Published : 11 Aug 2026, 11:45 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:32 AM
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury says the government will not allow anyone to profit through political patronage.
He made the remarks after a meeting with port and customs officials in Chattogram on Tuesday, responding to a question about allegations of a network facilitating illegal goods clearance.
“Who is acquainted with whom will not matter under this government,” he said. “We will not allow any patronage business, no matter how powerful the person is, even if he is a minister.”
On the New Mooring Container Terminal, Khosru said whoever operates the port, domestic or foreign, must act in the interests of the public, industry and economy.
Asked about nearly 400 factories reportedly closing over three years, he said the government was working to lower business costs and improve competitiveness through deregulation, simpler economic processes and lower taxation.
A joint port-customs committee will be formed to resolve problems together, he said, reducing delays and costs that ultimately fall on businesses and consumers.
“We have identified each problem and decided what needs to be done,” Khosru said, adding that the decisions would be implemented soon to speed up imports and exports.
He said the reforms would strengthen investor confidence and help create jobs, boost exports and industrialisation, paving the way towards the government’s target of a $1 trillion economy by 2034.
