Dhaka: Commenting that common people are angry about the rise in commodity prices, Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed said, if you go to the market with Tk. 1,000, you can do little business. I also feel it, you all feel it. I also go to the market, I also feel sad.
Stating that common people are angry, they express it in different ways, the Finance Adviser said, we ask people to be patient. But it is difficult for common people to be patient.
He said these things at a press conference organized by the Ministry of Finance at the Secretariat on Tuesday (November 19). The press conference was organized by the Ministry of Finance to mark the 100th day of the interim government in charge of running the country.
He said, inflation is hurting us. Another problem is the price of fuel. You know, Adani had a demand of 700 million dollars. Adani has been given 200 million dollars. The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation had outstanding dues, they said they would stop providing fertilizers. After paying the dues, they are now giving fertilizer.
He also said, there were about 2.5 billion dollars in arrears. We have reduced it. Now there are 400 million dollars in arrears. Not a single taka has been spent from the reserves. Earlier, the reserves were 42 billion dollars, and suddenly it dropped to 12 billion dollars. They were trying to show reserves artificially. These are unimaginable things.
Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed said, inflation did not happen in a day. Inflation is a complex factor (complex issue). First, they printed Tk. 60 thousand crore. Then they spent on big projects in the public sector, but the output of that is not coming. The journey of the Padma Bridge has started, South Bengal will get its benefits after five years.
Finance Adviser came to the press meet along with Finance Secretary Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Majumder, Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division Nazma Mubarak, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Md. Shahriyar Quader Siddiqui and National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan.