The interim government has been about 90 per cent successful in carrying out its responsibilities, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said on Sunday.
“Our objective was to put the country back on the right track through reform and stability. I believe we have been 90 per cent successful in achieving that goal,” he told a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy following the final meeting of the Advisory Council.
Shafiqul Alam said the interim administration assumed office at a time of economic fragility and widespread instability.
“On 5 August, the country was in a situation akin to wartime conditions. It could easily have descended into chaos,” he said, adding that the government had managed to contain the situation and restore peace and stability.
He said the government had prioritised three key areas — reform, stability and good governance — during its tenure.
On trade and foreign relations, the press secretary said a reciprocal tariff agreement had been concluded with the United States, while an Economic Partnership Agreement had been finalised with Japan — moves he said would expand market access for Bangladeshi products.
Citing economic indicators, he said foreign exchange reserves had increased to $29 billion from around $15–17 billion, while gross reserves now stand at $34 billion. He added that the exchange rate, which had once weakened to Tk127 per US dollar, has since stabilised in the Tk123–124 range.
Revenue collection has also exceeded expectations, he said.
Referring to reforms in the power sector, Shafiqul Alam said a special law that allowed project approvals without competitive bidding — encouraging crony capitalism and financial waste — was repealed within a week of the government taking office. Subsequent reforms were introduced to improve transparency in the energy sector.
On food security, he said Bangladesh currently holds its highest-ever food stock and has sufficient reserves to cover nearly six months of import expenditure.