Execution of cabinet decisions improves

ERD tells about BD's preparedness for post-LDC status

January 23, 2018 00:00:00

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally releases a commemorative stamp and data card at PMO on Monday to mark the International Customs Day, to be observed on January 26. — BSS

Some 78 per cent decisions of the cabinet, taken in the 4th quarter of the last year, have been implemented, which is nine per cent higher than that of the same period of the previous year, report agencies.

This was revealed at the regular cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair Mondsay afternoon.

Cabinet Division secretary of coordination and reformation NM Ziaul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting at the secretariat.

He said a total of 68 decisions have been taken in eight cabinet meetings from October 01 to December 31, 2017.

"Among them 53 decisions have been implemented while 15 decisions are under the implementation process," he said.

During the corresponding period of previous year, 68.94 percent of cabinet decisions were implemented.

Meanwhile, three prime economic indicators suggested Bangladesh's preparedness for graduation as a "developing country", discarding its status of a "least developed" one or Least Developed Countries (LDC) by 2025, the Economic Relations Division (ERD) said in a presentation to the weekly cabinet meeting.

The ERD placed the report referred to the indicators -- the per capita Gross Net Income (GNI), Human Assets Index and Economy Vulnerability Index (EVI) -- and said the country was ready for its elevated status by March 2025. "The standard GNI of a country should be US$ 1230 for graduating from the LDC group which, in case of Bangladesh, is now US$ 1272 according to CPD and US$ 1271 according to the BBS," the report read.

It said the standard of human assets index of a country needs to be 66 or above for elevation from LDC status which is 72.8 according to Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and 72.9 according to the BBS for Bangladesh.

In case of EVI the standard index is 32 or less which is 25 in Bangladesh according to the CPD and 24.8 according to the BBS, meaning Bangladesh is much ahead of the standard index in all aspects.

Cabinet Division's secretary for coordination and Reforms NM Ziaul Alam briefed reporters at Bangladesh Secretariat after the meeting saying the analysis came as the ERD informed the cabinet about the country's preparedness for the ascension.