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Padma Bridge should be turned into an ‘economic corridor’

Speakers say at ICAB-ERF roundtable discussion


Published : 04 Jun 2022 08:15 PM | Updated : 04 Jun 2022 08:15 PM

Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Saturday said that the much hyped Padma Multipurpose Bridge is the symbol of 'national desire' and this Bridge should be converted into an 'economic corridor'.

They also said that this Bridge should not only be used for transportation of goods and passenger vehicles, but economic zones and industrial parks should also be established centering the Bridge which would facilitate flourish of economy and creation of employment opportunities. The speakers made the observations at a Roundtable Discussion on ‘Current State of the Macro Economy - Bangladesh Perspective’ held on Saturday at the ICAB Council Room at CA Bhaban in the capital's Kawran Bazar area.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) and the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) jointly organized the roundtable discussion. Planning Minister MA Mannan spoke on the occasion as the chief guest while Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Executive Director, Policy Research Institute, Bangladesh;

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the government would have to gradually come out of subsidy in agriculture since there has been massive changes in the rural areas. He said that the rural houses have got a facelift while the children are also going to schools. "All are living a better life there, but the price of fertilizer is increasing globally,"

Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, Chairman, Policy Exchange Bangladesh; Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Dr. Binayak Sen, Director General, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies;

Dr. M Abu Eusuf, Executive Director, RAPID; Shubhashish Bose, CEO, ICAB; ShafiqulAlam, Bureau Chief at AFP; Md. Saiful Islam, President, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI); Abul Kasem Khan, Former President, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI); and ERF general secretary SM Rashidul Islam spoke as distinguished panelists.

ICAB President Md Shahadat Hossain and ERF President Sharmeen Rinvy gave the welcome remarks moderated by ICAB former president Humayun Kabir.

Taking part in the discussion, Executive director of PRI Dr Ahsan H Mansur said that it is necessary to keep stable the exchange rate while there is also a need to enhance the value of Taka.

Citing an example, he said that Russia has made attractive its currency Ruble, and thus Bangladesh would have to do the same thing.

CPD distinguished fellow Dr Mustafizur Rahman said that Padma Bridge is the symbol of national desire while this Bridge should not be only used for goods transportation and passenger vehicles, but also should be used as an economic corridor.

Mentioning that there was a plan to set up some 17 economic zones centering the Padma Bridge, he said those should have to be established and eventually those would contribute to national economy and creation of employments.