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Country News
Bangladesh becoming next global investment destination: Khosru
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DHAKA, May 18, 2026 (BSS) – Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today said Bangladesh is steadily emerging as the next major investment destination due to the government’s reform initiatives, leadership commitment, rapid decision-making and ambitious development agenda.
Speaking at a press briefing after the day’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, the minister said the government’s Taka 3,00,000 crore Annual Development Programme (ADP) has been designed to pull the economy out of fragility through large-scale investments and employment generation.
“If aspirations are not high, development cannot move forward,” he said while responding to questions on whether the fresh ADP is overly ambitious.
“To move forward from the setbacks and stagnation of previous years, investment is essential. Without investment there will be no growth, no employment and no development,” he added.
The minister said the government remains confident about implementing the large development budget because of stronger political commitment and administrative efficiency under an elected government.
“This is a matter of commitment. We have already shown within three months that we can take decisions quickly and implement them,” he said.
Explaining why the government opted for a large ADP despite inheriting a fragile economy, the minister used the analogy of a tube-well.
“When the water level in a tube-well goes down, water has to be poured into it before water starts flowing again.
Likewise, without injecting investment, there is no way to recover from a fragile economy,” he said.
The minister said the government’s economic strategy is already generating positive responses from international investors and financial institutions.
“Global investors, fund managers and international institutions are now closely following Bangladesh,” he said.
Referring to recent discussions with foreign investors, he said officials from JP Morgan informed the government that they were interested in Bangladesh because of the direction of the country’s readership.
“They told us they operate in 66 countries but are coming to Bangladesh because they are observing where Bangladesh’s leadership is heading,” he said.
The minister said investors are being attracted by the leadership’s commitment, dynamism and fast-paced decision-making process.
“Investors are coming because they see commitment, dynamism and quick decision-making. Bangladesh is becoming acceptable to the world as the next investment destination,” he said.
Replying to a question on revenue mobilisation, the minister acknowledged that Bangladesh’s tax-GDP ratio remains among the lowest in the world.
“That situation cannot continue if we want to become a stronger economy,” he said.
He said the government is implementing reform programmes in the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and expanding the tax network to bring more people under the tax system.
“For many years, the same taxpayers have carried the burden while the network did not expand. We are now widening the network,” he said.
The minister said bringing more people into the tax net would eventually benefit citizens through better public services and social protection.
“This is an elected government. Earlier, benefits went into a few pockets. Now the benefits will go to the people of Bangladesh,” he said.
He also defended increased allocations for social protection and targeted assistance programmes, saying different support schemes serve different groups.
“A farmer receiving a farmer card is not the same person receiving a family card. These are targeted programmes designed for different beneficiaries,” he said.
The minister reiterated that the government’s development strategy would focus on employment generation, human resource development, healthcare, technical education and climate resilience to ensure sustainable long-term growth.
Step to Humanity Bangladesh Emphasizes Upholding Rule of Law and Human Rights During Independence Day Discussion
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Step to Humanity Bangladesh Emphasizes Upholding Rule of Law and Human Rights During Independence Day Discussion
On the occasion of the Great Independence and National Day 2026, a virtual discussion meeting organized by Step to Humanity Bangladesh was held in Dhaka on the night of Saturday, March 28. During the event, special emphasis was placed on establishing the rule of law, upholding human rights, and strengthening democratic values within the country.
Delivering the keynote address as the chief guest was veteran expatriate journalist, writer, and freedom fighter Delwar Jahid. He paid deep homage to all the heroic martyrs of the Liberation War and expressed his hope that their sacrifices and tales of valor would remain forever indelible in the nation's history.
Delwar Jahid observed that recent shifts in the country's political landscape—coupled with various untoward incidents involving violence, killings, looting, rape, and arson—have placed unprecedented pressure on the law and order situation. He noted that a deficit in responsibility and accountability is tarnishing the country's image in the international arena. He further stated that the united initiatives of human rights organizations, coordinated activities, and the active participation of a conscious civil society could assist the government in addressing this situation and play a pivotal role in restoring stability to the nation.
Participating in the discussion, Dr. Anwar Jahid—Registrar of Pundra University in Bogura and former Director of the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD)—recommended adopting various organizational measures to expand the activities of Step to Humanity Bangladesh to the grassroots level. He placed particular emphasis on inspiring the younger generation with the ideals of human rights and democratic values.
The event was presided over by Dr. Kamrul Hasan—son of martyred intellectual Principal Sadik, former Director of the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), and President of Step to Humanity Bangladesh.
Other participants in the discussion included journalist Khairul Ahsan Manik (UNB), Vice President of Step to Humanity Bangladesh; journalist Sajjad Hossain (BSS), son of a freedom fighter; Firoz Mia, Editor of *Daily Bhorer Suryoday*; women's rights activist Nasima Akter, former Director of the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development; and journalist Shamsul Habib (*Jugantor*). Saifur Hasan, Cyber Security Officer; expatriate businessman Shakhawat Iqbal; and Engineer Ivana Hossain.
The speakers expressed their resolve to work collectively—upholding the spirit of the Liberation War—to establish human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, and called for further expansion of the activities of 'Step to Humanity Bangladesh'.
The event was moderated by Engineer Ivana Hossain.
Nation celebrates Pahela Baishakh amid festivity
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DHAKA, April 15, 2017 (BSS) - Thousands of people thronged the streets and different popular places in the capital and elsewhere across the country as the nation yesterday celebrated its most colourful and traditional festival Pahela Baishakh to welcome the Bangla New Year 1424.
Cultural and musical groups started off the first day of the Bangla year with songs and other performances at city parks while students of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University and youngsters brought out a "Mongol Shobhajatra" (procession of good wishes) in the morning as part of the carnival.
The day broke with the chirping of birds as usual, but the singing of "Esho hey Baishakh esho esho" everywhere in Bangladesh gave the day really a festive dimension.
Men in traditional pajamas and 'punjabi' and women in white and red saris joined the celebrations along with children in colourful attires, streaming through Dhaka streets as the first light of the sun rang in Bangla New Year.
National dailies have brought out colourful supplements while state-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels and radio stations aired special programmes to mark the occasion. Festive mood gripped all major cities and towns with different programmes of cultural groups.
Ramna Batamul appeared as the main attraction of the New Year celebrations as "Chhayanaut" and other cultural groups have been staging traditional functions since morning.
The day was a public holiday.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages greeted the countrymen on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh.
They wished peace, happiness and prosperity of the people and the country in the New Year.
The traditional Mangol Shovajartas (processions of good wishes) were also brought out at divisional, district and upazila levels to reach the traditional programme to grassroots as it earned the UNESCO recognition.
However, business communities, especially in the rural areas opened their traditional 'Halkhata', new account books to mark the day.
Important buildings and establishments as well as city streets and islands were illuminated with colourful lights and graffiti were painted in the walls signifying the arts, culture and heritage of the country.
Sammilita Sangskritik Jote organised solo and chorus folk music, dance and recitation of poems at Mirpur, Dania, Rayerbazar and different places in the capital city in the afternoon.
Bangla Academy staged cultural function and solo lecture at Rabindra-Chattar on the premises of the academy since 7.30am while a 10-day book-fair titled "Boier Arang" began marking the festival.
Besides, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation and Bangla Academy organizesd a 10-day Baishakhi Fair on the academy premises.
Dhakeswai National Temple also organized fair while Jatiya Press Club arranged a variety of traditional food items for the members and their family on the club premises. Dhaka Reporters' Unity also arranged identical programme.
Intensified security measure was ensured across the country including capital Dhaka to avert any untoward incident on Pahela Baishakh celebration.
Ramna Park and Suhrawardi Udyan areas have been taken under complete CCTV surveillance while Police in uniform and in undercover were deployed in and around the function arenas including Ramna Park. Visitors entered the venue through archways and metal detector checking, witnesses said.
Watchtowers have been installed in all the important places to monitor the movement of people while DMP also supplied pure drinking water to citizens and organized blood donation camp.
The local administrations arranged procession, cultural functions, village fairs and discussions at the divisional, district and upazilla levels on the occasion.
Improved diets of Banglee food was distributed among the inmates of jails, hospitals and orphanages in the capital and elsewhere across the country.
Cultural functions were also arranged at jails and orphanages across the country.
Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Folk and Craft Arts Foundation, and archaeological sites under Department of Archaeology remained open for children, students and persons with disabilities to visit free of cost.
All educational institutions of the country including Rajshahi, Chittagong and Jahangirnagar universities also celebrated the day separately with enthusiasm and traditional gaiety.
Reports reaching here said Pahela Baishakh was also celebrated in Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal, Jhalokathi, Rangpur, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Mymensingh, Habiganj, Magura, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Rangamati, Bagerhat, Kurigram, Kushtia, Joypurhat, Panchagarh, Khagrachhari, Laxmipur, Moulvibazar, Natore, Narail, Shariatpur and other districts amid huge enthusiasm.
According to historical records, celebrations of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla Calendar Year, started from Emperor Akbar's reign when it was customary to clear all dues on the last day of the Bengali month of Chaitra with businessmen opening "halkhata" or new book of accounts in their shops.
In line with the tradition, the rural Bangladesh, with people thoroughly scrubbing and cleaning the homes, bathing early in the morning and dressing in fine clothes, rises with a new hope on this day.
- Additional Resources:
- Additional Resources:
- Agro-Ocean
- Bangabandhu Development and Research Institute
- Bangladesh North American Journalists Network
- Bangladesh Heritage and Ethnic Society of Alberta (BHESA)
- Coastal 19
- Delwar Jahid's Biography
- Diverse Edmonton
- Doinik Ekattorer Chetona
- Dr. Anwar Zahid
- Edmonton Oaths
- Mahinur Jahid Memorial Foundation (MJMF)
- Motherlanguage Day in Canada
- Samajkantha News
- Step to Humanity Bangladesh
