DHAKA: Former governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) Farash Uddin Ahmed Saturday said consensus about economic affairs is a must to be a middle income country within 2030.

The economist came up with the observation while addressing the second session of the first meeting of Bangladesh Economic Forum titled ‘Challenge of Export Lead Growth’ at a city hotel in the afternoon.

He also said, “The speed of our development is reasonable but we need an entrepreneurship to be a middle income country within 2030. For that we need a strong consensus about economic affairs.”

“Over emphasis on roads ignoring train route and waterways is our weakness,” he added.

He urged the authority to ponder over the rail route and waterways citing examples that the countries that understood the importance of rail route have developed.

State Minister for Finance and Planning Affairs MA Mannan presided over the program.

BB governor Dr Atiur Rahman, deputy governor SK Sur, former governor Saleh Uddin Ahmed, Professor Michael Lipton, economist Kholiquzzaman and managing director of Investment Corporation of Bangladesh Dr Fayekuzzaman were among others present. 

BDST: 2210 HRS, JUN 21, 2014