Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina Mega projects accelerating country's economic progress: PM
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, June 16: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the country's economic progress is not being hampered but accelerated through mega projects implemented with foreign financial assistance.
Mentioning that projects are being taken up as per the need to continue the economic, social and all-round development of the country, the Prime Minister said, "Since these projects have foreign funding, the project-related import expenditure will not adversely affect the country's foreign exchange balance."
The Prime Minister said this while responding to a question from Jatiya Party's Fakhrul Imam on Wednesday (June 15). Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury presided over the question and answer session.
The head of government said that huge employment has been created during the implementation of the projects. Many project-centric backward and forward linkage industries and trades have developed. As a result, the country's economic progress is being accelerated instead of being hampered indirectly.
Noting that the nature of most foreign loans is flexible, Sheikh Hasina said, "The interest rates on loans are relatively low and the repayment period and grace period are also very long. There were no major complications in the release of the loan."
In response to another question from Fakhrul Imam, the Prime Minister gave details of 16 ongoing mega projects, including the Padma Bridge, which was implemented with own funding. She also presented the expenditure information of 14 projects.
According to the Prime Minister, the total estimated cost of these projects is around Tk 4,89,750 crore. Of this, government financing is about one lakh 54 thousand 470 crore taka and foreign debt is three lakh 35 thousand 280 crore taka.
Replying to a question by AKM Rahmatullah, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, "The war of attrition and Russia-Ukraine has led to deterioration of production and supply system, which has led to global inflation and increase in prices of daily commodities. Bangladesh is no exception. As a result of timely steps taken by the government, it is possible to increase the production and supply of commodities in Bangladesh. It is unfortunate that some unscrupulous people inside the country are trying to take advantage of this illegal stockpiling of daily commodities and increase prices."
The Prime Minister said a high-powered task force committee has been formed in consultation with the Commerce Minister to control the rising prices of essential commodities, illegal stocks and market management, taking into account the plight of the common man.
