Better business climate in Bangladesh?

By raheem

The Bangladesh government today launched the Better Business Forum (BBF). The body is going to be working directly under the Chief Advisor’s office with administrative support from the Board of Investments. The membership of the body is certainly impressive (see list below). In addition to the major sectors of the government, the group also consists of private representatives from the garments, telecommunication, technology, financial and agriculture sectors. The business community can now communicate their concerns directly at the top levels of government. Contrast this with what was happening only one and half years ago when a chosen few corrupt businessmen had access to the PMO’s office via bribery and backroom dealings! In this respect, there is now greater transparency.

It will be interesting to observe the effectiveness of the BBF. If successful, this could be the start of a renaissance in Bangladeshi entrepreneurial climate. For a long time our entrepreneurs succeeded in spite of the government. Now, perhaps they can achieve greater heights of success with a little help from the government.

• Bangladesh Better Business Forum
• Adviser for industries, communications, power, energy and mineral resources,
• Adviser for law, justice and parliamentary affairs
• Adviser for foreign affairs,
• The army chief,
• Cabinet secretary,
• Principal secretary to the chief adviser,
• Bangladesh Bank governor,
• Principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division,
• Chairman of the National Board of Revenue,
• Finance secretary,
• Commerce secretary,
• Industries secretary,
• Law secretary,
• FBCCI president
• DCCI president
• CCCI president
• MCCI president,
• BGMEA president
• President of Bankers Association of Bangladesh,
• President of Consumers’ Association of Bangladesh,
• Renowned economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmad,
• Founder and chairperson of Brac Fazle Hasan Abed,
• BKMEA president,
• BTMA president,
• Former president of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters’ Association SyedMahmudul Huq,
• Managing Director of Renata Ltd Syed S Kaisar Kabir,
• Director of Kazi Farms Ltd Kazi Zisan Hasan,
• Group CEO of Rahimafrooz Bangladesh Ltd Samir Asaf,
• MD of Information Solution Ltd Syed Shapir Khasru,
• Chairman of AKTEL Bangladesh Salahuddin Kashem Khan,
• Chairperson of Bangladesh Tea Association Laila Rahman Kabir and
• Professors of economics at Dhaka University Dr Md Ali Taslim and Dr SM Asikuzzaman