[🇧🇩] Everything about the interim government and its actions

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Adviser Touhid Hossain ditches claims of giving up diplomatic passport

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday said reports claiming that he had surrendered his diplomatic passport are untrue, although he acknowledged that some of his colleagues have opted for ordinary passports to facilitate quicker visa processing due to travel-related issues. “He

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Adviser Touhid Hossain ditches claims of giving up diplomatic passport

UNB
Published :
Feb 01, 2026 20:00
Updated :
Feb 01, 2026 20:00

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday said reports claiming that he had surrendered his diplomatic passport are untrue, although he acknowledged that some of his colleagues have opted for ordinary passports to facilitate quicker visa processing due to travel-related issues.

“Here is where misinformation comes in. Neither my wife nor I have surrendered our diplomatic passports. My passport is with me. It would be highly unusual for anyone to surrender a diplomatic passport while their tenure is still in effect,” he told reporters when asked about the issue.

Hossain, however, confirmed that some have taken new passports, noting that it can make obtaining visas easier in certain cases.

But the Foreign Adviser did not mention who obtained the new passports.

In Bangladesh, diplomatic (red) passports are issued to top-ranking government officials, diplomats, and, depending on policy, certain high-ranking public representatives and their dependents.

Key holders include the President, Prime Minister (now the Chief Adviser), Speaker, Chief Justice, cabinet members (now Council of Advisers), diplomats and senior civil servants.

If they surrender their diplomatic (red) passports, they obtain an ordinary (green) passport.

Earlier, he spoke as the chief guest at the closing session of a training programme on election reporting.

Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) in cooperation with the UNDP and Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) hosted the training where former Bangladesh Bureau Chief of the Associated Press (AP) Farid Hossain was the facilitator of the two-day session.

UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh Stefan Liller, MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman and DCAB President AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the event conducted by DCAB General Secretary Emrul Kayesh.​

 

[Saif]

Why the hurry to sign deals?

Government’s haste to sign DP World deal ahead of election is perplexing

www.thedailystar.net

Why the hurry to sign deals?

Govt’s haste to sign DP World deal ahead of election is perplexing

The ongoing strike at Chattogram port over the interim government’s decision to hand over the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign operator has opened a Pandora’s box of questions. While we are not opposed to foreign investment aimed at improving port efficiency, management, and overall trade logistics, any deal involving a strategically vital national asset like the country’s principal seaport must be fully transparent. The proposed agreement with UAE-based DP World falls short on that count.


Little information is available regarding the terms of the proposal or the status of its evaluation, even though sources at the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) indicate that the government is preparing to sign the deal ahead of the election. But why the rush to conclude such a consequential agreement when fewer than 10 days remain before we welcome a new government?

Reportedly, the deal originated during the tenure of the previous Awami League government when an MoU was signed with DP World. After assuming office following the fall of the AL government, the interim administration revived the proposal. However, the contract was not awarded through a standard public bidding process. In March last year, a civil society organisation challenged the decision by filing a writ petition with the High Court. Although the court delivered a dissenting verdict on December 3, 2025, the Supreme Court, on January 29, rejected the petition, clearing the way for the government to move forward with the deal. The apex court noted that the awarding process complied with the 2017 Procurement Policy, which allows for direct selection in certain cases, and was consistent with the MoU signed during the AL era.

However, yesterday, a fresh petition was placed before a Supreme Court chamber judge seeking an order of status quo on the government’s move to award the contract to DP World. The petitioner's lawyer told The Daily Star that with the national parliamentary election imminent, executing the contract at such a critical juncture amounts to “executive high‑handedness, arbitrariness, and malafide exercise of power.” We, too, believe that such decisions should rest with an elected government operating under a functional parliament, where opposition voices can scrutinise long-term strategic agreements involving ports, energy, and other critical infrastructure. A non-political interim government, formed in the wake of a popular uprising, is better suited to pursuing reforms that have emerged from broad and meaningful stakeholder consultations. It remains unclear why, in its final days, the government is pushing through such high-value projects and deals—often without adequate consultation—that risk constraining the choices of the incoming elected administration.


Besides, CPA’s decision to transfer four protesting employees to the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal raises questions. Why was punitive action the authorities’ first response? Should they not instead have initiated dialogue with the protesters and addressed their concerns regarding the agreement? According to the protesters, leasing out the NCT would result in a significant share of the port’s earnings being transferred abroad. Had the interim government ensured transparency and made the contract terms public, the strike now paralysing the port might well have been avoided. The government’s priority right now should not be taking steps that could trigger unrest; only the election should be its main priority.​

 

[Saif]

Challenges beyond the interim period

The statement by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed that the interim government is leaving the country's economy in a stable position does not entirely sound like rhetoric, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the looming collapse from which the economy has managed to recover over the pa

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Challenges beyond the interim period

Published :
Feb 05, 2026 22:54
Updated :
Feb 05, 2026 22:54

The statement by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed that the interim government is leaving the country's economy in a stable position does not entirely sound like rhetoric, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the looming collapse from which the economy has managed to recover over the past one and a half years. Speaking to reporters after a Government Purchase Committee meeting, he observed that the economy is no longer in a fragile condition as it once was, and that a degree of stability has been restored to its foundations, allowing future governments to move forward with greater confidence. Responding to concerns about record levels of public borrowing, the finance adviser noted that although borrowing increased, a substantial portion of external debt had also been repaid. He pointed out that the government deliberately refrained from taking large foreign loans for mega projects, a policy choice that helped prevent public debt pressure from worsening further. In a time of heightened uncertainty, such restraint arguably reflects a measure of prudence.

There is little doubt that the interim government assumed office amid an exceptionally chaotic situation. The economy was burdened by disorder in the banking sector, dwindling foreign exchange reserves, export slump and a decline in overseas workers' remittances. Steering the country clear through this difficult phase with a sense of resolve and removing the fear of an imminent economic calamity is no small achievement. Efforts to protect the banking sector from further deterioration and to rebuild foreign exchange reserves-even after repaying US$6.0 billion in external debt-are indeed heartening developments. Yet, these gains alone may not be sufficient to justify the claim that the economy has reached a satisfactory and stable footing. Dr Salehuddin himself acknowledged that employment generation remains one of the most pressing challenges. Job creation, he admitted, requires sustained support for small and medium enterprises, support that could not be adequately extended due to limited fiscal space. At another event the following day, while expressing optimism about ongoing reforms, he cautioned that significant challenges still lie ahead. The greater task, he stressed, is to carry forward reforms carefully and methodically-an endeavour that demands time, cooperation and procedural discipline, all of which are often difficult to sustain within Bangladesh's complex administrative framework.

Among the challenges ahead, the banking sector obviously stands out as a persistent source of concern. The burden of non-performing loans continues to threaten the health of the financial system. Addressing this will require transparent loan facilitation, streamlined disbursement mechanisms, and firm accountability-tasks that will test the resolve of future policymakers. Beyond banking, other critical areas demand attention, including containing inflationary pressures, improving productivity, diversifying exports and enhancing the competitiveness of Bangladeshi products in global markets.

With the general elections approaching, the challenges facing the next government are undeniably multifaceted. Any lapse in vigilance or flaw in planning could exact a cost the country can ill afford. The interim government may have steadied the ship, but navigating the waters ahead will require careful judgment, sustained reforms and a clear commitment to long-term economic resilience.​