Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chair Tarique Rahman on Sunday said that his party was closely examining key economic and governance challenges raised by business leaders, including the law and order, banking sector distress, and energy shortages.
During an exchange with business leaders at the BNP chair’s office at Gulshan in the capital city, Tarique listened to their concerns about the overall situation in the country, business leaders told New Age after the meeting.
In response, he said that his team had already been conducting studies and researches on these issues, noting that around 80 per cent of the points raised by the business community aligned with the BNP’s existing findings.
Tarique said that efforts were under way to develop practical solutions to overcome the challenges, stressing that successful implementation would require cooperation among all stakeholders.
Acknowledging that the economy currently depends heavily on the private sector, the BNP acting chair sought active collaboration from business leaders to help expand employment opportunities and boost investment.
Tarique also assured the business community that, if entrusted with the responsibility of running the state, he would prioritise addressing their concerns, particularly those related to maintaining the law and order.
According to meeting insiders, the meeting started at around 7:00pm, with a number of prominent current and former leaders of key business chambers, trade bodies, associations, and major corporate groups in attendance.
Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, who attended the meeting told New Age that they mainly went there to convey condolences to the bereaved family of former prime minister and BNP chairKhaleda Zia.
He further said that they also discussed the current economic challenges facing the country, including the fragile law and order, energy crises, banking issues, foreign exchange constraints, and declining investment confidence.
Business leaders at the meeting emphasised the need for political stability, policy predictability, and reforms in the banking and energy sectors to support businesses and revive economic growth, said meeting insiders.
Those present included former FBCCI president Mir Nasir Hossain; BCI President Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury; BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem; former BTMA president Matin Chowdhury; MCCCI President Kamran T Rahman; BSMA President Moinul Islam Swapan; BAB President Abdul Hai Sarkar; and ICC Bangladesh Executive Member and Transcom Group CEO Simin Rahman.
Other participants were Uttara Motors Corporation Ltd chair Matiur Rahman; Sikder Group MD Amirul Haque; former BKMEA president Fazlul Haque; BCI senior vice-president Priti Chakrabarty; former FBCCI president AK Azad; Partex Group’s Azizul Kaiser Titu; Steel Mill Owners’ Association president Jahangir Alam; ICC Bangladesh president Mahbubur Rahman; BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan; BTMA president Showkat Aziz Russell; DCCI president Taskin Ahmed.
The attendees also included BGPAMEA president Md Shahriar; BAPI president Abdul Moktadir; Square Group MD Tapan Chowdhury; Meghna Group of Industries chair and MD Mostafa Kamal; PRAN Group chairman and CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury; BSRM chair Alihussain Akbar Ali; former BGMEA president Kutubuddin Ahmed; Bangladesh Employers’ Federation president Fazli Shamim Ehsan; former MCCCI president Nahid Kabir; former DCCI president Hossain Khaled; and UCBL chairman Sharif Zahir.
BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury was also present at the meeting.
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