Pat or Scold—Whatever It Takes: Economic Adviser

Economic Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed expressed grave concerns about the state of governance and institutional efficiency in Bangladesh, remarking that the system has been so deeply compromised that it now requires both persuasion and reprimand to get anything done.

“There are hardly any functional institutions left,” he said. “Legal procedures have been blatantly violated, systems have been dismantled, and the people—well, they’re still the same. There’s been no real change in human behaviour. Some suggest scrapping everything and starting over, but that’s not possible. That’s why we have to pat people on the head, and when that fails—scold them into action.”

He made these remarks on Saturday (26 July) during a book launch and discussion held at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka. The event marked the publication of economist and former caretaker government adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman’s new book titled “Economy, Governance and Power: A Chronicle of Everyday Life.” Dr Ahmed attended as the chief guest.

Governance Challenges and Institutional Decay

Dr Ahmed emphasised the critical lack of good governance:

“Good governance is extremely difficult to achieve. The Prime Minister and Members of Parliament are not subjected to adequate checks and balances. Without reform at this level, no amount of administrative change will make a difference.”

He added that political parties themselves require structural reform, suggesting that the issue lies not just within the government but in the wider political culture.

Alarming State of the Banking Sector

The former Bangladesh Bank governor highlighted the worsening condition of the banking sector, referencing the situation the current government inherited:

He referred to a recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF):

“Initially, the IMF estimated that $18 billion would be needed to restructure Bangladesh’s banking sector. Now, that estimate has been revised to $35 billion.”

Need for Structural Reform Across the Board

Dr Ahmed argued that reforms must go beyond surface-level measures:

• Institutions need rebuilding, not just policy tweaks.
• There is a persistent disconnect between political rhetoric and administrative action.
• Civil service and public administration suffer from inertia and lack of accountability.

Event Overview

The event brought together notable voices from the academic and civic landscape, underscoring the need for urgent dialogue and action on economic reform, institutional integrity, and political accountability.

Dr Ahmed’s candid remarks painted a sobering picture, but also echoed a call to action: to rebuild with courage, reform with sincerity, and govern with accountability.