NN Online:
The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) on Wednesday said the interim government for failing to tackle key market irregularities, including extortion, hoarding, and irrational price-fixing of essential goods, as inflation remains persistently high.
CPD Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun said it was regrettable that steps taken by the interim government have so far failed to bring down prices of essential commodities.
She made these remarks during the briefing organised by the CPD to present its assessment of the state of Bangladesh’s economy for FY25.
“The sooner a conducive environment is created, the faster the election can be held. There is no reason to delay it,” CPD Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun said on Wednesday.
Dr Fahmida underscored the importance of setting a clear timeline for elections, suggesting a window between December 2025 and June 2026.
“Uncertainty is inherent in any temporary system,” she noted. “An interim or caretaker government operates for a short time, while a political government holds a longer-term mandate from the people.”
She said a government without a public mandate cannot remain in power indefinitely and emphasised the urgent need for stability to foster business and investment confidence.
“For business and investment, stability is urgently needed, organisational stability which will work with skill and accountability,” she said.
Dr Fahmida also pointed out that ongoing policies and reforms would ultimately depend on an elected government for implementation.
“In such an uncertain situation, major investments will not materialise. Big decisions, structural changes, and organisational transformations cannot move forward without stability,” she said. “That is why holding elections is essential, and we continue to advocate for it.”
CPD’s Distinguished Fellow, Dr Mustafizur Rahman, echoed similar sentiments, saying that political and economic reforms are not mutually exclusive and can proceed simultaneously.
He emphasised the need for democratic processes within political parties to ensure sustainable governance.
“I personally believe the country must progress through a democratic process swiftly,” Dr Rahman said, urging for continued political and economic reforms.
“These reforms are critical for our future,” he concluded.
