Finance Minister AMA Muhith differed with the growth projections on Bangladesh economy by multilateral lenders, who cut down the government-set 7.4 per cent rate for the current fiscal.
"Their (lenders) estimates are always lower than what happens. They do it every year," he told newsmen after a meeting of the cabinet committee on public procurement at Bangladesh Secretariat.
His remarks came in the wake of latest estimation by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank that Bangladesh's economy will grow by 6.9 per cent 6.4 per cent respectively.
They make the estimation with the statistics they can avail through own sources. But by October the final report from Bangladesh statistic department becomes available. And that is always accepted by all, said the finance minister.
Replying to a query Mr Muhith said the World Bank will help Bangladesh to feed Rohingya people from its IDA-18 fund wherein some money is earmarked for dealing with refugee problem.
The World Bank has informed that the fund was not spent and Bangladesh can get some portion from it, he said.
The health ministry has submitted a project in this regard and one or two more will be submitted, the minister noted.
Regarding reserve money heist Mr Muhith said he was hopeful of getting back the entire money. The Philippine government ensured it and it was some sort of personal commitment of President Rodrigo Duterte, he added.
He said a team of Bangladeshi officials will visit the Philippines soon and a portion of the stolen money may be available for channeling to Dhaka. The minister also reiterated that the reserve-heist-probe report would not be published before the entire heisted money reaches Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting, chaired by Mr Muhith, approved fourteen proposals, including appointment of Bangladesh Navy as contractor for the setting up of pipeline for carrying jet fuel from Shitalakhya river area in Narayanganj to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital.
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