Staff Reporter | Progga News
Published: May 15, 2026
DHAKA: Salehuddin Ahmed, the former Finance Adviser of the interim government, has stated that many critical tasks could not be completed due to the government’s “limited authority” and a lack of a “political mandate.”
He made these remarks as the Convocation Speaker at the 58th Convocation of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University, held on Friday afternoon at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in the capital.
‘Repair’ Before ‘Reform’
Reflecting on his tenure, Dr. Salehuddin noted that the country’s economy was in a deep crisis when they took office. Consequently, the administration had to focus more on stabilizing a collapsing system rather than implementing new reforms.
“I use two words—Repair and Reform. First, we had to repair, then reform,” he said. Addressing critics who question the government’s performance over the last 18 months, he added, “Reality is that everything doesn’t change in a day. It’s not that we did everything wrong, but pulling the economy back from the ‘edge of the cliff’ was the priority.”
Challenges in Banking and Governance
The former adviser highlighted that the biggest limitation was the lack of political strength. “We didn’t have the strength, nor did we have the mandate. As a result, decisions couldn’t be implemented at the desired pace in many cases.”
Key highlights from his speech:
- Banking Sector: He described the sector as complicated due to years of irregularities and weak laws. “You cannot expect good results while keeping bad laws in place,” he remarked.
- Money Laundering: While bringing back laundered money is difficult, he noted that modern technology and international cooperation are now making the process more feasible.
- Project Inefficiency: He criticized the culture of lack of accountability, noting that 2-year projects often take 10–12 years to complete.
- Energy Crisis: He expressed concern over the lack of gas exploration, noting that neighboring countries have progressed much further in this sector.
‘Honest Intent Makes Change Inevitable’: DU VC
Chief Guest of the ceremony, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor A.B.M. Obaidul Islam, stated that the recent student-led movements have shown that change is inevitable when there is a clear vision and honest intent.
Addressing the graduates, the VC said, “The world does not lack good managers; it lacks humane leadership. You must lead the ‘New Bangladesh’ with honesty, humanity, and professional excellence.” He also urged students to adapt to Artificial Intelligence and maintain a mindset of lifelong learning.
Convocation Statistics
Presided over by IBA Director Professor Abu Yousuf Md. Abdullah, the ceremony conferred degrees upon 365 students from four programs:
- BBA: 116 students
- MBA: 126 students
- Executive MBA (EMBA): 122 students
- DBA: 1 student
Additionally, 26 students were placed on the “Director’s Honor List” for outstanding academic achievements, and two students were awarded gold medals.
