Bangladesh on Track for Trillion-Dollar Economy: Minister

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today spoke to journalists at Shah Amanat International Airport during his visit to Chattogram.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said Bangladesh is steadily moving towards becoming a trillion-dollar economy, driven by rising domestic and foreign investment and a long-term development strategy.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists at Shah Amanat International Airport during a visit to Chattogram on Friday.

The minister said the national budget has been designed to maximise regional economic potential, attract investment and strengthen growth across key sectors.

He noted growing inflows of foreign direct investment, capital market participation and interest from international fund managers, reflecting renewed investor confidence.

“The budget has been prepared for the benefit of Bangladesh, taking into account the unique potential of different regions and how best to utilise those opportunities,” he said.

Highlighting Chattogram’s strategic importance, Amir Khosru said the government is working to transform the port city into a regional logistics and trade hub.

He said initiatives include a proposed 600-acre free zone in Anwara across the Karnaphuli River, alongside several port development projects aimed at improving capacity and efficiency.

Plans are also underway to upgrade Shah Amanat International Airport into a major cargo and passenger hub, while a Chinese economic zone will be established in the Chattogram region.

The minister added that rail connectivity between Dhaka and Chattogram is expected to improve significantly, with travel time potentially reduced by around two hours after upgrades to the Laksam railway section.

He said major projects in Matarbari are also progressing, with the overall goal of strengthening the region’s logistics infrastructure.

Amir Khosru described these initiatives as long-term in nature, noting that full implementation will take several years but work would begin as early as possible.

Referring to macroeconomic challenges, he said the government inherited a fragile economy and is also facing external pressures, including global geopolitical tensions.

“Our immediate priority is stabilising the economy before fully unlocking our development potential,” he said.

He expressed optimism that stronger economic momentum would emerge in the coming years, paving the way for sustained high growth.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain, Chattogram Development Authority Chairman Engineer Belayet Hossain, and BNP leader MA Aziz were present at the event.