Sir Fazle Hasan Abed said Thursday Bangladesh will get rid of poverty within the next 20 years.
"By this time, we will also become the citizens of a middle-income country."
He said these at the monthly luncheon of the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at a city hotel as the chief guest.
With the economic development, assuring quality education will emerge as a big challenge before the country, said Mr Abed, the founder of BRAC, the largest non-government organisation (NGO).
"Actual development is impossible without ensuring quality education."
He said to ensure world-class education a 'dramatic' change should be brought to the traditional education system.
"A connection should be made to include people from all sections of society with well developed curriculum."
Mr Abed said it is not the duty of NGOs to eradicate poverty, but the government. But, the NGOs are playing a vital role in this regard.
Describing the micro-credit as a big incentive to poverty reduction, he said only three NGOs - BRAC, Grameen Bank and ASA - are disbursing about 85 per cent of the country's total micro-credit, and the amount is around $4.0 billion per year.
Women empowerment is the big outcome of micro-credit, which has helped Bangladesh to emerge as the second largest readymade garment (RMG) exporter following China, the BRAC founder added.
FICCI executive director M A Matin and vice-president Geoffrey Strong also addressed the function with its president Rupali Chowdhury in the chair.
Rupali Chowdhury said the country's businesses are operating despite serious problems, like - gas, electricity and infrastructure shortage.
"Along with these problems the recent political unrest gave a negative signal to the foreigners about investment atmosphere in Bangladesh."
"Now, we have to convey the message to them that our country has regained a congenial business environment," she added.
