Prime Minister's Economic Adviser on Finance and Planning Prof Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said on Friday that investment must be there in the production sector to make the country an industrial hub.
He said that the people of the country gave the government the responsibility of putting the crippled economy on the track.
He was speaking as the chief guest at a day-long symposium organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS) titled "The Future of Work: Decent Work and Social Justice for All" held at the city.
As many as 20 million people got out of poverty during late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's tenure and she opened the path for women in the country's RMG sector, said the advisor.
Suggesting south-south cooperation rather than north-south and prioritising the south model and production, he criticized the commissioned research tendency by some domestic so-called intellectuals.
Saying that social safety is the government's priority, he alleged that 8-10 million people slipped into poverty after the last social safety programme ended and the burden was left on the shoulder of the new government.
The government is now going to the homes of farmers and five per cent poverty would be reduced if the government's family card programme is a success.
Criticizing the emergence of news that the country topped the world in terms of non-performing loans, he said the media reported during the Sheikh Hasina regime that it was 11 per cent. But the real picture was above 35 per cent and the media did not report it accordingly.
Titumir also said that domestic resource extraction and management should be made more effective without increasing tax rates. Through this, it is possible to create a skilled workforce, increase productivity, and create the foundation for a socially secure and dignified life for workers.
Other speakers said that protection of workers, social protection and decent working conditions were the key to the country's LDC graduation.
Special guests included Member of Parliament and Central Coordinator of Bangladesh Nationalist Workers' Party Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Labor Md. Abdur Rahim, Country Director of ILO Bangladesh Max Tunon, Additional Secretary General of Bangladesh Employers Federation Md. Saidul Islam, and Senior Joint Convener of the National Advocacy Alliance for Workers' Rights Mesbahuddin Ahmed.
The event was presided over by Chairman of BILS Md. Mujibur Rahman Bhuiyan.
Biswas emphasized the need for adapting to the changing labour market by ensuring fair wages, law enforcement and social protection for workers.
The ILO official said that more dialogue, engagement and cooperation between all parties were needed to address the challenges of the changing world of work.
The Additional Secretary said that the discussion would play an important role in determining what to do to address the challenges arising in the context of climate and technological change.
Mahdi Amin, adviser to the Prime Minister, and Nazrul lslam Khan, Secretary General, BILS and Adviser to the Prime Minister, spoke at the evening session and talked about the future pathway of the country's economic development.
