Digital Public Infrastructure Pushed for Production Sector Problems
Corruption and systemic inefficiencies are being blamed for the fragile state of Bangladesh’s productive industries, according to sector insiders. As a solution, experts have emphasized the expansion of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to accelerate digital transformation in civic and economic governance.
The observations came at a seminar titled “Priorities in Economic Reform” held on Wednesday night, August 20, at the Bangladesh Development Bank Limited (BDBL) building in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.
Speakers noted that good governance is being hindered as most investigative agencies remain plagued by corruption. Without improved cooperation between government and the private sector, they warned, the industrial sector cannot recover. They added that small-scale factories are limiting production, and while productivity and growth often rise temporarily when a political party comes to power, the momentum does not last. Hence, the expansion of DPI has become indispensable to reduce opportunities for corruption and to enhance transparency. They further stressed the need for skilled manpower, and observed that fair audit and taxation systems would make it easier to overcome institutional weaknesses.
The seminar was jointly organized by Voice for Reform, Citizen Coalition, and Brain. Fahim Mashroor, entrepreneur and organizer of Voice for Reform, delivered the keynote presentation, while experts from various sectors participated in the discussion.
In his keynote, Fahim Mashroor remarked, “Although reform initiatives are often discussed, economic reforms are rarely addressed in depth. We need to decide: will we pursue rapid growth in the Vietnamese style, focus on a domestic demand-driven market like Indonesia, or follow a remittance-dependent model like Kerala?”
Among others who spoke at the event were Professor Dr. Mushtaq Khan of SOAS University, UK; Economic Task Force member Akhtar Mahmood; Professor Dr. Rashed Al Mahmood Titumir of the University of Dhaka; economic analyst Zia Hasan; Planning Commission member Dr. Manzur Hossain; former president of Bankers Association Selim Al Hossain; publisher Mahrukh Mohiuddin; Chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC Dr. Jubaidur Rahman; and Prothom Alo’s online editor Shawkat Hossain.
