Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today underscored that the real success of the national budget hinges on its effective implementation. Speaking at his first meeting with officials of the Finance Division, he expressed confidence that the Finance Division would be able to implement the budget successfully through coordinated efforts. "The budget has received appreciation from all sections of society. However, no matter how well a budget is prepared, its real success depends on successful implementation," he said.
Chowdhury emphasized the need to change the negative perception about bureaucracy through efficient and people-oriented service delivery. Drawing on his experience over the past four months, he said collective efforts could overcome any challenge. He urged officials to move beyond conventional approaches and adopt innovative ideas in line with the rapidly changing global environment.
The Finance Minister also called for creating a more participatory working environment by encouraging officials to express their opinions freely instead of limiting meetings to one-way discussions. He stressed the importance of open dialogue, mutual cooperation, and "out-of-the-box" thinking to improve policy implementation and institutional performance.
Describing the Finance Division as the driving force of the country’s economy, Chowdhury urged all officials to discharge their responsibilities with sincerity and professionalism in the national interest. He also underscored the need for objective and timely feedback from different wings of the Finance Division, saying such inputs would help the government make informed policy decisions.
Later in the day, speaking to reporters after a meeting at the Secretariat on the integrated development plan for Cox’s Bazar, the finance minister said the government had taken an initiative to prepare a comprehensive master plan to transform Cox’s Bazar into an international and regional tourism hub. He said the government was also reviewing the long-standing 50-metre and 500-metre development restrictions in coastal areas to facilitate planned tourism development while ensuring environmental protection.
