Economic Reporter :
Resurgent Bangladesh, a platform to help Bangladesh devise strategies and polices for COVID-19 economic recovery, has recommended phased re-opening of economic activities only after ensuring that virus spread risk has been brought under control.
The platform made the recommendation while presenting a model ‘Lockdown Exit Strategy Framework’ for the consideration of the government and other stakeholders at a virtual dialogue on Thursday, said a press release on Friday.
Resurgent Bangladesh is a joint initiative of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Chittagong Stock Exchange, BUILD and Policy Exchange.
The platform emphasized centralized assessment and monitoring mechanisms, preparedness assessment, vulnerability mapping like zoning, economic or social sector specific considerations for phased strategy, health and non-health related objectives.
MCCI President Nihad Kabir gave the introductory remarks while Policy Exchange Chairman Dr Masrur Reaz, made the keynote presentation on the Exit Strategy framework, and on key activities or objectives of Resurgent Bangladesh initiative.
BUILD Chairman Abul Kasem Khan provided remarks from private sector perspectives, and DCCI President Shams Mahmud provided closing remarks along with a summary of key issues covered.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Riaz Hamid Ullah, former President of BASIS Habibullah N Karim, former Law Secretary Mohammad Shahid, former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Abdul Karim, Executive Director of PRI Ahsan H Mansur, former Chairman of NBR Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Distinguished Fellow of CPD Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Oxford University NHS Trust Doctor Shakil Farid and Associate Professor of University of Dhaka Rashedur Rahman , among others, joined the dialogue.
Chairman of the Chittagong Stock Exchange Limited Asif Ibrahim moderated the open discussion session.
In case of increasing coronavirus outbreak, Nihad Kabir suggested to impose a hard lockdown for a short period in order to get a better result for the future economic activities.
“If we sustain normal demand and supply chain, economy will stand to its normal mode again,” she added.
She said, “We are not in a position to think about the growth now. Our priority is to ease lockdown ensuring highest public health safety.”
Masrur Reaz said that due to COVID-19 pandemic, the global growth may fall down to 3 percent in 2020.
“The global trade also may fall down to 13-30 percent this year. Asia’s export would come down to 36 percent and globally about 195 million people may lose their jobs. But we need accurate reliable data and information to survey the impact assessment analysis,” he said.
Abul Kasem Khan said that the coronavirus impact is yet to be stabilized, though few economic activities take place in a smaller scale. “The post lockdown strategy needs dynamic implementation of policies and guidelines. For that, we need accurate, reliable informative data for impact assessment. He also suggested phase wise re-opening,” he added.
Shams Mahmud said, “We need to safeguard our cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises. Job creation is the need of hours.”
He stressed on better coordination, quicker implementation of government directives.
Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan suggested private sector to maintain close liaison with the government to chalk out a plan for post-lock down economic development activities.
He said the government has taken admirable initiatives in the primary health sector but a lot of improvement needs at the tertiary level.
Mostafizur Rahman said the country is going through a crisis. “There should not have any weaknesses in the reforms. Concentration should be given so that inequality in society may not increase,” he added.
Rashedur Rahman suggested engaging the young people for data collection.
Resurgent Bangladesh, a platform to help Bangladesh devise strategies and polices for COVID-19 economic recovery, has recommended phased re-opening of economic activities only after ensuring that virus spread risk has been brought under control.
The platform made the recommendation while presenting a model ‘Lockdown Exit Strategy Framework’ for the consideration of the government and other stakeholders at a virtual dialogue on Thursday, said a press release on Friday.
Resurgent Bangladesh is a joint initiative of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Chittagong Stock Exchange, BUILD and Policy Exchange.
The platform emphasized centralized assessment and monitoring mechanisms, preparedness assessment, vulnerability mapping like zoning, economic or social sector specific considerations for phased strategy, health and non-health related objectives.
MCCI President Nihad Kabir gave the introductory remarks while Policy Exchange Chairman Dr Masrur Reaz, made the keynote presentation on the Exit Strategy framework, and on key activities or objectives of Resurgent Bangladesh initiative.
BUILD Chairman Abul Kasem Khan provided remarks from private sector perspectives, and DCCI President Shams Mahmud provided closing remarks along with a summary of key issues covered.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Riaz Hamid Ullah, former President of BASIS Habibullah N Karim, former Law Secretary Mohammad Shahid, former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Abdul Karim, Executive Director of PRI Ahsan H Mansur, former Chairman of NBR Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Distinguished Fellow of CPD Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Oxford University NHS Trust Doctor Shakil Farid and Associate Professor of University of Dhaka Rashedur Rahman , among others, joined the dialogue.
Chairman of the Chittagong Stock Exchange Limited Asif Ibrahim moderated the open discussion session.
In case of increasing coronavirus outbreak, Nihad Kabir suggested to impose a hard lockdown for a short period in order to get a better result for the future economic activities.
“If we sustain normal demand and supply chain, economy will stand to its normal mode again,” she added.
She said, “We are not in a position to think about the growth now. Our priority is to ease lockdown ensuring highest public health safety.”
Masrur Reaz said that due to COVID-19 pandemic, the global growth may fall down to 3 percent in 2020.
“The global trade also may fall down to 13-30 percent this year. Asia’s export would come down to 36 percent and globally about 195 million people may lose their jobs. But we need accurate reliable data and information to survey the impact assessment analysis,” he said.
Abul Kasem Khan said that the coronavirus impact is yet to be stabilized, though few economic activities take place in a smaller scale. “The post lockdown strategy needs dynamic implementation of policies and guidelines. For that, we need accurate, reliable informative data for impact assessment. He also suggested phase wise re-opening,” he added.
Shams Mahmud said, “We need to safeguard our cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises. Job creation is the need of hours.”
He stressed on better coordination, quicker implementation of government directives.
Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan suggested private sector to maintain close liaison with the government to chalk out a plan for post-lock down economic development activities.
He said the government has taken admirable initiatives in the primary health sector but a lot of improvement needs at the tertiary level.
Mostafizur Rahman said the country is going through a crisis. “There should not have any weaknesses in the reforms. Concentration should be given so that inequality in society may not increase,” he added.
Rashedur Rahman suggested engaging the young people for data collection.
