Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday expressed optimism that Bangladesh could achieve a significant economic turnaround within the next four to five years if the government and the private sector work together to address existing challenges.

Speaking at an interactive meeting with private sector entrepreneurs at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, he said the government's priority is to serve the country and its people, adding that many of the economy's current obstacles can be overcome through coordinated efforts.

"Our goal is to work for the country and its people. There are challenges in some areas, but if we work together, we can overcome them," the prime minister said at the meeting organised by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

Tarique said both the government and the business community share a clear understanding of the country's economic challenges, and stressed that dialogue between the two sides would continue to find practical solutions.

"We all acknowledge that there are many problems. The government has at least demonstrated that we are making sincere efforts," he said, noting that his administration has been in office for less than six months but has already held several rounds of consultations with business leaders.

He recalled that the first such meeting was held with entrepreneurs soon after the government assumed office, followed by discussions with business forums. "We are working on sector-specific issues," he added.

Referring to the outcomes of the previous meeting, the prime minister said many of the concerns raised by businesses had already been addressed, while the new issues highlighted during Saturday's discussion would also receive the government's attention.

He announced that another meeting with business leaders would be held within the next two to three months.

"The more frequently we meet, the better we will understand your problems and the more effectively we will be able to resolve them," he said.

Tarique emphasised that open and sustained dialogue is essential for resolving complex economic issues and expressed hope that continued engagement between the government and the private sector would deliver visible improvements to the economy over the next four to five years.

The meeting focused on expanding business activities, attracting more foreign direct investment and creating a more conducive environment for industrialisation.

Business leaders called for easier access to credit, stronger policy support and a more business-friendly operating environment. They also appreciated several of the government's ongoing initiatives and expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far.

Officials informed the meeting that decisions had already been taken on 21 of the 28 issues discussed during the previous government-business dialogue, while the remaining seven are still under review.

Entrepreneurs also presented a roadmap to raise Bangladesh's annual export earnings to $100 billion by 2030, seeking stronger diplomatic support to help expand exports. The government assured them of necessary assistance through diplomatic channels.