Bangladesh urgently needs competent and resilient institutions to navigate mounting global and domestic pressures, including geopolitical tensions and the imminent challenges of graduating from least developed country (LDC) status, prominent businessman Mahbubur Rahman has said.
At a time of heightened uncertainty, strong institutions are essential to absorb shocks, manage economic transitions and sustain policy credibility beyond political cycles, he noted, stressing that institutional strength will be decisive in safeguarding long-term stability and growth.
Despite Bangladesh's economic progress over the past couple of decades, the global environment has changed in ways that now pose fresh challenges for the country, said Mr Rahman, who is also the president of the International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICCB).
Mr Rahman made the remarks while speaking at a seminar titled 'Election, Politics & Economy of Bangladesh: The Way Forward', organised by the Institute for Democracy & Human Rights (IDHR) of Millennium University and held at a city hotel on Tuesday.
ICCB Vice-President and Ha-Meem Group Chairman A K Azad, Policy Research Institute Chairman Dr Zaidi Sattar, eminent lawyer Shahdeen Malik, and Executive Director of Khan Foundation and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Millennium University Rokhsana Khondoker were also present.
Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford Dr Mahreen Khan and World Bank Research Analyst and Programme Coordinator Nausheen Khan spoke as keynote speakers.
In his speech, the ICCB president also outlined key expectations from the upcoming government. Businesses can adapt to policy changes, but they struggle with uncertainty.
Emphasising institutional independence, Mr Rahman said key economic institutions, such as the central bank, regulatory authorities and the judiciary, must operate independently.
"Investor confidence depends not on personalities, but on systems," he added.
Economic reforms are effective when they are inclusive, which requires sustained engagement among policymakers, political leaders, businesses, labour representatives and civil society.
Elections should not interrupt this process; rather, they should reinforce and deepen dialogue. Transparent governance reduces corruption, while a free media improves accountability.
Bangladesh's future would not be determined by elections alone, nor by economic policies in isolation. The future government would work closely with all stakeholders, including the business community, to address upcoming challenges and ensure sustainable growth and development, he added.
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