Prime Minister’s Finance Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir has said the government is pursuing a new economic model to transform Bangladesh into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034.
He made the remarks onwhile addressing a roundtable discussion on “Budget for a Crisis Moment 2026–27” at the ATM Shamsul Haque Auditorium of the CIRDAP International Conference Centre in Dhaka, organised by the online platform Chaarcha.com.
Titumir highlighted administrative reforms, reduction of bureaucratic complexities, creation of equal opportunities for domestic and export-oriented industries, and business-friendly policies to encourage investment.
He added that a Tk60,000 crore restructuring package is being prepared to revive closed industrial units, alongside broader initiatives to strengthen agriculture through improved water management and enhance efficiency in health, education, and grassroots service delivery.
State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki attended the event as special guest. Speakers included Policy Exchange Bangladesh Chairman M Masrur Reaz, Apex Footwear Managing Director Syed Nasim Manzur, researcher and rights activist Maha Mirza, former Finance Secretary Muslim Chowdhury, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem, ICMAB President Kawser Alam, and North South University School of Business and Economics Dean AKM Waresul Karim. Chaarcha Editor Sohrab Hossain moderated the session.
During the discussion, participants stressed the need for comprehensive economic reforms to address inflationary pressures, investment stagnation, employment challenges, and global economic uncertainty. They called for modernising tax administration, boosting productivity in agriculture and industry, strengthening financial sector governance, and ensuring long-term policy stability to sustain economic growth.
From the private sector perspective, Syed Nasim Manzur proposed reducing the corporate tax rate from 27.5 per cent to 20 per cent, maintaining a stable tax regime for three years, and introducing digital and risk-based audits. He also highlighted inefficiencies in airport cargo handling and noted that a significant portion of healthcare expenditure remains out-of-pocket.
Researcher Maha Mirza urged the government to increase agricultural budget allocation from 5 per cent to 10 per cent, improve access to modern machinery, expand rural procurement centres, and strengthen cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.
