DHAKA: Eminent economist Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad Monday opined that the common people of the country are not the beneficiaries of the economic growth though the economy is advancing rapidly.       

"A few people of the country are enjoying all the gains," he said, underlining gaping inequalities in society.

He made the comment at a press conference on ‘Charter of Demands of Civil Society of Bangladesh in Achieving Millennium Development Goal’ at the National Press Club.

"It is creating inequality in society. If this cannot be controlled, no development plan would work properly," he said on an egalitarian note.

He also said, “We have achieved a lot in development on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."

The Economics professor also informed that Bangladesh has been able to reduce the child mortality rate to 82 per 1000.

He mentioned that at least 92 percent children go to school now.

"We have succeeded in knocking all the sectors like agriculture, economy, health and women rights," he said.

He stressed giving the government continuous reminder for addressing these issues.

Kholiquzzaman criticized the donor agencies for not forming committees to give away the promised $30 million to the climate change-affected countries within 2012, while only the European Union formed a committee regarding this.


Convener of Supro Mohsin Ali read out a written paper on the issues at the conference.

Executive Director of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad Nilufa Banu, Mohammad Helali of Ongikar Bangladesh and Monisha Biswas of UN Millennium Campaign were among others present at the press meet.     

BDST: 1822 HRS, SEPT 6, 2010