Published : 02 Aug 2026, 02:11 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:29 AM
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sat down with Bangladesh’s leading businessmen and industrialists for four hours, as concerns over the state of the economy took centre stage in a wide-ranging exchange.
The meeting, organised by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon on Saturday, his Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu said.
"The prime minister exchanged views with the country's top businessmen and industrial entrepreneurs, who raised concerns about the current state of the economy.
“He listened intently and issued the directives to officials to address them.”
Discussions ranged across the investment climate, the energy crunch, industry-wide bottlenecks, tax policy and foreign investment.
Business leaders pressed their case on power and energy supply, the tax regime, regulatory snarls and building an investment-friendly environment.
Among those present were Apex Group's Syed Nasim Manzur, PRAN-RFL Group's Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Meghna Group's Mostafa Kamal, DBL Group's MA Jabbar, alongside top leadership from Incepta Group, Runners Group, Pacific Jeans Group, ACI, Bay Footwear, Runner Group, Walton Group and Jamuna Group, among other major business houses.
Shiplu quoted the prime minister as saying “the government's sole aim was to serve the country and its people. There are challenges in certain areas, but we can overcome them if we work together”.
Tarique added that both the government and the business community recognised the economy's existing problems, and that dialogue between the two sides would continue.
On businessmen's grievances, the premier said many of the issues previously raised had already been resolved, while fresh concerns raised at the meeting would also be addressed.
"We all acknowledge there are plenty of problems. The government has certainly proven that we're making the effort. We're not even six months old yet, and we've already met several times -- first with you directly, then with the forum.
“We're working through sector-specific issues.”
The deputy press secretary said the prime minister would meet business leaders again within the next three months.
"The more often we sit together, the better we'll understand your problems and be able to resolve them," Tarique said, according to Shiplu.
He added that effective solutions emerge from prolonged, candid dialogue, and voiced optimism that sustained talks of this kind could bring about positive change in the economy within the next four to five years.
The meeting was told that of 28 issues raised in a previous sit-down with businessmen, decisions had been reached on 21, with the remaining seven still under process.
Business leaders also presented a roadmap to push the country's export earnings to $100 billion by 2030.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, the Prime Minister's Planning Advisor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostaqur Rahman, and other senior government officials and industry representatives attended the meeting.
After the meeting, PMO spokesman Mahdi Amin said the government had decided to launch uninterrupted 24-hour services at the country's ports to make import-export trade more dynamic and efficient, a move that would take effect soon.
