BNP vows deregulation, easier business environment if voted to power

The BNP has pledged to pursue wide-ranging deregulation and ease of doing business reforms if it returns to power, reaffirming its commitment to a private sector-led growth model envisioned by party chairperson Khaleda Zia.

"Khaleda Zia believed firmly in the private sector–led growth. If we come back to power, we will revive that vision and move decisively towards deregulation," BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said today (5 January) while speaking at a condolence programme for Khaleda Zia organised by the International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICCB) at a city hotel.

Representatives from 17 leading business bodies were present at the event.

Explaining the party's approach, he further said deregulation meant reducing the cost of doing business, minimising physical interaction with regulators, and shifting services to online and real-time platforms.

"These ideas originate from Khaleda Zia's economic philosophy. This is what she wanted for the private sector, and this is how she envisioned sustainable growth," he added.

Recalling Khaleda Zia's political legacy, Khasru said she carried forward the torch of democracy handed down by martyred president Ziaur Rahman and upheld it firmly against authoritarian rule.

"Even during illness and adversity, she responsibly passed on the democratic torch to Tarique Rahman to ensure continuity in the struggle for democracy," he said.

He stressed that economic sustainability is impossible without democratic governance, noting that Bangladesh's own history has repeatedly demonstrated this connection.

"Without a democratic order, no country can ensure stable economic activity," he added.

The BNP leader also highlighted Khaleda Zia's role in shaping the country's economic foundations.

He said the process of empowering the private sector began under Ziaur Rahman and was further strengthened during Khaleda Zia's tenure, when private sector-led growth became the core economic policy framework.

According to him, Tarique Rahman is now carrying that vision forward.

"Khaleda Zia believed not only in political democracy but also in democratising the economy so that the benefits of growth reach ordinary citizens," Amir Khasru said, adding that many of the country's major economic reforms were introduced under her leadership.

He further noted that Khaleda Zia kept key institutions, including Bangladesh Bank and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), free from political appointments, which helped maintain stability in the financial sector.

"This is the reason why the capital market did not experience the kind of crises seen in later years," he added.

As an example of Khaleda Zia's trust in the private sector, Khasru cited the transfer of export-related certification responsibilities from a government body to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) during his tenure as commerce minister.

"It was a bold decision that required courage, but it has proven successful," he said.

He concluded by saying that a future BNP government would further empower capable private sector bodies to take on greater responsibilities as part of serious deregulation and institutional reform efforts.