Kaushik Basu Speaks at Syed Humayun Kabir Research Conference 2026

Capital city Dhaka hosted the Syed Humayun Kabir Research Conference 2026 at a local hotel on Thursday, bringing together prominent intellectuals and economists to discuss pressing economic issues. The high-profile academic and research gathering was jointly organized by two notable institutions, namely the Banglar Pathshala Foundation and the Sajeda Foundation.

Renowned economist Kaushik Basu participated in the conference as the keynote speaker, delivering his address virtually to the assembled experts, researchers, and attendees. His remarks centered on the pressing economic challenges facing contemporary society, with a particular focus on wealth concentration and the urgent need for reassessing current economic strategies.

Addressing the audience during the conference, keynote speaker Kaushik Basu highlighted the alarming trend of wealth concentration within society. He stated that vast amounts of wealth are currently concentrated in the hands of only a handful of people, leading to inequality that is now reaching unprecedented heights and touching the sky.

Expanding on his critique of current economic disparities, the eminent economist emphasized that the existing levels of inequality have crossed acceptable boundaries and become utterly unacceptable. Consequently, he asserted that it is vital to thoroughly examine what policy alternatives currently lie ahead of us and to initiate fresh thinking regarding these choices.

Furthermore, Kaushik Basu noted that the present moment has arrived to fundamentally reevaluate the very definition of development. He urged researchers and policymakers to seriously reconsider what we actually mean by development today and what specific kinds of policy alternatives are available to address these systemic challenges effectively.