Dhaka, August 28 — Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, the Trade Advisor, emphasized that the interim government has no political or administrative agenda and is focused solely on managing the current economic situation. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday afternoon, after a meeting in the Ministry of Commerce's conference room, Dr. Ahmed stressed the importance of maintaining neutrality and avoiding any compromise with business syndicates.

"We are here for a short period, without any biases," Dr. Ahmed stated, highlighting the government’s temporary and focused role. He acknowledged the challenging situation they face, moving from their comfortable professional lives, with Dr. Muhammad Yunus and other advisors coming from well-established careers.

Addressing concerns about actions against business syndicates, Dr. Ahmed reiterated the interim government's neutral stance, stating, "We have no agenda. Neither political nor administrative. We are here for a short time without any affection or dislike towards anyone."

Regarding discussions with business leaders, Dr. Ahmed mentioned that their requests were reasonable, mainly revolving around overcoming logistical challenges, such as port issues. "They asked for help in clearing some obstacles, and we assured them that these issues will be addressed," he said.

On the topic of complications in opening Letters of Credit (LCs) in banks, Dr. Ahmed noted that while some banks are facing difficulties, these issues are being addressed. He assured that the Bangladesh Bank is actively working to resolve these problems to ensure that the import of essential commodities remains unaffected despite the dollar crisis.

When asked about the impact of recent floods on the supply of daily commodities, Dr. Ahmed clarified that the floods were localized and did not affect the entire country. "Relief has been provided, but some very remote areas are difficult to reach due to natural disasters," he explained, adding that while there were temporary disruptions, the situation has now improved.

The review meeting was attended by Commerce Secretary Mohammad Salim Uddin, Food Secretary Ismail Hossain, Agriculture Secretary Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, and representatives from top business organizations. The meeting focused on assessing the overall price situation, including the production, supply chain, and market conditions of essential goods.