITES sector, while growth-supportive policies focus sectors will continue to spur private investment and FDI. Minister Mannan said the people of Bangladesh, the government and the business community have once again demonstrated tremendous resilience to ensure that while the shared development journey might have slowed, it has not been halted. “We remain as committed as ever in fostering a business-friendly climate, so that we can continue on our journey of inclusive progress and prosperity,” he said.