Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud yesterday said Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader and BNP senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed are making comments like uneducated persons despite being learned politicians.
“The cost of interest against foreign debt is only 2 percent of our GDP. Now public debt is 36 percent of GDP. Government loans can be taken up to 55 percent of GDP. Our foreign debt is only 16 percent of GDP whereas foreign debt is secured up to 45 percent of GDP,” he said.
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, questioned what he can say to all the politicians who do not read these economic indexes.
He said these after cutting the cake of the 25th anniversary of satellite television ATN Bangla at S Rahman Hall of Chattogram Press Club this afternoon.
Earlier, Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader in a statement said Bangladesh face Sri Lanka like situation while BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed said Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserve is now at an all-time low.
Noting that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are not at the same level now, Hasan said Bangladesh has never been late in repaying foreign loan installment and Bangladesh is one of the leading developing countries in terms of timely repayment of loans.
“I knew GM Quader as an educated politician. I do not understand why he spoke like lightheaded BNP leader Rizvi or like an uneducated person,” he said.
He said renowned international media Bloomberg a few days ago published a list of countries with vulnerable indexes with the data.
“There are 25 countries including big nations in that list. But Bangladesh is not in the list. Don’t all of these politicians read this news? All the statements they are making without reading are tantamount to spreading rumors. I hoped the educated people won’t talk like uneducated people,” he added.
Noting that Bangladesh stands on an economically strong base, Hasan said many big countries like Pakistan, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, Mexico, Morocco and many other countries in the list of Bloomberg but Bangladesh is not there.
“I am telling all of our politicians who are talking about this to study a little,” he added.
Mentioning BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir did not obey the court’s verdict, the minister said it was the BNP’s lawyers who kicked the door of the Chief Justice in the court.
In other words, they had kicked the apex court of the Bangladesh, he said adding that they don’t obey law or court.
He said Awami League MPs have to go to jail in the light of the court verdict since there is rule of law in our country.
Though BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia despite was punished by the court, Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina showed generosity to her, he said.
That is why Mirza Fakhrul should thank the Prime Minister with a statement, the minister added.
