Bangladesh must move away from a cheap labour-dependent economy that relies primarily on the readymade garment sector and remittance inflows, eminent economist and BRAC Chairperson Hossain Zillur Rahman said at a public lecture on Thursday.
He said the country struggled to translate democratic principles into state practices and failed to fully harness its demographic dividend, leaving the economy trapped in stagnation. The lecture, titled "What Drives Change: Today's Questions," was held at the Manzur Elahi Auditorium of East West University, where Mr. Rahman delivered the keynote address, emphasising that the key to change lies in the hands of citizens.
In his address, Mr. Rahman identified six key drivers of change -- narrative, institutions, norms, initiatives, power, and interest groups and highlighted how both the positive and negative aspects of these drivers impact the nation's economy.
"If we fail to sustain positive norms, the changes we witness today may eventually regress to the old order," he said, citing the example of Dhaka, where many longstanding problems related to cleanliness and civic management continue despite the 2024 Uprising.
To bring about lasting change, Mr. Rahman called for redefining the role of the state as a service-oriented institution accountable to citizens rather than one positioned above them.
He also underscored the need to strengthen professionalism across sectors, improve the quality of education with a forward-looking vision, and foster social values centred on cleanliness, transparency, and accountability.
Drawing historical parallels with 1947, 1971, and 2024, Mr. Rahman said the enduring aspiration of Bangladeshis for positive change remained the country's greatest strength.
Presiding over the programme, Prof Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of East West University, said the benefits of national development had yet to reach many vulnerable and marginalised people.
He called for special attention to healthcare and education for underprivileged population and urged action to address the growing deficit of social equity.
East West University Vice-Chancellor Prof Shams Rahman delivered the welcome address.
nsrafsanju@gmail.com