Banking trust, inflation control key priorities: Khosru

Restoring confidence in the banking sector, controlling inflation and improving the investment climate are among the government’s key priorities for stabilising Bangladesh’s economy, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said.
The minister made the remarks as chief guest at the grand finale of EconoCon 2026, a national inter-university economics competition held at United International University (UIU) in Dhaka on Saturday.
He said uncertainty in the global economy had become a new reality, with Bangladesh facing the effects of global inflation, trade protectionism, climate change and exchange-rate volatility.
As an import- and export-dependent economy, Bangladesh remains particularly exposed to changes in international markets, which ultimately affect people’s daily lives, he said.
“Against this backdrop, the government is prioritising inflation control, restoring trust in the banking sector and improving the investment climate,” Khosru said.
He also called for structural reforms in the tax system and greater efficiency in public spending on education, health and social protection.
“Maximum benefit must be ensured for every single taka” of public expenditure, he said.
Good policies alone are not enough, the finance minister said, stressing the need to assess whether policies are implementable, how much they cost and what benefits they generate.

Addressing the young participants, Khosru said economics was not merely about passing examinations but also about understanding real-world economic challenges.
He stressed the importance of honesty, humanity and accountability alongside professional skills.
“If the youth can dream, work hard and move forward with honesty, no one will be able to halt Bangladesh’s progress,” he said.
The competition was organised by the Junior Economists Forum (JEF) in collaboration with UIU’s Department of Economics. A total of 224 teams from universities across the country registered for EconoCon 2026.
According to the organisers, the competition aims to develop students’ analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, adaptability and economic reasoning beyond textbooks.
A total of Tk2.65 lakh was awarded in prize money.
The “Veni Vidi Vici” team from North South University emerged as the grand champion and received Tk1 lakh. 
The “Seld” team from Dhaka University and “Dhaka 99” from UIU were named first and second runners-up, receiving Tk75,000 and Tk50,000 respectively.

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Hasan Mahmud Raja, chairman of the UIU Board of Trustees and chief adviser to United Group; KMA Shamim, member of the Board of Trustees and adviser to United Group; and UIU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Abul Kashem Mia attended the event.
Faculty members, university officials, students, competitors and economists from different universities were also present.

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