Dhaka: The office bearers of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), led by its President Taskeen Ahmed, paid a courtesy visit to the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, A B M Abdus Sattar, at the Secretariat in the city. During the meeting, Ahmed highlighted the need for priority measures to sustain livelihoods, employment, industrial production, and economic activities in light of the ongoing energy crisis linked to the Middle East conflict.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Taskeen Ahmed emphasized the importance of effective initiatives and coordination with the private sector to address these challenges. He appreciated the government’s consideration to defer Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) status and stressed the need for continued engagement with international institutions. Ahmed called for proactive measures to tackle post-LDC graduation challenges, emphasizing private sector involvement and implementation of their recommendations.
Ahmed noted that the CMSME sector has faced significant challenges due to the ongoing crises since the COVID-19 pandemic, despite its substantial contribution to the national GDP and employment. To support SME entrepreneurs, he urged the government to introduce measures such as low-interest loans, simplified access to credit, and tax incentives.
During the meeting, A B M Abdus Sattar assured that the government remains committed to fulfilling public aspirations and will continue engaging with the private sector to address emerging challenges and accelerate industrial activities. DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury, Vice President Md Salem Sulaiman, and Secretary General (Acting) Dr A K M Asaduzzaman Patwary were also present at the meeting.