Published : 13 Jun 2026, 11:50 PM
The government is set to form a special taskforce to oversee its deregulation drive aimed at simplifying business rules and improving Bangladesh’s investment climate, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said.
He made the announcement on Saturday while speaking at the Trade Growth and Economic Diplomacy Conference 2026 held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
The event was jointly organised by the International Trade, Investment and Technology Wing of the foreign ministry and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
The finance minister said the taskforce would be formed as part of broader government reforms to streamline regulatory procedures affecting businesses.
He expressed hope that the initiative would further strengthen a business-friendly environment in the country.
As a heavily bank-loan dependent financial system was restricting business growth, he said there was a need to reduce pressure on the banking sector.
He also stressed the importance of raising capital directly from the capital market for large investments.
Bangladesh, he said, must move towards a stronger capital market structure.
“High interest rates, mismatches between short-term deposits and long-term financing are not beneficial for anyone -- neither for banks nor customers,” he said.
Highlighting global financial trends, the minister noted that financing costs had increased worldwide due to shifts in multilateral and bilateral lending conditions.
“Even multilateral lenders who earlier offered loans below 1 percent are now charging between 1 and 2 percent or more,” he said.
The conference was inaugurated by Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, who outlined Bangladesh’s forward-looking economic diplomacy framework before local and foreign guests.
BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun presented the country’s investment potential, ongoing reform initiatives and opportunities for international partners.