Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said there is no personal agenda within the current administration, with the nation’s welfare being the sole focus.
His remarks were made on Monday (11 November), during his address as the chief guest at the third Bangladesh Economic Conference held at the Grand Ballroom of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.
He stressed that while Bangladesh has embraced the concept of a "Digital Bangladesh", the country has yet to fully realise the potential of digitalisation.
Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed highlighted that transparency and accountability remain crucial to achieving any substantial progress in this regard.
He outlined that the government has categorised the tasks at hand into three phases: short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals.
"While the interim government might initiate the medium-term projects, it will be up to the incoming political administration to tackle the long-term initiatives," he added.
However, he assured that the interim government is working to implement some long-term measures, particularly those backed by research, to bolster the nation's economy as swiftly as possible.
He further emphasised the urgency of making decisions quickly, particularly in areas such as banking, revenue, and regulatory frameworks. Despite the speed of decision-making, he clarified that these decisions are not being rushed at the expense of sustainability, assuring the public that the administration is carefully convincing the populace of the necessity of these actions.
Dr Salehuddin Ahmed also touched on the issue of inequality, acknowledging two distinct forms of disparity in Bangladesh: one that is visible and another that remains hidden.
He noted that wealth inequality, in particular, is sometimes more severe than income inequality. He pointed out that many rural citizens are unaware of the government opportunities available to them and are thus suffering from a lack of access to resources.
Dr Salehuddin Ahmed highlighted the unequal distribution of healthcare and education, criticising the fact that the poor often receive only minimal support, such as Vitamin A capsules or cholera vaccines, while their more serious medical conditions go untreated. This often forces them to sell their belongings and travel to Dhaka in search of better healthcare.
Lastly, he raised concerns about the management of several institutions in the country, citing the lack of competent leadership in many sectors. He explained that the failure to appoint qualified individuals at the right time has left many institutions weak. Furthermore, non-professional considerations have been made in some professional sectors, undermining their effectiveness.
