Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) and Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin on Tuesday assured the political parties that the government would not take any decision that might be conflicting with national interests.
"We will certainly not take any decision that might be conflicting with the national interests," he said while exchanging views with the leaders of some political parties on the investment climate.
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The political parties at the meeting called for giving top priority to protecting the country's sovereignty, regional security and national interests. 'We want to assure you that no decision will be taken outside the national interest.”
He expressed the hope that such positive discussions with political parties will continue on a regular basis.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) organised the event at its office seeking suggestions from the country's political parties on policy continuity, ongoing reform activities and its recent progress to ensure a sustainable investment environment in Bangladesh.
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Representatives from 16 political parties -- Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Nagorik Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Gana Songhati Andolan, Gana Odhikar Parishad, Amar Bangladesh Party, Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Communist Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islami Front, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Islamic Front Bangladesh -- participated in the meeting, according to the Chief Adviser's press wing.
Ashik Chowdhury said investment and employment are the national interests of Bangladesh and it is above party or political interests.
Noting that Bida is continuously working to create a congenial environment for investment in Bangladesh, he said there are various crises in the field of investment in our country.
Bida Head of Business Development Nahian Rahman Rachi gave a presentation on Bida’s activities at the meeting.
He briefly discussed the Reform Plan and Progress Report and the response to the Investment Conference and the next steps.
He said based on discussions with more than 200 local investors and stakeholders, Bida has identified five problems for investment in Bangladesh.
These are Quality of Government Services, Policy Continuity, Industry Consultation, Eliminating Corruption and Access to Resources.
The political parties were informed about the steps Bida has already taken to resolve these problems and what steps it plans to take in the long term and their opinions were sought.
They praised the Bida reform plan and progress and expressed their full support for Bida's activities in creating an investment environment in the country.
The political parties urged the Bida authorities to give special importance to domestic investors as well as foreign investors.
Besides, the political parties suggested that the Bida authorities discuss with the relevant ministries and departments to develop skilled workers in the country, develop infrastructure, remove legal complications, protect the interests of workers and make environmentally friendly investments.
The Bida Executive Chairman said in their next presentation, the reform plan will be presented separately on local investors.