Dhaka, Feb. 18 -- Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on his first day in office on Wednesday laid out an ambitious reform agenda centred on institutional recovery, deregulation and broad-based economic participation.

"Government's ability to deliver depends fundamentally on the strength and efficiency of its institutions," he said while speaking to reporters after assuming charge at the ministry.

He said that state institutions are currently in a poor condition and require urgent attention. "Our primary problem (right now) is that the state institutions are in a very bad shape. We have to address this first. The institutions must be improved."

Amir Khosru stressed that restoring professionalism, transparency and efficiency w...