FROM PAGE 16

the interim government’s move to bifurcate the National Board of Revenue, calling the process “half-baked” and incomplete.

“Incomplete reform creates more problems than having no reform at all,” he said, adding that a parliamentary committee is now reviewing the issue to make the reform more effective.

On corruption in public spending, the finance minister said the government is reviewing nearly 1,300 ongoing projects, many of which were allegedly undertaken for “personal interests”.

He added that future projects would be approved based on return on investment, job creation, and environmental protection.

Khosru also said corruption and red tape continue to obstruct business activities and service delivery.

“For energy security, we want to ensure at least three months of reserves so that there is no disruption in oil, gas, and power supply.”

Moderated by Bonik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud, the event was attended by business leaders, industrialists, politicians, and economists.

Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, said implementation often does not match policymakers’ intentions.

“In implementation, 20 to 25 percent of planned expenditure cannot be spent, revenue cannot be collected, and reform processes get stuck midway.”

Business leaders at the event urged the government to avoid raising taxes and simplify business regulations.

Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman of PRAN-RFL Group, warned that higher taxes would push products beyond consumers’ reach.

Mostafa Kamal, managing director of Meghna Group of Industries, said businesses were still struggling with a difficult regulatory environment despite the change in government.

Among others, Sharif Zahir, chairman of UCB Bank, Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, Md Ahteshamul Haque Khan, managing director of Dutch-Bangla Bank, also spoke on the occasion.