"My dispute with them lies between brightening and damaging the image of Bangladesh. Development processes of the country make them unhappy. Depicting a bad image, they want to make other countries happy," Mahmudur Rahman said.

"The portrayal of bad image is leaving us behind in international competition in trade while other countries are taking our position," he said.

Rahman also blamed newspapers for projecting 'bad image' of the country.

The BoI chairman was addressing a view exchange meeting organised by Combined Professionals' Council (CPC) at the office of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries yesterday.

Due to development under the present government, Bangladesh has emerged into a globally competitive country in the garment sector, he said, adding, "Bangladesh achieved 22 per cent export progress that is highest in last 11 years."

Natural gas would be made available to households in Rajshahi by 2009, he said.

The Unctad 2006 report that created the recent dispute proved that Bangladesh was controlling the economical leadership of the Least Developed Countries, he said, adding that now the foreign currency reserve is $3.6 million while the GDP growth is seven per cent, industrial growth 10 per cent and export growth 10.5 per cent.

Among others, CPC and Doctors Association of Bangladesh Secretary General Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Engineers Institution Vice-president Harunur Rashid, honorary Secretary Manjur Morshed, and Rajshahi BMA President Dr Wasim Hossain addressed the meeting chaired by Prof Abdus Salam, president of Rajshahi University Jatiyatabad O Islami Mulyabodhe Bishwasi Teachers' Forum.