Noted economists recommended focusing on macroeconomic stability, publishing the names of top loan defaulters, and forming a review commission on government expenditures.

Business leaders have demanded that the identities of wilful loan defaulters be disclosed for public shaming and for punishing them.

Pre-budget discussion for the upcoming fiscal year (2018-19) is going on in the fast track. Even though the Finance Minister will present the budget in parliament after more than a month, business associations are meeting the Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) almost every day.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith says that state owned banks and Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) will buy 60 percent shares of trouble-hit The Farmers Bank Limited.

CHITTAGONG Hill Tracts (CHT) has been one of the most underdeveloped, deprived and backward areas of Bangladesh.

FINANCE Minister AMA Muhith underlined an issue of considerable import at a pre-budget discussion with the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) on Saturday.