(BSS) - Noting that the demographic dividend of Bangladesh is one of the most vibrant ones in the world, Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin today said that a very nice future awaits Bangladesh if labour productivity can be increased further.

"Our demographic dividend is very vibrant and productive...If we can leverage this demographic dividend through enhancing the labour productivity, then I`m sure a very nice future awaits before us," he said.

The Commerce Adviser was addressing a workshop and seminar on "Automobile Policy for Green Growth and Competitive Economy" jointly organised by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) and the Policy Exchange Bangladesh held at ERF auditorium in the capital.

Policy Exchange Bangladesh Chairman Dr M Masrur Reaz made the keynote presentation while Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) President Abdul Haque, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) President Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), former DCCI President Rizwan Rahman and Uttara Motors Chairman Motiur Rahman spoke as panelists.

ERF President Doulat Akter Mala and its General Secretary Abul Kashem also spoke.

The Commerce Adviser opined that there is a need for policy diversion to free the country from the huge extent of criminalization that took place over the last 16 years of the previous regime.

He alleged that during the previous regime, a mammoth amount of economic
liability was created in the name of loans and thus spending those in so
called mega projects like "Karnaphuli Tunnel".

Bashir said that the lion share of the national expenditure is now being made on repaying installments of local and international loans and this is not at all sustainable in the long-term.

Stressing the need for building the state capacity, the Commerce Adviser
urged all to raise their voices for amending the errors in the way orward and thus become free from the clutch of criminalization. "We need to take
ahead our state in such a position where currency will be respected, not the amount of money anyone has," he remarked.

The Commerce Adviser said that the country`s economy mainly features the
agriculture, manufacturing and the services sectors where the primary
enablers are logistics, labour productivity and the utility services.

He also put emphasis on lowering the logistics cost here in the country since the logistics cost is one of the highest in Bangladesh even compared to the developed world.

In his power-point presentation, Dr M Masrur Reaz said enhancing trade,
investment and transport connectivity will be critical drivers of upper
middle income aspirations and there is growing road safety concern due to the quality of automobiles and road governance.