B Mirror Report: Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said Bangladesh is moving towards becoming a trillion-dollar economy, supported by rising domestic and foreign investment and the government’s long-term development strategy.

Speaking to journalists at Shah Amanat International Airport during a visit to Chattogram on Saturday, the minister said the national budget was designed to unlock the economic potential of different regions while attracting greater investment, including foreign direct investment (FDI), capital market funds and international portfolio investment.

Highlighting Chattogram’s strategic importance, Amir Khosru said the government plans to transform the port city into a regional logistics hub through a series of infrastructure projects. These include establishing a 600-acre free zone in Anwara, developing a Chinese economic zone, expanding port facilities and upgrading Shah Amanat International Airport into a major cargo and passenger hub.

He also said the government aims to cut rail travel time between Dhaka and Chattogram by around two hours through improvements to the Laksam railway section, while major development work is also planned in the Matarbari area.

The finance minister acknowledged that implementing the large national budget would be challenging, citing a fragile economy inherited from the previous administration and continued pressure from the Middle East conflict. He said the government’s immediate priority is to stabilize the economy before accelerating long-term growth.

Expressing optimism, Amir Khosru said Bangladesh’s economic outlook is expected to improve in the third and fourth years of the current government’s tenure, bringing the country closer to its goal of becoming a trillion-dollar economy.