The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday assured country’s business leaders that none of them would be unnecessarily harassed.

The government is commited to create an enabling environment for business and investment in the country. Actions designed to improve governance might have resulted in unintended negative fallouts. The private sector was assured of mitigation of the negative fallouts.

It is heartening to note that the government is considering to establish a high-level Regulatory Reform Commitee, 'Bangladesh Beter Business Forum,’ and undertake capacity building initiative in selected government institutions like BOI, BEPZA and EPB and put in place an effective monitoring and evaluation framework related to private-sector development

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed called upon the business community to conduct businesses without fear and support the emergence of a new social contract in Bangladesh.

The honest businessmen have nothing to be feared about as the number of corrupts is few. The Chief of Army Staff mentioned categorically that the (last) final list of corrupts will include 120 offenders and thereafter no new case will be initiated during this regime about past corruption.

The political reforms of the present administration is limited to cleaning up politics and dismantling the support bases of corruption in the business and the bureaucracy.

The Army Chief also floated an 11-point cardinal formula to intensify economic activities in the country. In his 11-point formula, the Army Chief focused on an 'interim development fund' and 'Bangladesh economic development commitee,’ among other things. The formula also recommended to avoid harassment of the business community by increasing beter emoluments to tax, anti-corruption and police department The government would not go beyond the acceptable norms and thereby harm the foundations of the economy. No businessmen should be called as culprits, The Army Chief said, he had no knowledge of any medium entrepreneurs being caught on corruption charges. No potential businessmen of calibre can be corrupt

Gen Moeen urged the government to pursue a holistic approach to economic development, accept the business community as a friend, contributor and goal seter that should regenerate our economic cycle aimed at poverty eradication.

Army Chief said our advantage should rest on potentials to produce products to meet domestic market, reduce dependency on foreign imports and utilise resources and acquire expertise.

The national unity and availing political maturity should be the greatest source of our strength, dynamism and creativity, he said adding that we have to face challenges of global economy and domestic market, including market liberalisation.

Gen Moeen said the caretaker government has received an overwhelming mandate of the population and still the majority is bearing pressure of high price, relocation, reforms and system improvement

FBCCI Director MA Rouf Chowdhury in his keynote paper titled 'Wake Up! A New Bangladesh Knocks on Your Door’ said business community is afraid of different drives and publications of corrupt lists has created a climate of fear among large sections of businessmen. He called upon the government to spare the many who were involved in pety corruption, but not the few who abused power to amass wealth.

Former BGMEA president said businessmen are the backbone of the nation. “If they pass their days in a sense of panic, the economy can’t perform well.We must bring back confidence in the businessmen to rein in the prices of essentials."

The nation feels relieved and reassured for the reason that the caretaker government has now decided to begin the new phase for regeneration of the country's economy essential for peace and progress. Punishing the corrupt ones was never the sole goal of the present government The government has now to restrain the overzealous ones who think fighting corruption is the end itself.