Bangladesh's per-capita income has risen to $2,769, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told parliament Monday, outlining their new government's broader ambition to transform the economy into a trillion-dollar powerhouse by 2034.
The disclosure came during the ninth sitting of the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, in response to a written question from Dhaka-18 lawmaker S M Jahangir Hossain. The session was chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal.
Citing the latest official data from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the finance and planning minister said the increase in per-capita income "reflects steady economic progress, even as policymakers seek to accelerate growth through structural reforms and targeted investments".
"The government is prioritising a broad-based development strategy focused on investment, employment generation, economic democratisation, as well as the expansion of the creative and sports economies."
To sustain income growth, he told the House, authorities are placing particular emphasis on job creation across key sectors, including manufacturing, construction, information technology and agro-processing.
"Efforts are also under way to improve the business climate and encourage private- sector investment by simplifying regulations and fostering an industry-friendly environment."
The minister mentions small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as another central pillar of the strategy.
The government aims to expand access to finance for women and young entrepreneurs while improving market linkages, with the goal of boosting grassroots economic activity.
On the external front, he said, policymakers are working to diversify exports and explore new markets to strengthen foreign-exchange earnings. Measures are also being introduced to enhance the skills of overseas workers and facilitate remittance inflows through formal channels.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com
