File photo of BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
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File photo of BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury today said that until an elected government comes to power in Bangladesh, no investor will take the risk.
“Bangladesh is being showcased as some kind of investment paradise. But in reality, investment has been steadily declining over the last 10 months. What we’re actually seeing is just a circus being presented in the name of investment,” he said during a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club this afternoon.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. “No, I don’t want to mention any names. They are not fools. Until an elected government comes to power in Bangladesh, no investor will take the risk,” Amir Khasru added.
He also said the behaviour, attitude, and speech of the interim government make it seem as if an elected government is running the country.
He further said, “This is the global investment reality. Investors will first see if Bangladesh has a government, whether it’s an elected and stable one. Investment isn’t a short-term matter; it’s long-term.”
Investment will only come when there’s an elected government, stability, and a clear investment policy, he added.
“But they are exaggerating the situation to create an impression that Bangladesh has become an investment paradise.”
“These are the same words Sheikh Hasina used to say — that Bangladesh is at the peak of development. Back then, it was said that there’s no need for elections, human rights don’t matter, we’re doing great work. And now, we’re hearing the same kind of things again,” he said.
Khasru said that no one’s going to invest in Bangladesh just by looking at someone’s face.
“Not even local investors, let alone foreign ones. This matter needs to be made clear. They’re trying to present an image that everything is booming in Bangladesh. But nothing’s really happening.”
The BNP leader said that without an elected government, economic recovery through investment is simply not possible.
He said that the people of the country have not given anyone the ownership to sit back and implement reforms while everyone else simply accepts their decisions; such a thing is not possible in Bangladesh.
Speaking on reforms, Amir Khasru said, “We haven’t even seen the faces of those now talking about reforms. Many of them were nowhere to be found on the streets during struggles. And now these same people are preaching reforms to us.”
“Some of them would show up occasionally, and when Sheikh Hasina’s pressure came down on them, they went into hiding and never came out. Now, after all this time, they’ve come out again and are giving us reform lectures.”
He further said, BNP had already proposed reforms before Sheikh Hasina even thought about fleeing.
“No one has handed over the ownership of this country to anyone to implement reforms. Reforms must come through democratic processes and with the support of the people. There’s no other way.”
Khasru said that Sheikh Hasina has left behind small autocrats.
“In the last 15 years, small dictatorships have emerged among us. This is reflected in speech, behaviour, and actions.”
“You can’t hold people hostage to serve the interests of a small group and then talk about reforms. You can’t impose things forcefully while ignoring the people. That’s over now. Those days are gone.”
On the issue of the humanitarian corridor, he said, there’s a geopolitical conspiracy being hatched around Bangladesh.
“Can’t you see what this so-called humanitarian corridor really means? Who is it being discussed with? An unelected government is taking such decisions on its own?”
“No political figure in Bangladesh knows about this. No one from civil society knows. Then whose agenda is this? What’s the motive? Are we trying to turn Bangladesh into another Gaza? Are we pushing Bangladesh towards a war zone again? For whose interest? These are the questions that are coming up. And who are these people behind this?”
An elected government would have discussed such matters with all political parties before making any decision, he added.
The BNP leader said, some claim the nation is divided, but I don’t see any such division.
“It’s only a small group trying to protect its interests. They think they can take Bangladesh hostage and run it to their will — but that’s not going to happen. The people of Bangladesh are united. They are united for democracy. They are united to reclaim their rightful ownership of this country.”
He said that the nation is united in restoring democratic order, and nothing can obstruct this process.
