Bangladesh
Bank (BB) required focusing more on regulatory framework, articulated strategy
and greater integration of financial inclusion (FI) initiatives for ensuring
better financial discipline and investment climate.
The
suggestions came at an international seminar where financial market experts and
economists from local and international organisations discussed on a keynote
paper on ‘Challenges of price stability, growth and employment in Bangladesh:
Role of Bangladesh Bank’.
The
major recommendations also included streamlining of current policy with
increasing attention to greater competition and confidence in banking and
financial sector, strengthening transmission mechanisms for a dependable policy
rate, integrating FI initiatives and developing secondary market for enhanced
role of interbank rates and transactions.
Bangladesh
Bank (BB) in association with International Labour Organisation (ILO) organised
the seminar at the central bank’s headquarters in the capital city. ILO analyst
Dr. Muhammed Muqtada presented the keynote.
In
the keynote paper Dr. Muqtada noted that Bangladesh is among very few countries
where commercial banks have an explicit development objective with major focus
on price stability and inclusive growth.
But,
there were some areas and issues those warrant further attention so BB could
play its role effectively in pursuing developmental objectives besides carrying
out its traditional functions.
Addressing
the inaugural session of the seminar, BB Governor Atiur Rahman said like some
other developing economies BB had been trying to address the risks of
instabilities and imbalances at sources, by promoting socially responsible
inclusive and environmentally sustainable institutional ethos in financing.
ILO
Country Director Srinivas Reddy, Employment and Labour Market Policies Chief at
the ILO headquarters Iyanatul Islam and BB chief economist Biru Paksha Paul
also spoke at the inaugural session.
Dr
Rahman said BB’s sustained motivation and policy support in promoting inclusive
and green financing are paying off well for the economy, in terms of sustained
stable six-plus percent real annual GDP growth, with downtrend in inflation.
He
said BB’s focus on financing for crops, vegetables, dairy, poultry, fishery
have yielded substantial output gains in these areas, including self
sufficiency in rice and exportable surplus in many agricultural produces.
“BB’s
monetary and financial policy stances for stimulation of output and employment
have helped the economy attain a stable growth with strong gains in price
stability, macroeconomic strength and external sector viability”, the governor
said.
Srinivas
Reddy said that safety and standard of 75 percent of the garment factories
improved against the backdrop of tragic Rana Plaza building collapse.
But,
he pointed out that skill development of young workforces and garment workers
still remained a major challenge to development and economic progress. (Source:
BSS)