BEA conference kicks off today

Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, president of Bangladesh Economic Association, speaks at a press meet yesterday to announce its three-day biannual conference in Dhaka.Photo: STAR

Contemporary economic and socio-political issues will be brought to light in the three-day biannual conference of the Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) beginning today.
“Recent issues, including recession, financial institutions, market economy, inequality, digital Bangladesh, regional cooperation and energy will be discussed at different sessions of the conference,” BEA President Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad told a press conference at its office in Dhaka yesterday.
Questioning the role of market economy, he pointed out that the ongoing recession is the outcome of the uncontrolled market economy.
“We want a welfare-oriented economy for sustainable development,” said the economist.
“Rural economy must be brought to the mainstream economy.”
Theme of the 2010 conference is 'Economy of the independent war's golden jubilee: How we want to see Bangladesh’.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
BEA General Secretary Prof Abul Barkat credited Bangladesh's economists for their crucial role during the Pakistan regime and post-liberation period.
“Economists successfully prepared the first five-year plan for the war ravaged Bangladesh,” said Barkat. After that the country's politics and society were criminalised, he added.
This year the BEA will award three persons (posthumous) gold medal for their extraordinary performance in their respective fields. They are Dr Sawdesh Ranjan Bose, SAMS Kibria and Bazlur Rahman.
Over 100 papers will be presented at the 12 sessions of the conference.