The country could have progressed more if its economy is made vibrant by controlling corruption in an honest, efficient and effective manner, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yesterday said.

"We must be able to reach our expected goal with our own capability. If we can avoid misuses and distortions existing in different areas of our economy, it would make our economy vibrant in an effective, efficient and transparent manner," he said.

Kamal made these comments while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of Mujib Corner and Bangabandhu Mural at Janata Bank. The minister joined the programme through a virtual platform.

Citing a quote of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that says independence would be valueless if each countryman cannot get food, accommodation and a sound life, the minister urged all to continue working to achieve economic emancipation as dreamt by the father of the nation.

Mentioning that Bangabandhu desired for Bangladesh to be amongst developed countries, Kamal said the country's first step towards that direction is to attain graduation from the least developed grouping.

Every country that got an opportunity to make progress at one time or another acted promptly to make it possible, Kamal said while stressing on the need for capitalising on opportunities created by demographic dividend.

Emphasising on the components of the fourth industrial revolution, such as robotics, nanotechnology and biotechnology, Kamal said Bangladesh needs to exploit areas of the economy that are yet to be harnessed.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir termed Bangabandhu's 7th March Speech in 1971 as the greatest ever compared to two famous speeches, including the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and the 'I have a dream' speech by Martin Luther King Jr in 1963.

He said both speeches aimed to end discrimination against black people of America but that dream is yet to be achieved while Bangabandhu's first dream of geographic freedom was achieved within nine months of his speech.

Besides, the other goal to attain economic emancipation is about to be materialised through the country's graduation from a least developed country.

He also urged Janata Bank to focus on its capital adequacy ratio and non-performing loans.

Ashadul Islam, senior secretary of the Financial Institutions Division; Md Abdus Salam Azad, managing director and CEO of Janata Bank; and SM Mahfuzur Rahman, vice chancellor of the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, also spoke at the event.