Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Wednesday said it may take at least two more years to revive the fragile economy inherited from the previous Awami League government.
“Social and political stability at the national level is crucial for the development and prosperity of the country during this critical time,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the award distribution ceremony for winners of the month-long Islamic competition ‘Alokito Mahe Ramadan’ at Uttara Community Centre in the capital on Wednesday morning.
Dhaka-18 lawmaker SM Jahangir Hossain organised the programme.
Swapon alleged that the country had inherited a Tk30tn debt burden from the previous Awami League government.
“We have to repay $5bn in foreign debt every year. The country has to spend much more on imports than it earns through exports and remittances,” he said.
Noting that overcoming the huge deficit and reviving the economy was a tough challenge, he said: “Money will not come from the sky. We have to restore this economy through hard work and a stable environment.”
The information minister alleged that those who seized state power without voters wanted to benefit by creating division and religious differences among people.
Referring to the recently concluded first session of parliament, he said: “We are having constructive debates with the opposition in parliament, and this will continue.”
In this context, he urged all to remain vigilant so that no one could use debates in parliament as an excuse to create chaos on the streets.
He said that, in the past, such an environment had been created that even identifying oneself as a madrasa student or wearing religious attire was viewed with suspicion.
The incumbent government has eliminated that culture of fear and ensured a balanced social environment, he added.
Addressing Islamic scholars, the minister said: “You can be an important ally in maintaining social stability. If we cannot maintain a peaceful environment for the next two years, this economic recovery will be hampered.”
Noting that attacks on religious institutions had been planned and staged in the past to destroy religious harmony in the country, he said: “We who believe in the holy religion also respect the beliefs of followers of any other religion. People of all religions have been living in peace in this country for thousands of years.”
Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib Allama Mufti Abdul Malek and Baitun Noor Jame Mosque Khatib Hafez Maulana Nazmul Hasan Qasemi of Uttara Sector 12 were present as special guests at the event.
