Bangladesh’s Finance and Planning Minister, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, has announced a government initiative aimed at revitalising the capital market and driving increased investment across business and industry. The announcement came during his visit to Chattogram on Friday, where he emphasised the need for structural reforms to stimulate economic activity.
Addressing journalists at his residence in the Katoli area, Chowdhury outlined a comprehensive plan to overhaul the stock market, with the expectation that stronger market performance will trigger broader investment in Bangladesh’s private sector. He said that improvements in the capital market are expected to expand industrial investment, create jobs, bolster exports and production, and contribute to price stability.
Chowdhury acknowledged the significant challenges facing the economy, including indicators of rising poverty, declining investment and shrinking employment. He noted that the private sector has reduced capital imports and borrowing, deepening economic strain.
Describing recent gains in the stock market as “encouraging but insufficient”, the minister called for changes to existing laws and regulations to create a conducive environment for quality shares and to attract wider participation from ordinary investors. He said the government would introduce a national budget that moves beyond conventional formats, designed to widen public engagement in economic activity and foster a level playing field.
Chowdhury pledged that the government would move away from “politics of patronage” and ensure that the benefits of economic growth reach all citizens. Later on Friday, he also met officials and leaders from various port service sectors to discuss measures to improve operations at Chattogram Port, a key trade gateway for Bangladesh’s exports and imports.
