Published : 31 Jul 2026, 01:17 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:29 AM
Eminent economist and BRAC Chairman Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman says citizens hold the key to change, delivering the keynote address at a lecture titled “What Drives Change: Today's Questions” at East West University's Manzur Elahi Auditorium on Thursday.
Rahman named six drivers of change -- narrative, institution, norms, initiatives, power, and interest groups -- each shaping the economy for better or worse, as stated by the institute.
Bangladesh must break free of its cheap-labour, garments-and-remittances model, he said, warning that weak democratic practices and an untapped demographic dividend have left the economy stagnant.
His prescription: a state that serves citizens rather than rules them, greater professionalism among local experts, forward-looking education, and a shift toward cleaner, more transparent social norms.
Invoking 1947, 1971, and 2024, Rahman said citizens' enduring drive for change is Bangladesh's greatest strength, with grassroots innovation repeatedly steering the country through the crisis.
Presiding over the event, Board of Trustees Chairperson Prof Dr Mohammed Farashuddin said development gains are bypassing the vulnerable, calling for sharper focus on healthcare, education and social equity.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Shams Rahman delivered the welcome address, while board members, faculty, students, officers, and staff attended the event.
