Publication and Activities of Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam, March 2018

Publications
An interview article titled “Banking Commission Bank Er Shomosha Gulo Shomadhaner Poramosho Dite Pare” was published in fortnightly financial magazine Arthojagat in March 2018. The article dealt with the question of what role a banking commission can possibly play in dealing with the problems presently confronted in the banking sector of Bangladesh.

Other Activities

07 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was a participant in a TV talk show broadcast by NTV. The other participant was the President of Institute of Cost Management Accountants. The discussions dealt with recent trends in the macroeconomic indicators and their implications for the capital market of Bangladesh.

10 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam chaired a session on the prospective graduation of Bangladesh from the least developed country (LDC) category of the United Nations organized by the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD). The guest of honor was the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh. Another speaker at the session was the Ambassador of Sweden in Bangladesh. There were two key-note presentations by CPD. The discussions focused on the challenges that Bangladesh will face in the areas of trade, official development assistance and intellectual property obligations following graduation. The policy actions needed to deal with these challenges were reviewed.

11 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was a participant in a TV talk show broadcast by News 24. The other participant was Mr. Ruhul Amin Khandakar, Director, Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI). The prevailing socio-political and economic environment affecting private sector investment in Bangladesh was reviewed. Suggestions were offered regarding actions needed to improve Bangladesh’s performance in Ease of Doing Business Indicators, Governance Indicators and Global Competitiveness Index.

14 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam delivered a lecture on Macroeconomic Management in Bangladesh at Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM). The lecture reviewed the achievements of Bangladesh in terms of some key macroeconomic indicators such as GDP growth, exports, remittances, investment, poverty alleviation and income distribution. The challenges in these areas were also highlighted.

18 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was a participant in a TV talk show broadcast by News 24. The other participant was Mr. Benajir Ahmed, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of North South University and a former President of FBCCI. The discussions dealt with the potential benefits as well as challenges of Bangladesh arising from its graduation from the category of least developed countries.

19 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was the only discussant in a TV talk show broadcast by Ekushey TV. The subject matter of the discussion was the same as above.

21 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was a participant in a TV talk show broadcast by NTV. The other participant was Mr. Humayun Kabir, former President of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB). The discussions dealt with the opportunities and challenges for Bangladesh in the wake of impending graduation from the category of least developed countries (LDC) and the recent developments in the banking sector.

24 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was a designated discussant at round table organized by TV Channel 71. The other discussants were Dr. Towfiq Ellahi Chowdhury, Energy Advisor to the Prime Minister, Mr. Abul Kalam Azad, Chief Coordinator for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the office of the Prime Minister, Barrister Amirul Islam, a leading Supreme Court lawyer and Mr. Ibrahim Khaled, Former Deputy Governor Bangladesh Bank. The discussions were concerned with the opportunities and challenges likely to arise from the potential graduation of Bangladesh from the category of least developed countries (LDCs) in 2024.

27 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam participated in a TV talk show broadcast by DBC. The other participants were Mr. Murshid Kuli Khan, former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank and Mr. Mahbubur Rahman, the Managing Director of BRAC Bank. The discussions dealt with the factual basis of media reports regarding the liquidity position of the commercial banks. The consensus was that despite some fall in the amount of excess liquidity in banking system, most banks still have liquid assets well above the minimum requirement. The Central Bank should take steps to correct popular misconceptions failing which people’s confidence in the banking system may become shaky.

29 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was the key note Speaker on "Loan Default Culture in Banking Sector of Bangladesh: The Way Forward” at a seminar organized by Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). The Governor of Governor of The Central Bank of Bangladesh Mr. Fazle Kabir was the Chief Guest. The seminar was attended by over 300 students as well as the Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Pro VC and moderated by the Dean of the Business School of BUP. The presentation identified the causes underlying the rising loan default in Bangladesh, its adverse consequences for the economy and remedial actions needed.

30 March: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was a participant in a TV talk show broadcast by Channel 71. The other participants were Mr. Nasrul Hamid, the State Minister for Power and Mr. Matlub Ahmed, former President of FBCCI. The discussions analyzed the development challenges currently facing Bangladesh, for example, increasing inequality, slowdown in the rate of reduction of poverty and employment creation and stagnant private sector investment as a proportion of GDP. The remedial policy actions were suggested.