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Political Parties in Bangladesh Run Businesses: An Investigative Expose

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. desh-run-businesses-an-investigative-expose.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, November 24th 2025 at 19:24 GMT by The Daily Star

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Political Parties in Bangladesh and Their Business Ventures: A Comprehensive Overview

The Daily Star’s investigative piece, “Political parties in Bangladesh run businesses,” dives into a long‑standing but little‑publicised reality: a large proportion of the country’s major political parties own, operate or are heavily involved in a variety of commercial enterprises. The article, published on 9 November 2023, not only maps the landscape of these businesses but also probes the implications for democracy, transparency and public trust.

1. The Scope of Political‑Party‑Owned Businesses

The article begins by outlining the breadth of party‑owned enterprises, noting that the phenomenon stretches across the country’s leading political groups—Awami League (AL), Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jatiya Party (JP), the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and several smaller parties. Key sectors highlighted include:

The article underscores that while some of these ventures are profitable, many operate in shadowy fiscal zones, evading proper accounting and regulatory oversight.

2. Funding, Transparency and Legal Gaps

2.1. Inadequate Disclosure

A central theme of the piece is the lack of stringent disclosure requirements. “Unlike corporate entities that must file annual reports with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, political parties are not mandated to present detailed accounts of their revenue streams or asset holdings,” the article notes. It cites the Political Parties Act, 2019 as the primary legal framework, which, although containing provisions for financial transparency, is poorly enforced.

2.2. Loopholes in the Law

The article examines specific loopholes:

• “Umbrella Companies” – Parties set up shell corporations that hide profits. The Daily Star reports that these entities often use complex foreign exchange accounts, making audit trails difficult.
• “Family‑Based Ventures” – Many businesses are owned by relatives of party leaders, allowing a de facto transfer of wealth that is exempt from public scrutiny.
• “Informal Partnerships” – Partnerships that avoid statutory registration, especially in the hospitality and transport sectors, remain outside the purview of the Election Commission.

2.3. Enforcement Challenges

The Daily Star quotes a former commissioner of the Election Commission, who argues that the commission has “limited capacity” to monitor and audit party‑run businesses, especially given political pressure. The article points out that the 2022 “Political Parties Financing and Accounting Committee” was created to address this gap but has yet to publish a functional audit methodology.

3. Political Consequences

3.1. Influence on Policy

The piece argues that business interests can shape policy agendas. “When a party’s revenue stream depends on a particular industry, there is a direct incentive to lobby for favorable regulations,” the article states. Examples include the BNP’s ties to the sugar‑cane industry, leading to preferential subsidies for sugar mills during the 2018 election campaign.

3.2. Electoral Advantage

The article cites studies suggesting that party‑owned media outlets can shape public perception. A case in point is the coverage of the 2021 local government elections, where Daily Sun (an AL‑owned newspaper) ran a series of favorable editorials for AL candidates while minimizing coverage of opposition candidates. Similar patterns were observed with The Daily New Age and BNP.

3.3. Public Perception and Trust

A survey by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) is quoted, showing that 57 % of respondents believe that political parties with substantial business interests are “less credible” than those who rely solely on party donations. The article interprets this as a potential erosion of democratic legitimacy.

4. Calls for Reform

4.1. Strengthening the Legal Framework

Several stakeholders call for amendments to the Political Parties Act. The article records a proposal from a coalition of civil‑society NGOs: require parties to file quarterly financial statements audited by an independent CPA firm. They argue that a “no‑tolerance” approach to opaque businesses is essential.

4.2. Creating an Independent Oversight Body

A draft bill presented by the Liberal Democratic Party proposes the formation of the “Political Parties Financial Oversight Authority” (PPFOA). The authority would be modeled after the “Central Bank” but with specific powers to audit, sanction and, if necessary, close party‑run enterprises that violate statutory requirements.

4.3. Enhancing Public Access to Information

The article notes that the “Right to Information” (RTI) Act of 2018 could be extended to include public disclosure of political‑party business holdings. This would allow journalists, researchers and ordinary citizens to investigate potential conflicts of interest.

5. Additional Resources & Follow‑Up Links

The Daily Star’s article includes several embedded links that further contextualise the discussion:

1. “Political Parties Act, 2019 – Full Text” – The article links to the official PDF of the act, which readers can consult to understand the legal backdrop.
2. “Report on the 2022 Political Parties Financing and Accounting Committee” – A detailed briefing note that outlines the committee’s findings and recommendations.
3. “BIDS Survey on Public Perception of Party Finances” – Provides empirical data on how business involvement affects trust.
4. “Case Study: Jatiya Party’s Investment in the Hospitality Sector” – A mini‑report highlighting how party wealth is tied to tourism revenues.

These links enable readers to dig deeper into specific aspects of the issue and assess the data behind the article’s claims.

6. Conclusion

In summation, the Daily Star’s article is a comprehensive exposé that illustrates a complex intertwinement between Bangladesh’s major political parties and the commercial sector. While some party‑owned businesses contribute positively to the economy, the lack of robust transparency, coupled with legal gaps, raises concerns about accountability, conflict of interest and the fairness of electoral competition. The article ends on a hopeful note, calling for a legislative overhaul that would bring party‑run businesses under the same stringent regulatory framework applied to private enterprises, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s democratic process.

The piece serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of politics and business in Bangladesh, providing both factual data and thoughtful analysis on why reform is urgently needed.