Pm Mirror Report: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has chaired the inaugural meeting of the Private Sector Advisory Council at his Tejgaon office, marking the launch of a formal platform to strengthen government-business engagement and improve the country’s investment climate.
According to a press release from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), the newly formed council is the first of its kind in Bangladesh, aimed at enabling business leaders to provide structured, timely and candid feedback directly to the govts highest level on key economic and policy issues.
The council comprises prominent business figures, including ACI PLC Managing Director Dr Arif Dowla, Apex Footwear Managing Director Syed Nasim Manzur, Runner Group Chairman Hafizur Rahman Khan, PRAN-RFL Group Chairman and CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Bay Group Managing Director Ziaur Rahman, Incepta Group Chairman and Managing Director Abdul Muktadir, DBL Group Managing Director Md Abdul Jabbar, Rangs Group Managing Director Sohana Rouf Chowdhury, and Pacific Jeans Group Managing Director Syed Mohammad Tanvir.
Senior government officials also attended the meeting, including Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Energy Adviser Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, State Minister Anindya Islam Amit, Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin, and BIDA Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun.
The prime minister delivered opening remarks, followed by an interactive discussion covering a range of issues such as regulatory reforms, energy supply, human capital development, taxation policies, logistics, export diversification and foreign direct investment (FDI).
Council members welcomed the initiative, describing it as a positive step toward fostering a more open and business-friendly environment through closer collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The council is expected to prepare a set of recommendations along with a time-bound action plan to address immediate challenges facing businesses. The prime minister also directed members to incorporate global best practices and evidence-based policy benchmarks to enhance Bangladesh’s competitiveness.
BIDA will act as the coordinating body, working with relevant ministries and agencies to implement the proposed measures.
BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury termed the council a key reform initiative, saying it would ensure sustained private sector input at the highest policymaking level and support the country’s broader investment and reform agenda.
