The projection was presented in a concept paper at a views-exchange meeting at the central bank’s Chattogram office on Friday, with Governor Md Mostakur Rahman as chief guest. The meeting, titled “The goal of creating 10 million jobs: the potential of the Chattogram region”, was told that about 500,000 workers had already become unemployed because of the closed factories, and about Tk 1 lakh crore (Tk 1 trillion) in defaulted and non-commercial loans had accumulated. The energy crisis, a lack of long-term capital and a shortage of skilled operators were identified as the main obstacles to reviving the sector.
The meeting, chaired by Bangladesh Bank Chattogram office executive director Md Hanif Miah, had as special guests Deputy Governor Dr Md Kabir Ahammad and head-office executive director Md Sirajul Islam. The concept paper identified the main constraints on the Chattogram region’s macroeconomy, industrialisation and banking sector and outlined a way to overcome them. It noted that the region supplies 18 percent of the country’s total exports, 21 percent of imports, 28 percent of remittances, 19.19 percent of total deposits and 18.5 percent of total loans to the national economy.
Governor Md Mostakur Rahman called for adopting an integrated action plan to accelerate regional economic development: increasing credit flow to SMEs and the rural economy; effectively implementing the “one village, one product” policy; and ensuring long-term, easy-term credit for the blue economy, marine resources, the IT sector and man-made fibre. He also gave specific directions on sending migrant workers abroad as skilled rather than unskilled on the basis of specific demand and on strengthening the operations of the Probashi Kallyan Bank, and stressed accelerating digital transactions, expanding Bangla QR to build a cashless Bangladesh, and taking steps to increase financial inclusion.
The governor said: “There will be no political interference in the banking sector.” He directed Bangladesh Bank inspectors to prepare inspection reports recommending the maximum punishment for banking irregularities.
In his remarks as special guest, Deputy Governor Dr Md Kabir Ahammad said: “The world economy will be under pressure because of the Middle East war situation. Regional central-banking activities must be increased to create jobs.” He placed special emphasis on reducing financial and income inequality, and called for ensuring the equitable distribution of resources and increasing technological skills.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report