BIDA-BEZA chief describes PM as ‘good listener’

The Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, has described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a “good listener,” saying that he does not impose decisions on others.

“I had no prior experience of working with the Honourable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. However, over the past month, I have had the opportunity to spend time with him in several inter-ministerial meetings and one-on-one review sessions,” he wrote in a post on his Facebook account on Tuesday. 

He added, “Some of the Prime Minister’s leadership qualities have made me optimistic. Firstly, he is a good listener. He listens patiently to everyone and does not impose anything on anyone. Secondly, the Prime Minister is result-oriented in discussions. He asks questions like, ‘What outcomes will this initiative deliver, and how quickly?’ Thirdly, he is trying to lead by example—practising punctuality, courtesy, and simplicity himself.”

He further said, “In yesterday’s catch-up meeting, we shared our 180-day plan with him. As I have mentioned before, it is essential to establish a culture of accountability in government institutions.”

He noted that global foreign direct investment (FDI) is declining due to worldwide instability. “Therefore, alongside attracting foreign investment, we will focus on boosting domestic investment and supporting job creation,” he said.

However, he warned that potential energy shortages, along with other challenges, have created concerns among local businesses.

Taking these issues into account, the authorities have adopted 25 measures. These include the privatisation of closed and sick state-owned industries under public-private partnership (PPP) models, the formulation of free trade zone and defence industry policies, the exploration of alternative energy sources, the modernisation of management systems at seaports and airports to curb corruption and reduce lead times, the formation of a private sector advisory council for the Prime Minister, the expansion of the single digital platform for business services ‘BanglaBiz,’ and the completion of a Korea-Bangladesh free trade agreement under the leadership of the Ministry of Commerce.

He added that a results-based report card will be prepared after six months to assess successes and shortcomings.