BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday said that if BNP comes to power, they will abolish the Financial Institutions Division (FID) of the Ministry of Finance to give full independence to the Bangladesh Bank.
He said it while speaking as the chief guest at the Economic Reform Summit held at a hotel in Gulshan. The event was organized by Voice for Reform, Brain, Innovation Consulting, Fintech Society, and Citizen Coalition.
BNP claims this department was created to control state-owned banks and to appoint preferred Managing Directors and board members for looting.
He said "This division was created to control state banks. Its purpose was to appoint chosen people as MDs and board members to help looting."
Salahuddin said that, BNP removed the department when they were in power last time, but Sheikh Hasina brought it back. So, if BNP returns to power, they will abolish it again.
BNP also said that Bangladesh Bank must be given full independencenot just autonomy to reform the financial sector and restore discipline. They also promised that all necessary reforms will be made to increase investment.
He questioned the recent decision to split the National Board of Revenue (NBR) into two parts, saying it will not work as long as bureaucracy controls both sections. He hinted that BNP has a different plan for NBR.
Regarding bureaucracy, he said a future BNP government will not clash with bureaucrats but will reduce their responsibilities so that power can be decentralised in every area of governance. Policymakers, he said, should make policies - not bureaucrats.
During the panel discussion, many experts shared their views on the country's economic problems.
Energy expert Dr. M Tamim said the country is facing a major energy crisis, and there has been no investment in local energy sources over the last 15 years. Instead, "about US $30 billion was spent on building power plants, where there were greater chances of corruption."
