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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government is fully supportive to ensure the business-friendly environment in the country.
Describing the private sector as the driving force of the economy, she said the private sector will be the key player while the government will act as the facilitator.
Sheikh Hasina remembered that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also emphasised on the private sector and included the private sector in the first constitution of independent Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister came up with the statement while addressing the Businessmen Conference 2018 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on Wednesday, report UNB and BSS.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) organised the event with the theme 'Bangladesh Towards Peace and Prosperity'.
Around 2500 businesspersons from all over the country attended the programme. FBCCI President Md. Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin chaired the discussion.
The Prime Minister said the drive against militancy, terrorism and drugs will continue while the government will show zero tolerance against corruption.
The Awami League chief also reiterated that she does not want to go to power by any means which may destabilise the present peaceful situation in the country.
"I do not have any desire to go to power by any means possible...if we can get elected by people's vote then it's Alhamdullillah. If we can't retain power, there is no problem. Let peace prevail in the country," she said.
She said her party wants to see a peaceful election in the country as many political parties are contesting the 11th general election of the country.
Hasina mentioned that the country will advance further if the peaceful situation prevails.
She sought support from the businesses community for the 'Boat' to maintain the pace of development and finish the incomplete development projects to make the country developed and prosperous one.
"We have taken so many projects including some mega projects, we need more time to complete those," Hasina said.
Top business leaders and entrepreneurs termed the Prime Minister as the ‘symbol of hope’ for the entire business community and common people.
“We want continuation of the policy and functioning of the regulatory body consistently and predictably to take forward the country to that level that we are dreaming for,” FBCCI president Shafiul Alam Mohiuddin said.
“Sheikh Hasina never considered which businessperson is Awami League or non-Awami League. Many big deals were held in the country in the last ten years. But none can say they had to face interference of any entity like ‘Hawa Bhaban’ or give any bribe for doing business,” Beximco Group Salman F Rahman said.
Former FBCCI presidents Mahbubur Rahman, Salman F Rahman, Mir Nasir Hossain and AK Azad, and Rokeya Afzal Rahman, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Chamber (MCCI) president Nihat Kabir, Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Siddiqur Rahman, Alhaj Sufi M Mizanur Rahman, Incepta Pharmaceuticals managing director Abdul Muktadir, ACI chairman Anis Ud Dowla, GP CEO Michael Foley, managing director of Microsoft Bangladesh Sonia Bashir Kabir, City Group chairman Fazlur Rahman and Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services BASIS) president Syed Almas Kabir also spoke at the programme .
It was also addressed by president of Leather Goods And Footwear Manufacturer & Exporter's Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) Saiful Islam, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Abul Kashem Khan, Bashundhara Group chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, Berger Paints managing director Rupali Chowdhury, Mohammadi Group managing director Rubana Haq, lawmaker AKM Selim Osman, former president of BGMEA Engineer Kutub Uddin Ahmed, lawmaker Tipu Munshi, former BGMEA president Atiqul Islam, Anwar Group managing director Manowar Hossain, Abdul Momen Sugar Refinery chairman Mainuddin Momen, BSRM Group chairman Ali Hossain Akbar FCA, former BGMEA president Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez, Dokan Malik Samity President Helal Uddin and Captain Anisur Rahman Sinha of Opex Group.