‘Bangladesh makes remarkable progress in socio-economic development’

Law Minister Anisul Huq today said Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in socio-economic development, as its GDP growth reached 8.13 per cent in last fiscal year.

 “The estimates of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) showed the GDP growth rose to 8.13 per cent in 2018-19 up from 7.86 per cent the previous year. Per Capita Income touched 1909 US Dollar. Now we are $302 billion economy moving forward with mega development projects including Tk 300 billion worth Padma bridge, Tk 22 billion metro rail, elevated expressway, flyovers, dozens of economic zones and Payra seaport,” he said.

He came up with the comment while speaking on “Strengthening Partnership to Drive Asia’s Infrastructure Vision” at the Asia Infrastructure Forum 2019 in Singapore.

Regional cooperation between Bangladesh and neighbouring countries have reached a great boost during last 10 years from Bangladesh’s pro-active stance on enhancing connectivity in South and South Asia, the minister said.

“Bangladesh is playing a leading role in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) which groups together Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan in a forum for multilateral cooperation. Bangladesh is also a centre point of different initiatives that seek to connect Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal with the ASEAN and other East Asian countries,” he said.

“With deeper trade, investment and connectivity linkages within the sub-region, Bangladesh is offering its neighbours to take the benefit of our markets, high quality and better priced products and the opportunities for transport and logistic services,” Anisul Huq said.

The law minister also said, “We are connected with our neighbours for achieving our common development vision. Bangladesh is engaged in various sub-regional connectivity projects through road, rail and sea routes with neighbouring India. These connectivity projects are creating more trade opportunities for Bangladesh with the North Eastern states of India”.

“India is now interested in road and railway transit through Bangladesh as it would lower the cost and time to send goods to its north-east,” he added.