Muhith tells JS he’s upbeat
Staff Correspondent
Finance Minister AMA Muhith is optimistic about getting back the money siphoned off by Arafat Rahman Koko, Khaleda Zia’s youngest son.
“We are trying to get the money back and some steps have already been taken in this regard,” Muhith told the parliament replying to a supplementary question of Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim during the question-answer session.
The minister said a case filed with the Colombia District Court in the USA is under trial. “Discussion is going on between us and the United States…there are agreements and there will be a deal. So, I hope we will be able to bring the money back,” he said.
The US government confiscated over Tk 11 crore siphoned off by Koko.
Selim also demanded disclosure of the names of plunderers who are on the list which the US government gave Bangladesh. Muhith said the matter is under investigation “So, I don’t think that I have the right to disclose the names.”
Replying to another query from AL lawmaker Rahmatullah, the finance minister said the government does not control the interest rates of commercial banks.
He, however, said, “The government is making an effort to reduce the gap between the interest rates of deposits and loans.”
When Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon asked whether the finance minister would propose forming of a parliamentary committee to review the services provided by the banking sector, Muhith said there is opportunity to form such a review committee.
In reply to another query, Muhith said the government has planed to provide soft loans for farmers.
He also said the Karma Sangsthan Bank would open 30 new branches in the current fiscal year and it would gradually open branches in all upazilas in the country in the next five years.
Muhith also said the present government is eager to curb corruption and it has taken steps to obtain the wealth statements of ministers and lawmakers.
“In phases the government will take measures to obtain wealth accounts of all people,” he said, adding that wealth statements of all government officials have already been taken.
The finance minister told the House that as of January 15, 2009, the country’s foreign currency reserve stands at $5,434.69 million.
In response to another query, he said there are laws to consider expatriates who send home more than $ 1 lakh a year as very important persons (VIPs) but now the laws are not being enforced. He said the government will enforce the laws.
During the session, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Raziuddin Ahmed Raju said the government at the moment has no plans to provide licences to new mobile phone operators to ensure competition among the operators.
As AL lawmaker Fazle Rabbi Mia asked how competition would be ensured if new operators are not given licences, the minister said now there is no plan but in future new operators will be given licences.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
