None would be allowed anymore to produce black money and so legalising undisclosed money through budgetary provision wouldn't be needed, says the Finance Adviser about the accumulated past problem in financial sector.
"Our stand is no scope will be given to generate black money," Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, the Finance and Commerce Adviser of the interim government, told reporters on Sunday at his office after a meeting with representatives of different development partners in the NEC conference room in the capital.
He said measures would be taken to bring back the laundered money--the central bank is working on it.
Mr Ahmed said the government would take foreign loans selectively, not randomly, as the loan burden is building up.
He mentions that the United States and the United Nations give grants to Bangladesh and those can be taken.
"No foreign loans will be taken where a one-year project completes in fiver years," he said, indicating cost and time escalations in public works.
Regarding agitations in the capital by different groups of people, the adviser said, "We cannot ignore those who are agitating. We can't ignore discrimination, we can't ignore them.
"They have pain. They did not dare to talk about it in the past. Our government has started working very shortly and we are trying to solve their problem. We care about those who are being discriminated against."
Mr Ahmed said representatives of 41 organisations under the United Nations on Sunday met him and assured him to be with the government for economic and equality-based development.
"We want to work together with them," he said. Attention should be given to resettlement of the Rohingy in their homeland.
The finance adviser also had a meeting with Charge d'affaires of the US Embassy in Dhaka Helen LaFave at his office in Bangladesh secretariat earlier in the day.
He urged increased US investment in agriculture, energy, and climate sectors.
After the meeting, the adviser told newsmen that the United States would enhance its support soon to develop the agriculture sector of Bangladesh.
"We have no debt to the US. All the helps they gave us are grants. That is why I told them to help more," he said.
He sees the US as very important to Bangladesh.
"The country has a big investment in the coastal region of Bangladesh. The main thing is that I have talked about investing more in agriculture, energy, climate and other sectors."
He said he gave special focus on the floods in the discussion with the development partners.
The so-long embargoed generalised system of preferences (GSP) issue regarding export to the US market also has been discussed, the adviser notes.
The possibility of seeking additional support from the IMF may be on the agenda when Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed attends the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group in October, reports UNB.
The adviser along with key officials will attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in October.
He stressed that the government would prioritise its needs before taking on any loans, cautioning against extending short-term projects unnecessarily, which could increase the debt burden.
"We're seeking support not to waste or misuse it," he emphasized, underscoring the government's commitment to responsible financial management.
Addressing the ongoing protests against various forms of discrimination, the adviser acknowledged the legitimacy of these concerns.
"We can't ignore such discrimination. These issues have been suppressed for so long, and their woes have not been addressed. No one paid heed to them before, which is why we haven't deterred the protests," he remarked.
Dr. Saleh Uddin explained that while the government is committed to addressing these issues, not all problems can be resolved immediately due to the complexities involved.
Asked about the outcomes of the meeting with UN representatives, he highlighted government's commitment to equality-based development, with a focus on growth in women's rights, gender equality, health, and education.
"Our priorities are aligned with their programmes. We want the UN agencies to support us in our priority areas. It's not about accepting support for all projects they suggest," he clarified.
The adviser emphasized that the government aims at sustainable, equality-based development for the general population, with targeted support from UN agencies. He also noted that the government had requested special focus from the UN, particularly from UNHCR, on the situation of forcibly displaced Rohingya.
Dr Saleh Uddin mentioned that the UN agencies shared ideas related to various ministries and divisions, which will be communicated to the relevant departments in due course.
ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky and ILO Country Director and Ad Interim UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen were among the speakers at the meeting.
About the US he said, "I have given special attention to the issue of flood. You know that they have some conditions, especially with the BGMEA and GSP, to meet the challenges in the private sector; they have been urged to fulfil them."
Apart from this, "If they want to export our goods, to invest, either direct investment or joint investment, they will do it. There was a discussion about what can be done especially in the technical sectors, including BASIS."
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