Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said Bangladesh’s political situation has improved compared to the past, stressing that sustained stability is essential to attract investment, accelerate economic growth and create jobs.
“We believe that if we can ensure stability in the country, we will be able to move forward with our goals of economic development through increased investment and employment generation,” he said at a seminar titled “Cooperation on Markets, Policy, Alignment, Security, and Sovereignty” at a hotel in the capital.
The Institute of Strategy and Tactics Research organised the seminar.
Fakhrul, also BNP secretary general, said government initiatives such as family cards, farmer cards and canal excavation programmes have created hope among people.
However, he identified slow bureaucratic processes as a major barrier to investment, saying delays by government agencies often discourage foreign investors.
“The pace at which our agencies handle investment-related issues creates a negative situation. Foreign investors become frustrated. This has become a major problem,” he said.
The minister said the government is working to reform the bureaucracy and improve the overall investment climate, acknowledging that the current business environment remains unsatisfactory.
“Our Prime Minister is discussing the issue regularly and pushing all ministries to act quickly,” he added.
Highlighting challenges in the energy sector, Fakhrul said Bangladesh is moving towards renewable energy, particularly solar power, alongside efforts to explore oil and gas reserves both onshore and offshore.
He also stressed the importance of ensuring investment security, maintaining stability in the Bay of Bengal and fostering balanced relations with allies and neighbouring countries.
Mentioning the Rohingya crisis as a major challenge, he said the government is working towards a solution.
Fakhrul thanked the organisers for initiating the dialogue and expressed hope that it would lead to further discussions and constructive outcomes.
The seminar aimed to bridge the gap between national priorities and the interests of international partners by aligning immediate policy needs with long-term sovereign goals.
The event was organised in collaboration with Bangladesh Defence Journal and Change Initiative.
