They said necessary policy reforms are needed and intensive allocation for agriculture sector should be reached out to the proper persons for flourishing of the most potential agriculture sector, especially the agro-based industries in the country.

Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA), Chittagong chapter organised the roundtable at the Zilla Parishad auditorium with its president Professor Sekander Khan in the chair.

Former president of the BEA Dr Moinul Islam was the main discussant.

Noted scientist Prof Jamal Nazrul Islam, former vice chancellor of Chittagong University Prof Alamgir Mohammad Serajuddin, former first vice president of BGMEA S M Abu Taiyab, Prof Ershad Kamal Khan, president of Shop Owners Association, Chittagong Abdul Motaleb, industrialist Jahir Uddin, president of Institute of Engineers, Chittagong eng Ali Ashraf, Prof Ahsanul Alam Parvej, Dr Tofayel Ahmed, eng Abdul Baset and general secretary of BEA, Chittagong chapter, Khorshedul Alam Quadery, among others, took part in the discussion.

The speakers at the roundtable urged the government to develop necessary facilities outside the urban areas so that the entrepreneurs could take interest in setting up their industries in rural areas.

Micro-credit activities are not enough to deal with the abject poverty in the rural areas, rather setting up of small and medium scale industries in a bigger number would contribute to a great extent in reducing poverty side by side stopping migration of poverty-stricken people to the urban areas, they observed.

The speakers called upon the government to formulate effective measures in the next budget to arrest jumping price inflation, reduce dependence on foreign aid, combat corruption and ensure transparency in government organisations.