Information and broadcasting minister Dr Hasan Mahmud urges the country's apex trade body to help check the price spiral of commodities in the interests of the people on limited incomes.
Lauding the pivotal role of businesses in helping the national economy thrive, he hopes their contribution will continue to this end.
An estimated 20-million people's per-capita income is now nearly $10,000 due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's prudent leadership, according to Mr Mahmud.
He was addressing the inauguration of 'Mujib Corner' and eye-catching 'Directors Lounge' at the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in Dhaka on Saturday.
"Bangladesh could have advanced more had there been no politics of conflict. The economy would have been more enriched had there been no tendency to demean the country to foreigners," he said.
"The country is moving fast toward industrialisation. If the current political stability continues, it would become a high-middle income one by 2031 and fully industrialised by 2041."
The minister says the per-capita income of people on average is now more than $2,500 and the country ranks 31st globally in terms of gross domestic product (GDP).
Thanks to the PM's prudence, he adds, Bangladesh was now in a good position despite the scourge of Covid-19.
Elaborating the current fast-moving state of economy, Mr Hasan said once upon a time, people of the country had to wear tattered clothes and mostly lived in huts.
"But now, all (people) are able to wear new clothes due to the massive economic advancement with the efforts of the businessmen and far-sightedness of the premier."
Rare photographs of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and his views on politics, social and international affairs, and books on his life are displayed there.
The event also presented a song for creating awareness of the Covid-19 pandemic.
FBCCI president Md Jashim Uddin, who chaired the event, suggested reforming the education system for producing more skilled manpower for industries.
"Despite [so many] educated people in the country… we are not getting skilled manpower required for the industrial sector," he said.
Mr Jashim thanked the prime minister for making Bangladesh a middle-income country from its least-developed country status.
He said businesses would continue to put their efforts to realise and implement the development plan taken by the PM.
Senior FBCCI vice-president Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu requested the government to give a state minister's status to the president of the apex trade body.
FBCCI vice-presidents Habib Ullah Dawn and Md Amin Helali, former senior vice-president Mohammad Ali and former vice-president Abu Alam Chowdhury also attended the event, moderated by FBCCI secretary general Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque.
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