• 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.
• A five-page interview article was published in fortnightly financial magazine Arthojagat in September, 2019. The article dealt with the constraints to private sector investment and offer suggestions for addressing the constraints faced by both domestic and foreign private investors.
• An article titled “Corporate tax reduction in India; What should Bangladesh do?” was published in The Financial Express on 16 October 2019. The article argued that Bangladesh should make an objective assessment of the effective tax rate taking into account all the fiscal concessions given to producers before considering reduction of corporate tax rates. The effective rate is considerably lower than headline rates. Moreover, Bangladesh should make efforts to improve its performance with respect to Governance and Ease of Doing Business. Failure in these regards will not boost private investment despite reduction of tax rates.
15 September: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam participated in a TV talk-show broadcast by News 24. The subject matter of the discussion was the announcement by the Finance Minister to the effect that all insurance companies will have to be listed in the stock exchange within three months. The practicability of implementing the announcement was reviewed. It was noted that there are many insurance companies which are making losses and therefore cannot be listed under securities laws.
17 September: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was the only discussant in a TV talk-show broadcast by DBC Television. The subject matter was the unabated fall in stock market index as well as turnover. The underlying causes were reviewed and suggestions were offered to revive the market.
21 September: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam delivered a lecture on “Macroeconomic Performance of Bangladesh: Achievements and Challenges” at Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM). The participants were selected government as well as private sector officials. The lecture reviewed the achievements of Bangladesh in respect of GDP growth, poverty alleviation and price stability over time and also in comparison with other Asian countries. The challenges ahead in sustaining the achievements and the policy imperatives to deal with them were also analyzed.
23 September: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was interviewed by Masranga Television. The subject matter of the interview was the analysis of the causes underlying considerable increase in non-performing loan in the banking system despite major increase in rescheduling. This development indicates ineffectiveness of the policy to favorably treat the loan defaulters by allowing them to repay rescheduled loans by paying 2% down payment and an interest rate of 9% with an extended maturity of 10 years.
23 September: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was interviewed by Channel 24. The interview dealt with the potential impact of recent decision of Bangladesh Bank to lend money to the commercial banks through repo for investment in the capital market.
26 September: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was interviewed by Boishakhi Television. The subject matter of the discussion was an analysis of the causes underlying high variability of prices of perishable agricultural commodities. In this light, actions needed to contain the recent increase in the prices of onion were identified.
03 October: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was interviewed by Shomoy Television. The interview dealt with recent developments in macroeconomic indicators of Bangladesh and in that light the likelihood of achieving 8.3% GDP growth in FY 2019-2020.
09 October: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam participated in a TV talk-show broadcast by NTV. The other participant was Ms. Nusrat Jahan, former Additional Secretary, Financial Institution Division. The issues discussed related to the present scenario in the capital market and actions needed to restore investor confidence.
12 October: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam along with Mr. Abdul Awal Mintoo, former President of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) participated in a TV talk-show broadcast by News 24. The discussions focused on prevailing problems in the banking sector of Bangladesh as well as capital market, constraints to private sector investment and the implications for growth prospects.
17 October: Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam was a Special Guest at a seminar on “Whither Inequality in Bangladesh” on 17th October at CIRDAP Auditorium organized by Oxfam. The discussions in the seminar dealt with various dimensions of inequality revealed by available data relating to, among others, distribution of family income, poverty ration in rural and urban areas, health and education.
Planning Minister MA Mannan (centre) and other speakers seen at the 'National dialogue on Whither Inequality in Bangladesh' at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city on Thursday — Focus