Photo: Collected Dr.
KAS Murshid, Chair of the Taskforce on Economic Strategy Redesign, stated that
the taskforce will present a short-term plan to the government aimed at
advancing the economy, with expected results visible within one to two years.
He
made these remarks this Thursday (September 26) after the taskforce’s first
meeting at the Nazia-Salma Conference Room of the Planning Commission in
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.
Present
at the meeting were Planning and Education Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud,
Taskforce Secretary and member of the General Economics Division (GED) Dr.
Kawser Ahmed, and taskforce members Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Dr. Selim Raihan, Dr.
Monzur Hossain, Dr. Abdur Razzak, Dr. Shamsul Alam, Dr. Rumana Huque, Nasim
Manzoor, and AKM Fahim Mashroor.
Dr.
KAS Murshid emphasized that the taskforce will design a sustainable and
effective plan by identifying the current economic gaps and proposing solutions
to address the existing leakages. “We will explore how to go on and bring the
economy back on track from where it currently stands. Special focus will be
placed on agriculture, industrial production, trade, and development projects
to move the economy forward”, he said.
In
response to another query, he clarified that the taskforce will present
short-term plans to the government to ensure visible results within the next
one or two years. He also mentioned that it will be distinct and not a
replacement for the five-year plan. It will, however, complement long-term
planning efforts.
“We
have identified the issues, such as gaps in governance, and will propose plans
to close these leakages.” he added.
Dr.
Murshid concluded by acknowledging that while it may not be possible to address
everything, the taskforce will prioritize areas of the economy that are known
to be damaged. “Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud has provided us with a framework
on the scope, strategies, and areas of importance. We will begin targeted work
from the next meeting onward.”, he remarked.
Notably,
the 12-member taskforce was formed by the government on September 11 with the
aim of redesigning the country’s economic strategy for equitable and
sustainable development following the fall of the Hasina administration. Dr.
KAS Murshid, former Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Development
Studies (BIDS), has been appointed as the chair of the taskforce.
