Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to hold his first formal meeting with leading business figures to discuss the country’s investment climate and challenges facing the industrial sector.
The meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday morning at the Prime Minister’s Office, according to official sources. Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir are expected to attend.
Officials said the discussion will focus on overall investment conditions, stagnation in the industrial sector, bureaucratic complexities, and policy barriers. Business leaders will have the opportunity to directly present their concerns, expectations, and potential opportunities to the Prime Minister.
The meeting will also mark the formal launch of the ‘Private Sector Advisory Council’, a new platform aimed at creating structured dialogue between policymakers and business leaders.
Formed under the Prime Minister’s leadership, the council will include the finance and commerce ministers along with nine prominent entrepreneurs representing key sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, footwear, automobiles, and consumer goods.
Stakeholders believe the meeting holds significant importance as it represents the first formal engagement between the new government and the business community, potentially outlining future policy directions and priorities for an investment-friendly environment.
It is worth noting that the idea of forming such a council was initially proposed in early 2025 during the interim government, drawing on international practices to improve the business climate. The plan was publicly mentioned by Chowdhury Ashik Bin Harun, chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), in February last year, though no further progress had been reported until now.
