Dhaka, Aug 1, 2026 - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has assured Bangladesh’s leading business leaders that the government will take further steps to address economic challenges, improve the investment climate and remove barriers to industrial growth following an extensive dialogue with the country’s top entrepreneurs.
The four-hour meeting, organized by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) at the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday, brought together prominent industrialists, senior government officials and policymakers to discuss the country’s economic outlook, investment environment and business challenges.
According to Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu, business leaders highlighted concerns over energy shortages, taxation, regulatory bottlenecks, foreign investment and overall industrial competitiveness. The prime minister listened to the concerns and directed the relevant authorities to take necessary measures to resolve them.
Addressing the meeting, Tarique Rahman said the government’s primary objective is to serve the country and its people, emphasizing that the current economic challenges can be overcome through close cooperation between the public and private sectors.
He acknowledged that both the government and the business community are aware of the existing economic difficulties and stressed that regular dialogue would continue to ensure timely solutions.
The prime minister noted that many of the issues raised during previous consultations had already been addressed, while newly identified concerns would also receive prompt attention.
Officials informed the meeting that decisions have already been taken on 21 of the 28 issues raised during an earlier consultation with business leaders, while the remaining seven are currently being processed.
The prime minister also announced that similar meetings with business representatives will be held every three months to strengthen collaboration and accelerate reforms.
During the discussion, business leaders presented a roadmap aimed at increasing Bangladesh’s annual export earnings to US$100 billion by 2030, alongside recommendations to improve competitiveness, attract investment and sustain industrial growth.
The meeting was attended by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Power Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostaqur Rahman, senior government officials and leading representatives of the country’s major business groups.
Following the meeting, PMO spokesman Mahdi Amin announced that the government has decided to introduce 24-hour uninterrupted operations at the country’s seaports and land ports to facilitate faster and more efficient import-export activities, with the initiative expected to be implemented soon.
