Publication
An article titled “Transmission Channel of Monetary Policy in Bangladesh” was published in The Financial Express on 10 July 2019. The article dealt with the underlying reasons which explained ineffectiveness of monetary policy in achieving the desired objectives of growth acceleration and price stability.
An article entitled “FY20 Budget Statement: Selective Reminiscence” was published in Issue No. 148 of Market Pulse—a monthly journal of Lanka Bangla Securities. The article dealt with the macro framework of the budget, treatment of financial sector and issues relating to poverty and inequality.
Other Activities
2 July: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was interviewed by the following TV Channels:
Bangla Vision
DBC
Boishakhi
The interviews dealt with the prospects of implementation of macro targets of FY20 budget, implications of the approved structure of value added tax for producer incentives and inflation, consequences for the capital market from the tax provisions regarding retained earnings and stock dividend.
6 July: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was the Chief Guest at launching program of a book “Banking Almanac: Banks and Financial Institutions of Bangladesh 2017”. The program was chaired by Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. Among the guest panelist were Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, former Advisor Care-taker Government and Mr. Jamaluddin Ahmed, Member, Board of Directors of Bangladesh Bank. The discussions highlighted the potential contribution of the book to bridging the information gap in the financial sector and offered suggestions for improvement of the future issues of the Alamnac.
09 July: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam participated in a TV talk-show broadcast by DBC. The other participants were Mr. Murshid Kuli Khan, former Deputy Governor Bangladesh Bank and Mr. Moinuddin Farruk, Managing Director Prime Bank. The subject matter of discussion was the likely implications of allowing loan defaulters to repay the loans by making a down payment of 2% over a period of 10 years.
13 July: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam participated in a TV talk-show recorded by SATV. The other participants were Dr. Zaidi Sattar, President, Policy Research Institute (PRI), Dr. Abdur Razzak, Director PRI and Mr. Monwar Hossain, former President, Financial Reporters’ Union. The discussions dealt with various aspects of FY2019-20 budget.
16 July: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was interviewed by Nagorik Television. The issues discussed related to the causes underlying continuous fall in stock market index during the last few weeks and the decision to allow loan defaulters to repay their loans over a period of ten years at an interest rate of 9% with a down payment of 2%.
22 July: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was interviewed by Boishakhi Television. The subject matter of the discussion was the continuing fall in stock market index. The underlying causes were analyzed and remedial policy initiatives were suggested.
22 July: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam participated in an Expert Group Consultation convened by the World Bank’s Dhaka Office. Among the other participants were Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, former Advisor to the Caretaker Government, Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, former Advisor to the Caretaker Government, Dr. K. S. Murshid, Director General Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director CPD and Dr. Ahsan Mansur, Executive Director Policy Research Institute (PRI). The achievements, the potentials and the challenges of the economy of Bangladesh as well as policy measures needed to deal with the challenges were reviewed. It was expected that the World Bank would formulate its next Country Assistance Program taking due account of the views expressed during the consultations.
28 July: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was interviewed by DBC Television. The subject matter of the discussion was the expectation of measures in the upcoming Monetary Policy Statement boost the capital market.
29 July: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was the Chief Guest at a panel discussion on the FY2019-2020 budget organized by Economics Department of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). The discussions dealt with various aspects of the budget including revenue targets, allocation for Annual Development Program (ADP), sources of financing deficit, treatment of the banking sector and allocations for human resources development and social safety net.
31 July: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam participated in a TV talk-show broadcast by News 24. The other participant was Mr. Nizam Chowdhury, Chairman NRB Global Bank. The subject matter of the discussion was the Monetary Policy Statement for FY2019-2020 issued by Bangladesh Bank. The discussion reviewed the various monetary/credit targets envisioned in the policy and their implications for growth and investment, particularly private investment.