Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the private research organization Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has stated that businesspersons’ bank accounts should not be indiscriminately frozen. She emphasized that unless there are major irregularities, frozen accounts should be unblocked, as otherwise it could have a negative impact on overall business activity, poverty levels, and employment.
She made these remarks on Saturday (September 27) at a shadow parliament debate competition titled “Bank Mergers to Restore Discipline in the Banking Sector”, organized by Debate for Democracy.
Fahmida Khatun further stated that economy and politics are interdependent. A strong economy cannot be managed under weak governance, and political stability is essential for a healthy economy. According to her, short-term governments are harmful to long-running economies, as they hinder investment and job creation. She stressed that timely elections and a politically mandated government are necessary to restore order in the financial sector.
She also noted that despite maintaining a few economic indicators over the past year, the overall crisis remains, and poverty is not decreasing. She criticized the previous government for lack of good governance in the banking sector, saying that more banks were approved based on political considerations, beyond actual need — something rarely seen elsewhere in the world. She also alleged that banks were used as tools for asset accumulation.
Regarding the current interim government’s initiative to merge weak banks, she described the move as complex and risky, noting that it has caused confusion and uncertainty among the public.
In his presidential address at the event, Hassan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron, Chairman of Debate for Democracy, claimed that during the previous Awami League government, some officials of Bangladesh Bank abused their power to benefit financial mafias. He said the country was then under a “mafia economy,” and alleged that several good banks, including Islami Bank, were looted.
He further alleged that these financial mafias not only embezzled depositors’ money but also laundered it abroad. As a result, bank customers are now gripped by fear and anxiety, with some unable to withdraw their own money even for emergency needs like medical expenses.
In the shadow parliament debate, the Dhaka Government Teachers’ Training College team emerged as the winner, defeating the debaters from Southeast University.
The panel of judges included:
- Professor Tazul Islam Chowdhury Tuhin
- Senior journalist Mainul Alam
- Professional accountant Abul Bashir Khan
- Journalist Md. Alamgir Hossain
- Journalist Refayet Ullah Mirdha
At the end of the event, trophies, crests, and certificates were awarded to the participating teams.
