"In the past, the way politics has been commercialized, sometimes it feels shameful to identify myself as a businessman. We feel that businesspeople have good management skills. We have seen how politics has been taken away from politicians and handed over to business people, who are, in reality, criminals. Businessmen don’t deserve the respect they get."

Sheikh Bashir Uddin, adviser of the Ministries of Commerce, Textiles, and Jute to the Interim government, made this statement while speaking at a panel discussion at the 3rd Bangladesh Economic Summit—2024, held yesterday (November 11) at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.

He said, "Many investments have been made in the past five to six years, claiming to be in contact with higher authorities. Under the guise of industrialization, money laundering has also taken place. We must work to eliminate this."

"The central bank governor has restored discipline and stability in the banking sector by balancing demand and supply. I believe that we need to find a similar solution for controlling inflation. In addition to increasing supply through imports and local production, if we can properly identify other factors involved, we hope to see a change in inflation."

The Adviser for Commerce, Textiles, and Jute said, "Thousands of people lost their lives in the student and public movements. We don't know how many were injured. The people's uprising is what gives legitimacy to this government. Today, we can express differing opinions and offer criticism; that, too, is a change."

He added, "I have complete trust and confidence in all of you. I will travel across the country to increase my connection with the people. I will try to make business costs easier with whatever capacity I have. In this regard, I urge you all to please participate. It is my responsibility to provide whatever you need."