We are delighted to hear that Bangladesh has jumped up 14 places globally in the GDP ranking, securing the 44th position this time around.
It is testament to our resilience as a nation that we have achieved such remarkable economic growth in spite of experiencing political unrest in the past year.
The GDP growth figures show how far we have progressed, and what we can realistically expect in the coming years.
It is the health of the economy that determines the fate of our 160 million people, and therefore must be a priority if we are to pull people out of poverty and raise living standards for all.
It should also be noted that in terms of purchasing power parity, Bangladesh has moved ahead three spots, securing 33rd place with a GDP size of $461.6bn, ahead of developed nations such as Switzerland, Sweden, and Singapore.
The government’s and the citizens’ roles in this achievement cannot be denied.
We must continue to work to encourage growth in the private sector, as well as fight to reduce social ills like corruption and inequality.
We cannot stop here. The new GDP numbers should give us a boost, so that we can forge ahead to eradicate our economic and social problems, and create an environment conducive to good business and growth.
