Ashiq’s Artful Anticipation: BIDA Chief Envisions Bangladesh as Regional Powerhouse
On the third day of the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, the event's tone took a sharp, charismatic turn just four minutes into the opening session. The chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun, was called to the stage to present on the country’s investment prospects. Clad in a crisp white shirt, tie, and a black suit, the youthful and robust figure ascended the platform as his name and title appeared across the screen behind him.
As he began to speak, the microphone failed. Unfazed, Ashiq calmly walked backstage. Within 20 seconds, he returned and quipped, “Yes, any event without a technical glitch is just a waste of time.” But just as laughter began to ripple, the mic cut again. This time, with a slight twist of his torso, he exited once more, only to reappear 22 seconds later. “Hello, hello,” he said, and then added with charm, “Actually, this technical glitch was intentional—to give you a bit of a warm-up!”
His wit sparked laughter across the hall, notably from Nobel laureate and chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus seated in the front row. Smiling, Ashiq introduced himself as the skydiver who once unfurled the national flag at an altitude of 41,795 feet. “Good morning, everyone. Let’s enjoy this again,” he declared, before apologizing for any inconvenience caused by the delay.
With effortless poise, Ashiq turned a moment of disruption into a display of leadership and humor. As the crowd warmed to him, his presentation began—distinctively from the end. A sweeping visual of an airplane, the national parliament, the map of Bangladesh, and wide roads beside flowing lakes set the stage. “Imagine it’s 2035,” he said, “and this is the 10th Investment Summit. We won’t be discussing emerging economies anymore—we’ll be talking about a regional manufacturing powerhouse that connects East and West, bridges the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal.”
He then highlighted key reforms from the past eight months, beginning with the August 5th demonstrations by youth demanding transparency, opportunity, democracy, and freedom of expression. “Today’s youth are not just citizens of Bangladesh—they are global citizens,” Ashiq emphasized. “They TikTok and tweet in real-time with Singapore and Bangkok. So we’ve designed a plan to become like them in the next 5 to 10 years. This demand emerged after the August Uprising.”
With over 180 million people—more than half under the age of 25—Bangladesh offers a higher average return on investment than many other countries. Citing a recent Bloomberg report, Ashiq announced that local startup ShopUp has secured $110 million in funding from Sanabil Investments, the venture capital arm of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The announcement was met with applause and cheers from a packed auditorium that included current government advisers, senior leaders of opposition parties, and former trade ministers.
“But what about tomorrow?” Ashiq asked rhetorically. “For that, 180 million people aren’t enough. We must redefine our market.” A dynamic map then showcased factories in Bangladesh supplying goods across the Bay of Bengal to Nepal, Bhutan, seven Indian states, and beyond—an illustration of the country’s expanding regional reach.
He highlighted that the capacity of the five EPZs in Chattogram is set to triple in the coming years, transforming Bangladesh into a global logistical hub. To realize this vision, long-term policy consistency and bipartisan trust are essential. He unveiled a roadmap for a “True One-Stop Service,” composed of two core elements: human and digital. These will converge to offer streamlined solutions for investors.
Additionally, BIDA plans to establish an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Help Desk at the National Board of Revenue and unify all government agencies under a single platform or “club” to address investor challenges. A new Private Sector Advisory Council will be formed to bridge the public-private divide and facilitate inclusive growth.
With clarity, confidence, and vision, Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun turned what began as a technical hiccup into a triumphant declaration of Bangladesh’s investment future.
