Govt prioritises action over courtesy calls: Lutfey Siddiqi

The government believes in taking prompt action on issues rather than engaging in mere courtesy calls with flowers, said Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy to the chief adviser on international affairs.

"Everyone has my WhatsApp number. There isn't a single chamber of commerce or association that I haven't communicated with," he said while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the Biman Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair (BTTF) 2025 today.

"The government avoids courtesy calls where visitors come, hand over flowers, take a photo, and leave. We don't do meetings in that way," Siddiqi said.

"When the chief adviser himself meets someone, he asks what the purpose of the meeting is, what the briefing is, and what the expected outcome will be. After the meeting, there is follow-up," he adedd.

Siddiqi also highlighted the role of the inter-ministerial investment coordination committee, which includes the Bangladesh Bank governor, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman, and other top officials.

"Meetings often last several hours, during which officials try to resolve issues immediately. Whether it is payments, Bangladesh Bank regulations, customs, or court-related difficulties, we try to address them promptly," he said.

Referring to the government's performance over the past year, Siddiqi said seven such meetings had resulted in "concrete, focused outcomes".

"Still, whenever someone faces a problem, it is our responsibility to respond," he added.

Organised by the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), the BTTF is taking place at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Presiding over the ceremony, TOAB President Md Rafeuzzaman said, "We need to introduce an e-visa system instead of the current on-arrival visa process to attract more foreign tourists."

"If amusement parks, hotels, resorts, vehicles, and other tourism-related equipment could be brought under a low-tax regime, the sector will expand further," he added.