Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed stated today that no institutions in the country are currently in good shape.
He claimed that the previous government had taken 80% of the funds from the banking sector, which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates will require $35 billion for reconstruction.
Additionally, he noted that legal violations have occurred, and established processes have been destroyed.
Ahmed made these remarks at a book launch event held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka on Saturday.
He was the chief guest at the event for the unveiling of economist Hossain Zillur Rahman's book, "Economy, Governance, and Power: A Portrayal of Lived Life."
"The people involved are still here; they haven't changed," Salehuddin Ahmed commented. "Many suggest getting rid of everyone, but that's not possible. Therefore, we have to coax and prod them to get work done."
He further emphasized that there is a lack of "check and balance" on the power of the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament. He asserted that no reforms would be effective without reform in this area, and that political parties also require reform.
Regarding the nation's economic state, Salehuddin Ahmed said, "When this government took office last August, it became clear that such a situation is unprecedented globally. There has been an economic disaster. The previous government took 80% of the funds from the banking sector."
He added that the IMF has stated that $35 billion will be needed to reconstruct Bangladesh's banking sector, a figure higher than their initial estimate of $18 billion.
The event was presided over by the author, Hossain Zillur Rahman, and also featured a speech by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
