Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith in parliament yesterday criticised the dual role of businessmen and industrialists saying that businessmen always speak in favour of reducing bank interest rates but the same person acts otherwise as a bank director.
“An understanding is necessary between businessmen and bank directors to reduce interest rates of bank loans,” he said replying to a query of a lawmaker.
The finance minister also said: “Businessmen and industrialists should limit their greed and avarice. At present the government has no plan to increase the interest rate of securities.”
“But, the government is contemplating on fixing the interest rate of securities at a reasonable level because of a fall in the bank rate,” Muhith said replying to a question posed by Hazi Mohammad Selim.
Two lawmakers – one from Jatiya Party and the other an Independent MP, questioned on what action the government had taken against the culprits who looted thousands of crores of taka from the state-run banks including the Basic Bank.
Muhith in reply, dodged replying the two questions. He said supplementary questions of the two lawmakers are not relevant with their star-marked questions.
He also said there is a star-marked question on the issue where he responded. But no such question was found in yesterday’s schedule of business.
Responding to another query, the finance minister said: “Reports of Pay and Service Commission-2013 would be submitted by December 15 this year and the pay scale would be implemented soon after the commission report is received.”
On the question of how much money has been laundered in last 10 years, the minister said that they do not have any information on it.
“Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit is working round the clock to stop money laundering. But the unit does not have any information on that. Process is going on to sign memoranda of understanding with different countries in this regard.”
Replying to another question, the minister said the government received commitment of $5,845.11 million from various foreign agencies and countries in 2013-14.
“Of the money, $5,344.80m will come as a loan while US$ 500.31m will be donated,” he added.
When asked whether BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko had taken any loan from the state-run banks he said the amount of unpaid bank loan taken by the duo is Tk40.14 crore.
He also said they took the loan from Sonali Bank, after their business organisation named Dandy Dying Ltd.
According to the government database of September 2014, they are yet to repay the loan, he said.
