UN praises economic growth in Bangladesh: Mannan.

News Report Planning Minister MA Mannan on Tuesday said that all the UN agencies in Bangladesh are delighted over the GDP growth attained by the country on a continued basis over the past few years with the latest 7.86 percent last fiscal.

'I had a fruitful meeting with the representatives of all UN agencies in Bangladesh and the main thing was they were delighted over the growth in Bangladesh," he said.

The planning minister was talking to reporters after a delegation of the representatives met him at his office. UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo led the delegation. Mannan said the delegation members suggested the government to further speed up the pace of development projects, completing projects within the stipulated timeframe and to address and reduce the bureaucratic tangles. Besides, they also wanted to know whether the government has been doing enough for the new workforce entering the job market, whether the investments in the health and social safety net programmers are yielding desired outcomes, the minister added.

'I've told them that we've achieved a lot in various fields over the past 10 years and I believe that our strategy is good right at the moment and we won't change the strategy. We'll continue to attain growth and reducing poverty through pursuing this strategy," Mannan said. He informed that apart from the ongoing poverty alleviation programems, efforts are on to lift the 5 per cent of the country's extreme poor in the lowest tier from out of poverty as the government is working to further alleviate poverty. Regarding investment, he said Bangladesh needs investment, but not at any cost.

'Rather, we will prefer domestic investment alongside FDI which will benefit every household particularly in the rural areas through necessary expenditure in primary education, health services.....we've revitalized the rural economy." The planning minister also informed that the UN agencies want to strengthen the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) through lending necessary support. Replying to a question, Mannan said the government would further strengthen and revitalize the rural economy through implementing various programmes and projects.

'Besides, we'll continue to attain the SDGs either from foreign support or with the own resources," he added. UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo said the UN family in Bangladesh is very much looking forward to continue its collaboration with Bangladesh. Seppo informed that she had discussed with the planning minister about the formulation of the 8th Five Year Plan in Bangladesh.

'We're very much looking at the government priorities on how we can support those in particular to attain the SDGs on data and evidence as well as on how we can measure the progress to achieve these goals in Bangladesh," she added. Besides, Mia said conversation also took place on how to ensure remarkable growth in Bangladesh translates into quality growth that creates job for young generation.