The Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Monday drew a strong comparison between the current economic management team assembled by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and the teams that steered Bangladesh’s reforms during the administrations of President Ziaur Rahman (from 1977 onward) and Begum Khaleda Zia (1991–1996).
Speaking at a seminar marking the release of two key publications — “Bangladesh State of the Economy 2025” and “Sustainable Development Goals: Bangladesh Progress Report 2025” — at the NEC Conference Room of the Planning Commission at Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Alam said the present economic team may in fact surpass those historical benchmarks.
“I would say that the economic management team Professor Yunus has assembled is perhaps one of the finest Bangladesh has ever had,” the Press Secretary remarked.
“I do not know whether the team of Khaleda Zia from 1991–96, or even the team under President Ziaur Rahman from 1977 onward, was stronger. In my view, this team may actually be better.”
But the Press Secretary did not say anything about the BNP-Jamaat alliance government's 2001-2006 tenure.
He said that while the present government has undertaken major reforms and stabilisation measures, it still faces “mixed messaging” and a lack of adequate support from segments of the business community, especially at a time when the administration is trying to modernise core economic infrastructure such as the Chattogram Port.
Alam pointed out that the sectors that would benefit the most from port efficiency — particularly readymade garments — have not extended clear public support.
“If the Chattogram Port becomes efficient, the garment sector benefits first. Yet we have not seen a single welcoming statement from BGMEA or BTMA,” he said, underscoring what he described as a reluctance among business associations to align with policy reforms that reduce logistics delays and financial losses.
He criticised certain business leaders for what he called “motivated narratives” that misrepresent the state of the economy and overlook the administration’s achievements.
Referring to recent comments from a major business association leader, Alam noted, “Somebody who never did business 40 years ago, and who today exports US$700 million, now claims this is the worst time for business in 40 years. Such statements have no meaningful basis.”
He argued that these selective interpretations of data have clouded public understanding of economic realities.
“We have consistently seen cherry-picking of data over the last 16 months,” he said, adding that achievements have often been ignored while isolated negative indicators are amplified in the media.
Shakib shouldn't have run for AL; its leaders have blood on hands: Press Secy
On poverty data, Alam reiterated that recent debates were framed in a misleading manner, attributing sudden increases in poverty rates solely to the current administration.
He cited the World Bank’s assessment that poverty fell to around 21 percent by June and is projected to decline further.
“Yet the framing was as if poverty jumped from 20 percent to 28 percent during this government — an entirely distorted picture,” he said.
The Press Secretary also stressed that misrepresentation of issues such as gas supply shortages and port efficiency is undermining constructive economic debate.
“Professor Yunus and his administration want a healthy national debate. But some voices amplified in newspapers and TV are not presenting the real picture,” he said.
Alam emphasised that creating jobs remains the central economic priority, and that global investors repeatedly underscore the necessity of modernising the Chattogram Port for Bangladesh to become a competitive manufacturing hub.
“Every country that has grown did this. Yet the debate here has been hijacked by tiny groups being amplified far beyond their actual relevance,” he added.
He said that despite these challenges, the economic turnaround achieved within a short time under Professor Yunus’s leadership is “historic”, particularly given the extraordinary national transition of the past year.
“I am certain history will treat this government fairly,” he said.
“When people look back, they will recognise how Professor Yunus took over at an extraordinary moment and put the economy back on a path of growth.”