The 20th biennial conference of the Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) begins tomorrow (December 21), which is expected to come up with a set of recommendations to help the government in its efforts to achieve the 'middle-income country' status by 2021.
With the theme 'Economics and Ethics', the three-day conference will also lay out policy recommendations for the government on how to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said the organisers at a press conference in the city on Tuesday.
The mega event will be held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) in the capital.
Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will inaugurate the conference as the chief guest while eminent economist and former adviser to a caretaker government Prof Dr Rehman Sobhan will be present as the guest of honour. BEA President Prof Dr Asraf Uddin Chowdhury will chair the opening ceremony.
Deputy Speaker of parliament Md Fazle Rabbi Miah will attend the closing ceremony as the chief guest.
Speaking at the press conference, former BEA president and the conference preparatory committee convener Prof Dr Abul Barakat said four special plenary sessions and 12 working sessions will be held during the conference. Noted economists and researchers will present about 120 research papers.
Prof Barakat stressed the need for ethical practice to ensure a balanced and sustainable development of the country.
Considering the importance of ethics in theoretical and applied economics, the BEA has decided on theme of the conference -- 'Economics and Ethics', he added. The conference will play a significant role in understanding the importance of ethics in market and financial management, its practical application, and in finding solutions to the problems and forming policy guidelines, he said.
The experts at the conference will also discuss the role of professional economists in the context of Bangladesh's socio-political situation, ethical aspects of financial management, development issues, education policy, and law enforcement and industrial policy, he added.
BEA general secretary Jamaluddin Ahmed was present at the press conference.
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