Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin spoke at the inaugural ceremony of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) International Conference 2025 at a hotel in the city today. Photo : PID

DHAKA, July 18, 2025 (BSS) - Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin today laid emphasis on maintaining good economic practices to sustain the country's economic development.

"In the past ten months of working in the government, I have seen that a truly golden future awaits our country. If we can ensure transparency and accountability and equitable distribution of wealth, then we can get out of the bad situation. And if that does not happen, then kleptocracy will be created. We are working tirelessly to get out of the circle of kleptocracy," he said.

The adviser said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) International Conference 2025 organized by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) at a hotel in the city, said a press release.

Bashir Uddin said the present government has taken initiatives to stop unfair competition in business.

"In the past, we had seen how economic records have been manipulated and billions of dollars laundered. In most cases, money laundering had been done with business in mind. As a result of widespread irregularities over a long period of time, a lot of criminal capital has been created, which has led to the destruction of fair competition in business," he added.

More than 600 professional accountants, economists, policy makers, corporate leaders and business leaders from SAARC countries are participating in the conference.

Secretary to the Ministry of Industries Md. Obaidur Rahman, SAFA President Ashfaq Yusuf Tola, Chairman of the Financial Reporting Council Dr Md Sajjad Hossain Bhuiyan, ICAB President NKA Mubin and ICMAB President Mahtab Uddin Ahmed spoke as special guests.

The keynote address at the conference was presented by prominent economist, CPD Board of Trustees Member and Distinguished Fellow Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya.

Leading figures from the economy, banking, industry, education and technology sectors of SAARC countries participated as discussants in the three technical sessions of the conference.