An interim government task force for equitable and sustainable development has proposed the establishment of five new institutions aimed at enhancing education, governance and business competitiveness.
The Task Force on Re-strategising the Economy and Mobilising Resources for Equitable and Sustainable Development proposed force has outlined a series of recommendations to bolster the country鈥檚 economic growth and development.
Education and planning adviser Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud handed over the task force鈥檚 report to chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his office in Tejgaon on Thursday.
The five proposed new institutions are a new airline named 鈥楤angladesh Airways鈥�; a centre of global excellence dedicated to postgraduate education and research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and information and communication technology and artificial intelligence; a regulatory reform commission to tackle the issue of over-regulation and bureaucratic tangles; a centre for social and behavioural change communication and research to address the current problem of fragmented and inefficient communication; and an oversight body for the National Board of Revenue.
The task force report calls for a thorough reassessment of the national flag carrier, 鈥楤iman Bangladesh Airlines鈥�, which struggles to meet modern aviation standards.
With the airline鈥檚 service often criticised for its poor performance, the task force suggests setting clear performance benchmarks.
The task force has also proposed for creating a new airline, tentatively named 鈥楤angladesh Airways鈥�, using half of the Biman鈥檚 existing assets.
According to the proposal, the new airline would be managed by an independent, world-class management company in a dual-structure model, fostering healthy competition in the sector to ensure better client service.
One of the most ambitious proposals in the report is the establishment of a 鈥楥entre of Global Excellence鈥� dedicated to postgraduate education and research in STEM and ICT-AI.
The centre, which is planned to be set up on the outskirts of Dhaka within five years, aims to position Bangladesh as a regional hub for advanced research and innovation, seeking to attract international scholars and researchers, fostering a knowledge-driven economy.
The report draws inspiration from globally renowned institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology and proposes replicating their success across various disciplines, including environmental science, renewable energy, and biotechnology.
To tackle the issue of over-regulation and bureaucratic hurdles that have long hindered business growth, the task force proposes the creation of a regulatory reform commission tasking it with evaluating and streamlining regulations across sectors, including business operations and taxation.
The task force also recommends the formation of a high-powered 鈥楴BR oversight committee,鈥� comprising representatives from the private sector, civil society and government, focusing on restructuring the revenue board to remove inconsistencies and discriminatory barriers related to customs, value added tax and other taxes.
The report emphasises that while revenue collection remains essential, continued policy innovations from the NBR are crucial to ensure that Bangladesh remains competitive in the global market.
The task force also recommends the establishment of an independent 鈥榗entre for social and behavioural change communication and research鈥� to unify traditional media and digital communication strategies, utilising evidence-based approaches to drive social change.
The proposed institutions are part of a larger framework aimed at modernising the country鈥檚 economic and social systems, the task force report mentions.
The Task force report observes that if implemented successfully, the recommendations could significantly enhance Bangladesh鈥檚 global standing and support sustainable and equitable development for its people.
Earlier on September 10, the interim government formed the 12-member task force led by KAS Murshid, former director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, formed, tasking it with reframing development strategies, identifying leakages in the financial system, and restoring discipline in development project implementation.