The Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) recently held a “Policy Café” in Dhaka, titled "Bangladesh 2.0: Reimagining our Economic Future," where experts discussed pathways for sustainable growth and development. Major General (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, President of BIPSS, expressed optimism about Bangladesh’s potential to become a significant regional economic player with the right reforms, calling for a collective vision, “Bangladesh 2.0,” to align with both citizen aspirations and global economic needs.

The event, attended by economic experts, business leaders, and policymakers, featured keynote insights from Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), and Fahim Mashroor, CEO of Bdjobs.com. The discussion, moderated by Muniruzzaman, explored Bangladesh’s progress and the challenges it faces.

In opening remarks, Shafqat Munir, Head of BCTR at BIPSS, noted Bangladesh’s resilience, especially its garment industry, which drives exports and job creation. However, he warned that reliance on a single sector could leave the economy vulnerable to global shifts. “Addressing infrastructure bottlenecks, improving education, and promoting sustainable development are crucial to ensuring long-term economic prosperity,” he said.

Dr. Fahmida Khatun underscored the need for economic reform beyond GDP metrics, focusing on employment, productivity, and investment. She advocated for increased FDI, digital skills development, and policy incentives to diversify into sectors like technology and services. “In achieving a transformative shift to ‘Bangladesh 2.0,’ we must look at reforming not only our domestic economic policies but also better aligning with global economic trends,” she stated.

Fahim Mashroor highlighted youth unemployment as a critical issue, with over two million graduates entering the job market annually. He emphasized that the country’s demographic dividend could become a challenge without effective job creation strategies. “Our demographic dividend could turn into a demographic challenge if we fail to address youth unemployment effectively,” he warned.

During an interactive session, participants from various sectors discussed topics like foreign investment, food security, and economic resilience. Dr. Fahmida emphasized diversifying the export base to strengthen resilience, while the panelists collectively stressed reforms in banking, corruption, and rural development to support sustainable growth.

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