Bangladesh among top 22 countries with positive GDP growth amid pandemic: Hasan Mahmud

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said Bangladesh has secured a place in the list of countries that have maintained positive GDP growth during the coronavirus period.

A research institute in the United Kingdom has published a report that says Bangladesh is among the 22 countries that have marinated GDP growth amid the pandemic.

It also says Bangladesh will be the 25th largest economy in the world by 2035, said Hasan Mahmud as the chief guest at the biennial general meeting of the Chittagong Press Club on Tuesday.

"There is a great deal of criticism, but the reality is that according to the Bloomberg report, Bangladesh ranks above all other South Asian countries in dealing with covid-19 corona and ranks 20th in the world. Bangladesh has the world's highest population density and the lowest per capita agricultural land. Even then, the government was harshly criticised in television talk shows," he said.

"We think alongside constructive criticism, there should be praise and acknowledgement for good work. This will impede he state or society from moving forward. Democracy is ruined without criticism. Constructive criticism is the bedrock of democracy and one must have the integrity and strength of character to soldier through that criticism, which the Bangladesh Awami League and government of Sheikh Hasina do have," he added.

President of the Press Club Mohammad Ali Abbas presided over the event.

General Secretary Chowdhury Farid gave welcome remarks at the conference, which was conducted by Nazrul Islam, Joint Secretary of Chittagong Press Club. Former Presidents Abu Sufian and Kalim Sarwar; Vice President Salauddin Md Reza; Vice President, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Riaz Haider Chowdhury; President, Chittagong Journalists Union, Mohammad Ali also spoke on the occasion, among others.