DHAKA: Bangladesh is doing well in its economic arena especially in farming, fertility and food sector and it will continue this trend in future. 

Michael Lipton, professor of University of Sussex, made the observation while presenting key note paper of the BEF conference.   

In the key note paper, he mentioned that Bangladesh has reduced poverty, gender discrimination, secured food security and done well in the health and education sectors from 1990 to 2014.

He opined that Bangladesh can continue these successes by reducing political violence and arrange dialogue about forming policy.

The challenges of the Bangladesh economy are climate change, slow improvement of rural development, increase natural disaster, landslide and increase saline water.

Lipton said if Bangladesh can avoid and reduce these obstacles it will be the biggest one in economic power.   

The first conference of Bangladesh Economics Forum (BEF) has begun on Saturday morning aiming to provide a broad framework for the country’s economic policy and strategy to help build a pluralistic democracy.

Slogan of the first conference is ‘Vision 2030: Framework for Economic Policy Making and Strategy Formulation in a Pluralistic Democracy.’   

Finance Minister AMA Muhith is attending the conference as chief guest at Hotel Radisson with BEF former president Mohiuddin Alamgir in the chair.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman, CPD chairman Rehman Sobhan, economist Khalekuzzaman and ICB managing director Fayekuzzaman, among others, are present in the event.

BDST: 1257 HRS, JUN 21, 2014