Business leaders fume as finance, commerce ministers leave pre-budget meet midway

Tension flared at a high-level pre-budget consultative meeting today (29 April) as business leaders expressed deep resentment over the decision of the finance and commerce ministers to leave the event halfway through the proceedings.

The meeting, jointly organised by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at a hotel in Dhaka, is considered the most significant formal dialogue between the private sector and the government ahead of the national budget.

The discontent began at approximately 11:30am, shortly after the session commenced, when Md Abdur Rahim Khan, FBCCI administrator and additional secretary of the commerce ministry, announced that Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir would have to depart early to attend a parliamentary session.

The announcement was met with immediate and vocal protests from the entrepreneurs and trade leaders in attendance.

Imran Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Restaurant Owners’ Association, criticised the departure, questioning the government’s sincerity in engaging with the private sector.

He asked why the meeting was scheduled for today if the ministers could not stay, suggesting it should have been moved to a different date to avoid such “neglect” of the private sector.

Imran also directed his frustration toward the presence of government officials in leadership roles within trade bodies like the FBCCI, questioning why the country’s business affairs were being overseen by bureaucrats.

“You called the businessmen, and now, just after the meeting started, you are saying that the ministers will leave. So why did you hold the event today? Why didn’t you call for another day? Why are you neglecting the private sector so much?” he asked.

The restaurant owners’ association chief’s remarks drew visible support from other business leaders in the hall, who thrashed tables in approval.

In response to the outcry, Minister Abdul Muktadir explained that they were also required to attend another major programme scheduled for 12:30pm, which involved local and foreign businessmen as well as leaders from the readymade garment sector.