The interim government has decided to formulate a white paper on the current economic situation of Bangladesh, titled “Preparation of a White Paper on the State of the Economy.”
To this end, a committee will be formed, tasked with preparing the white paper within the next 90 days after its formulation.
The chief adviser’s press wing confirmed the matter through a press release on Wednesday.
The release read that the current government has assumed responsibility for addressing the fragile economic situation left by the previous administration’s mismanagement, making the creation of a white paper essential.
According to the press release, the committee is expected to be led by eminent economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, who will be responsible for selecting its members in consultation with the chief adviser. The committee members will serve without remuneration, and the committee’s office is likely to be located in one of the buildings within the Planning Commission complex.
The General Economics Division of the Bangladesh Planning Commission is expected to provide secretarial support to the committee, it further said.
The committee, officially to be named the “White Paper Formulation Committee on Existing Economic Status of Bangladesh,” is required to submit its report to the chief adviser within 90 days of its formation. All ministries, divisions, and departments are required to provide the necessary information to the committee as per its request.
The white paper will focus on six critical areas — public finance management, inflation and food management, external balance, energy and power, private investment and employment.
Under public finance management, the committee will examine domestic resources, public expenditure—including public investment, the Annual Development Programme (ADP), subsidies, and debt—and the financing of the budget deficit.
The inflation and food management section will cover food production, public procurement, and the public food distribution system.
Regarding external balance, the committee will focus on exports, imports, remittances, foreign direct investment (FDI), foreign exchange reserves, foreign financial flows, and debt.
In the energy and power area, the committee will assess demand, supply, pricing, costs, and power purchase agreements.
The private investment area will focus on access to credit, electricity, connectivity, and logistics.
Finally, the committee will address employment by examining domestic and international employment opportunities, formal and informal wage levels, and youth employment.
