B Mirror Desk: Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a member of the BNP standing committee, stated on Tuesday that the country will not attract any investments until a democratically elected government is established. He noted that investment has been gradually declining over the past nine months, emphasizing that stability is essential for investment to occur.

He remarked that no investments would materialize until an elected government is in place, a principle that is widely recognized globally. Amir Khasru expressed these views during a memorial meeting at the National Press Club, commemorating the second anniversary of Zafrullah Chowdhury, the founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra. He highlighted Zafrullah’s significant contributions to the protests against Prime Minister Hasina and his efforts to unite various political factions against her regime.

Amir Khasru mentioned that investors raised concerns about the timing of elections during the last investment summit, asserting that neither domestic nor foreign investors would commit to the country based solely on appearances. He criticized the interim government for mimicking the actions of an elected government, referencing Hasina’s claims of prioritizing development over elections. He asserted that Bangladesh’s democratic progress remains stalled and can only commence with elections, pointing out that those advocating for reforms have been absent from public protests for the last 17 years.

While many have suggested reforms, he questioned the government’s lack of transparency regarding consensus on these issues. He warned against the notion that Hasina’s authority has been transferred to others, insisting that the ultimate decision-makers should be the citizens of Bangladesh. Additionally, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikya, raised concerns about the lack of genuine reforms, noting that corruption persists within the police force and that the same individuals continue to occupy positions in civil service and law enforcement without any changes.