BANGLADESH

Prime Minister for devising development projects in line with Delta Plan to avail financing from climate fund

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and other concerned to frame development projects in coordination with the Delta Plan to avail funding from the $ one billion Climate Fund committed to Bangladesh.

While chairing a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Tuesday the Prime Minister came up with the directive.

Planning Minister MA Mannan briefed the reporters after the meeting and said that the issue of availing $ one billion financing from climate fund was discussed recently between French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While availing fund, the Sundarbans would get the highest priority.

While giving approval to a road rehabilitation project, Mannan said the prime minister asked the concerned ministry officials and engineers to build more bridges and culverts in the low lying areas and haors where the pressure of water is immense in order to ensure smooth flow of water.

Sheikh Hasina also directed the officials and engineers to remain cautious again on the designs and height of the infrastructures like bridges so that there is no need to demolish any structure after construction to save wastage of public fund.

Mannan further said that the Premier asked the Ministry of LGRD and WASAs to take necessary steps to gradually come to recovery stage in their operations after coordinating with the production and distribution cost. She stressed on creating massive public awareness to save misuse of water or pursing austerity in use of water.

The Prime Minister also directed the Ministry of Law to take necessary steps to speedily dispose of the tax related cases of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) with the Supreme Court within the legal procedures to enrich the state coffer. Answering to a question, Mannan said the ceiling of the financing for Bangladesh from the climate fund is $ one billion.

State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said that $ one billion fund has already been earmarked for Bangladesh while necessary funding would be availed through devising projects in line with the Delta Plan to save the county from the adverse impacts of climate change.

Turning to the issue of general point to inflation that increased in August, Mannan said that inflation has increased and the government is very much aware of it. He added, “We will address it like in the past. Hopefully, we’ll be able to reach into the turning around point very soon. Inflation in last month increased mainly because of the high price trend of chickens and eggs which have impacted the other food items.”

He also pointed out that the inflationary situation in Bangladesh is not a ‘runs away inflation’ as inflation in Bangladesh increases gradually and also declines at a slower pace.

Earlier at the ECNEC meeting, Planning Minister handed over a publication titled “State of the Development: Impact of Mega Projects” to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The publication was made by the Development Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (DJFB).

The Planning Minister said in an effort to make recovery from the massive economic devastation, the people of Sri Lanka have adjusted their living standards at a lower level. Replying to a question, Mannan said that austerity would not be pursued to ensure overall welfare of the people of the country and in pursuit of real development.

Referring to the remarks of Prime Minister’s Adviser, State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said that the government might consider increasing the interest rate to tame the inflation rate. He mentioned that high interest rate might make slow the pace of investment which could lead into reduced growth.

Dr Alam ruled out the allegation that the government is printing money massively to contain the inflation adding that the government needs to print money usually to replace the old and torn bank notes.

He said, “Usually the country witnessed high inflation in the months of August and September while the country witnessed higher rainfall during this period which has hampered the production process and supply side to some extent. But, there were no such damage of crops due to the flood this year. Hopefully, inflation will start to reduce again from November as there were no such supply side disruptions.”

Replying to a question, Dr Alam said that due to the policy interventions of the government, the general inflation remained within the double digit despite the global conditions, otherwise it could have reached to 13 to 14 percent. When inflation increases, it could increase rapidly, but when it starts to come down, then price rigidity factor matters.

Citing example of Sri Lanka, the State Minister said Sri Lanka has increased the policy rate by 10 percent while their growth rate is negative. But, if our growth rate becomes negative, then growth will be chocked and many will lose their jobs…the economic structure of Sri Lanka is different to us.

Listing various measures of the government to rein in inflation, Dr Alam said that the duty has been reduced in import of rice to 15 percent from 60 percent, policy rate has been increased twice, the cap on interest rate has been withdrawn, the amount of overall subsidies has been increased to strengthen the supply side, full distribution of agricultural credit has been ensured while the devaluation of the Taka has been ultimately working as ‘incentive’ for the exporters.

Planning Division Secretary Satyajit Karmakar said that the government has now sufficient capacity to take loans from the development partners against projects and thus repaying those timely. The Planning Minister said that the ECNEC warmly congratulated the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her bright and lively participation at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi since it has brighten further the image of the Prime Minister and the country abroad. The ECNEC also noted that the recent visit of French President to Bangladesh has brightened further the image of the country abroad.

The ECNEC meeting was also apprised about the report of Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), which stated that Bangladesh would be among the top 20 economies by 2040.

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