Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has stressed the need for building a more inclusive and participatory economy in Bangladesh so that citizens from all sections of society can take part in economic activities and benefit from national development.
He made the remarks on Sunday while inaugurating the second phase of the RAISE project, titled “Stepping Forward,” at the PKSF auditorium in the capital.
The finance minister said political democracy alone is not sufficient unless economic opportunities are also accessible to all citizens. According to him, every individual should have the right to participate in the economic process and enjoy the benefits generated through development.
Amir Khasru said the government is introducing strict standards for approving development projects to ensure transparency, accountability and proper utilisation of public funds. He noted that future projects will be assessed based on return on investment, employment generation and environmental impact.
He praised PKSF for its role in poverty reduction, employment creation and grassroots development, highlighting the organisation’s successful implementation record and strong loan recovery performance.
The minister said the government is now giving greater importance to social welfare and people-oriented programmes rather than focusing only on mega projects.
He added that initiatives such as Family Cards, Farmers Cards and expanded healthcare programmes are being implemented to strengthen purchasing power and social protection.
Highlighting women’s empowerment, he said direct financial support to women under the Family Card programme would increase their role in family and economic decision-making while also boosting local economies.
Amir Khasru also emphasised the importance of skill development, entrepreneurship and creative industries to fully utilise Bangladesh’s demographic dividend. He said traditional artisans, cultural workers and cottage industries should be integrated into the mainstream economy through branding, financing and digital market access.
Referring to the “One Village, One Product” concept, he said villages producing unique traditional goods would receive support through loans, training and export promotion initiatives.
The minister further said the government remains committed to long-term economic goals despite global and domestic challenges, adding that cooperation from all stakeholders is essential to present a stronger image of Bangladesh internationally.
The second phase of the RAISE project aims to provide training and financial support to an additional 2 lakh youths and small entrepreneurs, particularly in climate-vulnerable and marginalised communities.
