The finance adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam on April 2 said the present government’s drive against corruption might have caused a dent in the confidence of businessmen. But it was needed to check the unholy nexus between businessmen and a section of politicians he said, leaving out bureaucrats.

‘Some actions might have affected business confidence but those were needed for a fundamental change,’ said the adviser at the launching of the Bangladesh Business Directory organised by the International Chamber of Commerce.

The Board of Investment’s executive director, Kamaluddin Ahmed, and the FBCCI president Annisul Huq also addressed the function presided over by the ICC president Mahbubur Rahman. ‘There existed an unholy alliance between corrupt businessmen and a section of politicians,’ Aziz said. ‘The government is working to make a basic change which will prevent resurgence of the unholy nexus of corrupt businessmen and the politicians.’

The adviser said the image of the business community was being tarnished as a section of traders making maximum profits by unreasonably raising prices of essential commodities and thus bypassing their social responsibility. ‘Please convey the message to your colleagues that they should be socially responsible. Try to develop the image of the business community,’ Aziz told businessmen at the function.

He mentioned that the present government formed a high-profile Bangladesh Better Business Forum to widen interactions with business community and develop better environment and infrastructures. He said the past governments during the last 6 to 7 years could add no electricity generation capacity but the present government would be able add fresh electricity to the national grid by the end May as some rental power stations are nearing completion.

Referring to the fresh initiative of the present government to explore gas and oil in the offshore blocks, he blasted the campaigners opposing exploration of energy resources in argument of environment conservation. ‘A number of quarters are opposing offshore explorations and exploration of natural resources including coal. Why will we keep our people starving despite having natural resources? Should we go back to living in caves where there is no environmental pollution?’ he questioned.

Annisul Huq said after January 11, 2007, Bangladesh had been experiencing some changes. ‘Mindset of the people is changing, pattern of politics is changing and politicians are feeling that they will have to change.’ Annis said that not only was the politics of Bangladesh passing through sensitive period but also her economy as inflation was affecting both the consumers and businesses.

Kamal Uddin claimed that after passing a depression in investment, the country was now experiencing increased investments in the industrial sector. The head of the investment board said investment proposals registered by his organization during January-February 2008, was 15 per cent more than that of the corresponding period in 2007.

Mahbubur Rahman said the International Chamber of Commerce published the directory as an up-to-date guide book on investors in Bangladesh. He said the directory has provided information about the strength, weakness and opportunities for business in Bangladesh.