The event: On October 17, the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) launched its book State of the Real Economy at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka.
The headline message: PPRC executive chairman Hossain Zillur Rahman said the economy is “caught in a deep and complex structural trap” — a problem rooted in the country’s broader economic framework rather than a temporary setback.
Three symptoms he named: hardship for households; difficulties in employment and healthcare; and a growing debt burden alongside stagnant investment.
The proposal: Rahman called for a “transition compact” built on five pillars — economic democracy, new growth drivers, quality education, productive transformation, and governance for speed — and urged “immediate, comprehensive and effective action at the policymaking level.”
Who was in the room: FBCCI administrator Fazlul Haque and CPD distinguished fellow Mustafizur Rahman were among those attending, a sign that the framing is being heard by both business and the policy-research community.
Why it matters: The launch lands the same week the IMF warned of fiscal, financial and inflation challenges. A household-focused “real economy” lens adds evidence on how macro stress is felt on the ground, which official aggregates often miss.
What to watch: Whether any of the five pillars is picked up in government reform plans, and whether PPRC’s household data is used in budget and social-protection discussions.
Related reading: Economy caught in complex structural trap: Zillur Rahman — The Business Standard
