Syndicate is major problem in Bangladesh

A discussion meeting on the current situation and future of the economy organized by Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) was held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Sunday.

Speakers at the meeting said the major problems of the country are syndicates and some big business groups. And for this, the competitive environment is not being created here. 

They also said power plants have been set up at the highest cost in Bangladesh. As a result, the power sector will be a big burden in the future.

NOAB President A. K. Azad chaired the meeting.

Ex-adviser of caretaker government and former professor of economics department of Dhaka University Wahiduddin Mahmud, former governor of Bangladesh Bank Salehuddin Ahmed, Executive Director of Policy Research Institute (PRI) Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Honorary Fellow of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Mostafizur Rahman, professor of economics at SOAS University of London Professor Dr. Mushtaq Khan and Chairman of Development Studies Department of Dhaka University Professor Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir were present as discussants.

Among the members of NOAB include its founder president and Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, Financial Express editor Shamsul Haque Zahid, Kartoa editor Mozammel Haque, publisher and editor of Banik Barta Dewan Hanif Mahmud. 

In the meeting, the noted economists highlighted the current state of the country's economy and future trends.

They discussed inflation, reserve crisis, government data including exports, education system and quality, banking problems and crises, foreign debt, dollar exchange rate, restrictions on economy and trade, preferential trade facilities in western markets, institutional framework, economic history of other countries.

/MHK/