Elected Government Expected Next Year in Bangladesh: Planning Adviser

Planning and Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud has expressed optimism that an elected government will assume office next year. Speaking at the annual BIDS Conference on Development (ABCD) in Dhaka on Saturday, he clarified that this was his personal view, emphasizing, “I have no concrete information about what will eventually happen.”
The statement follows an earlier announcement from the Chief Adviser’s press wing on 24 November, which stressed that only the Chief Adviser is authorized to declare the election date. The press wing also noted that any comments on the matter by others represent their personal opinions.
Addressing the broader challenges of building a society based on equality, Wahiduddin Mahmud highlighted the severe resource constraints faced by the interim government. He revealed that substantial amounts of money have been laundered out of the country, creating a paradoxical situation: while people have deposits in local banks, the actual funds are no longer within Bangladesh.
The adviser pointed to the financial struggles of industrial conglomerates like Beximco as a case in point. He remarked that although the company’s balance sheets reflect significant assets, the liquidity needed to meet obligations, such as worker wages, is lacking.
The comments underscore the economic and political challenges currently facing the country as it prepares for potential elections next year.