The chief adviser of the interim government said that the foreign exchange reserve is now improving from the bottom. Muhammad Yunus. He said this in his address to the nation on the occasion of 100 days of his government on Sunday (November 17).
Dr. Yunus said when his government took office, the country’s economy was in shambles. In the last three months, we have repaid nearly $2 billion in foreign debt without touching our reserves. We have reduced the accumulated arrears in fuel oil import from 478 million dollars to 160 million dollars. We are making every effort to restore the economy.
The Chief Adviser said that various donor organizations including World Bank, IMF have already pledged about 8 billion dollars as loans and grants, which will enable us to mobilize our fragile economy.
He said, the National Board of Revenue is struggling to speed up revenue collection in the fragile economic situation that the deposed government has left us. In spite of this, a quarter of 9 percent growth has been achieved in revenue collection till October from the negative situation in July. The revised budget of the previous financial year had a huge revenue deficit. That is why the target of revenue collection has increased from the beginning. This resulted in a deficit of more than 23 percent against the target, despite a 9 percent increase in revenue in the three months following the fall of the dictatorship. I now encourage filing of income tax returns online to speed up revenue collection.
He said that he also had a long meeting with the heads of the international aid organization World Bank, IMF, UNDP etc. They also expressed their eagerness to help Bangladesh in a new and comprehensive manner. In a private meeting with the Foreign Minister of China, he assured all help from China.
The Chief Minister said, “We started our journey from the dire situation from the financial aspect 100 days ago, now it has become a past history. In these 100 days, the economy has come to a strong position. It has its own set of rules. Needless to say, the help that has been arranged from our friends has not yet started to arrive. The friendly countries are not only bringing us huge amounts of aid, but they have promised me that this aid will start coming as soon as possible.
Once this help starts coming in, our economy will become a very strong and attractive economy. Foreign investors will also be encouraged to make various investments.
He also said that we have started discussions with investors. We have now reached the status of respected and admired country in the United Nations Assembly of the world. Due to this, the defeated forces are not able to draw attention to them despite using various strategies. They are trying to be your favorite with different looks. Keep yourself free from the conspiracies of defeated powers, keep the country free. Be firm about it. Don’t do anything that encourages them. Disappoint them in every way. If we can confirm that, we don’t need to doubt anything.
Dr. Yunus said, “On behalf of the government, I assure you that despite all the limitations, we will give you a strong economy, we will make the way forward easier, we will ensure civil rights.” No matter how strong the opposing forces are, no matter how wacky they plan to sabotage, be prepared to thwart everything. Be ready at all times so that no one can take away from us the freedom that we have now achieved.
