Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told parliament that there is no possibility of an economic crisis like that in Sri Lanka as Bangladesh’s economic base is very strong.
“We are very much aware,” she said as Deputy Opposition leader GM Quader spoke of fears of a Sri Lanka-like situation while delivering his speech in parliament.
She said the government has been repaying debts taken for the country’s development on time ever since the Awami League assumed office.Bangladesh was never a defaulter and will not be a defaulter in the days to come as our economic base is very strong in this respect,” she said.
The PM said her government doesn’t take commissions like the BNP and Jatiya Party governments.She also said her government has on instances completed project works on time or before schedule, referring to the completion of the 1,320 megawatt Payra Thermal Plant, which was completed within eight months, saving Tk800 crore.
The PM made the statement while giving the valedictory speech of the 16th session in the 11th parliament with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.During her speech, the PM suggested people to use pumpkins or other vegetables instead of eggplants during iftar due to its high price.
Hasina said the government’s various initiatives, including open market sale of essentials by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), has helped to drastically reduce commodity prices.”The pro-people government has taken all kinds of steps to keep the prices of essentials at a tolerable level. The prices of daily commodities have reduced significantly due to the activities of the TCB,” she said while replying to a tabled question during the PM’s question-answer session in parliament on Wednesday.
The leader of the house said prices of essentials had gone up significantly across the globe because of the economic meltdown arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic, while the Russia-Ukraine war also fueled worldwide price hikes.
“As a result, the daily commodities’ prices have increased in the world market,” she said, adding that despite the hurdles her government has taken all possible measures to keep the prices of essentials under control.
She also expressed hope that the prices would remain at an affordable level during the month of Ramadan.
Highlighting the government’s success to this end, the PM said one litre bottled soybean oil price was Tk170 on March 1, but had decreased to Tk161.50 on April 5. Similarly, the price of one litre loose soybean oil came down to Tk155 from Tk175, while the price of palm oil fell to Tk142 from Tk158.
“During this time, the TCB also sold per litre oil can at Tk110. Lentil price came down to Tk112.50 on April 5 from Tk120, while the TCB is selling it at Tk65 per kilogramme. Loose sugar price decreased to Tk78 per kilogramme on April 5 from Tk85 on March 1, while the TCB is selling it at Tk55 per kilogramme,” she added.
She also said that the price of onions had fallen from Tk60 per kg to Tk31.50, while it was being sold at Tk20 by the TCB.
