Two-day Bangladesh Development Conference begins at Harvard University

Economic pundits and researchers from the world’s leading organisations and the US government have gathered at Harvard University to discuss Bangladesh’s ‘wonder economy’, which has been maintaining a steady 6 percent growth despite many stumbling blocks.

Representatives of the World Bank, the United Nations, UNDP and the US Department of State are at the Bangladesh Development Conference at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The two-day conference has been organised by the Corporate Sustainability and Health Centre in association with the International Sustainable Development Institute (ISDI). Harvard University, one of the top eight universities in the US, is part of the prestigious Ivy League.

 Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman, speaking at the inaugural session, delineated Bangladesh’s progress in the fields of human development, economy and political stability.

“This progress has been possible because of the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the participation of people from all walks of life,” Mashiur told the conference, noting that “it has been praised by everyone.”

He said, “There are misconceptions about safety issues in garment industries in Bangladesh”. Clarifying his point, he told the conference, “Workers’ wages have been raised three times in the last eight years in line with the rate of inflation, which is unheard of in most countries in the world”

The conference has been divided into different sessions to discuss specific topics.

The SDG Affairs Chief Coordinator at the Prime Minister’s Office, Abul Kalam Azad, told bdnews24.com that “the participants are engaged in intelligent discussions on how Bangladesh can attain the SDGs by 2030 and how growth can be expedited.”

“The opinion of global experts will enhance our knowledge and help us take the right decision on the road to development.”

He said Bangladesh was using a special method called ‘SDG Tracker’ to monitor growth. The method had drawn everyone’s attention, he added.

Kazi Aminul Islam, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, said that the country had become a 'role model of development' despite various impediments.

He said the conference carried 'infinite importance' in giving the world an idea about Bangladesh's success, capability and possibilities.

Nizam Chowdhury, founder chairman of NRB Global Bank, cited instances of Bangladesh’s digitisation and said all 70 branches of his bank had now been digitalised.

“We are trying to open our branches beyond the big cities, and those are also to be digitalized,” he added.

Iqbal Yousuf, Executive Director of ISDI, said, “The government alone cannot achieve the development goals. It needs support from all others, including the private sectors. We have organised this conference to know from global experts how development can be expedited.”

Beside SDG, issues of social safety, growing entrepreneurship, public-private partnership, inclusive economy, investment and trade, emergency efficiency and security, infrastructure and ICT development are being deliberated on at the conference.