Dhaka, Dec 02 (V7N) – The White Paper Committee on Economy has recommended that the interim government devise a two-year action plan, stating that long-term reforms are unattainable without first establishing economic and political stability.

At a press conference organized by the White Paper Drafting Committee at the Planning Ministry in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Monday, Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya criticized 15 years of corruption under the Awami League government.

Dr. Debapriya emphasized the importance of introducing clear economic reform initiatives and strengthening accountability before the next national budget.

“While the likelihood of this government remaining in power for five years appears slim, it is essential to chart a roadmap for at least the next two years,” he remarked, underscoring the need for stability as a precursor to long-term reforms.

He accused the previous government of shifting from "crony capitalism" to "kleptocracy" following the 2018 election, which he claimed undermined transparency. He called for the current government to address these issues with a targeted two-year action plan.

Despite ongoing challenges, Dr. Debapriya noted that the United Nations remains optimistic about Bangladesh’s economic resilience and its readiness to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category without major obstacles.

The White Paper on Bangladesh's economy paints a grim picture of widespread corruption in both public and private sectors, which has hindered growth. The report highlighted annual illicit financial outflows averaging $16 billion, exceeding the combined total of foreign aid and foreign direct investment inflows.

The findings further revealed systemic fraud, mismanagement, and abuse of power across various sectors, presenting significant barriers to progress.

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