Salehuddin Ahmed (economist)

Salehuddin Ahmed (born 1949) is a Bangladeshi economist, who has served as the finance adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh since August 2024. He is also a former governor of the Bangladesh Bank.

During his tenure as finance adviser, his move to dissolve the National Board of Revenue and bring revenue management under his direct ministerial control has been criticized as executive capture of the revenue sector. Transparency International Bangladesh and the Centre for Policy Dialogue argued that Ahmed's initiative undermined the autonomy of the revenue service, weakened accountability, and reduced transparency and neutrality. They also said that the initiative ignored the recommendations of the government’s own advisory committee on revenue reform and risked weaponizing taxes and tariffs, worsening existing systemic problems and bureaucratic dysfunction.

Salehuddin Ahmed has also faced criticism for prioritizing Bangladesh's international image over addressing substantive domestic issues, stating that "excessive criticism of the government does not leave a good impression internationally" and damages the country's image abroad, suggesting a defensive approach that deflects from real problems.