Matia comes down heavily on WB over BBS issue

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FE Report
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury Saturday came down heavily on the World Bank over the BBS issue at the Parliament.
She was talking at the discussion on budget 2010-11 at the House.
Acting Bangladesh head of the multilateral lending agency recently said that BBS and agriculture minister had a dispute over total Boro crop production and that BBS data should be upheld.
The minister said this year's production is better than that of last year and BBS, an inefficient organisation, came up with untrue information.
"May I ask are you (the WB) defending an untrue statement, may I ask are you (the WB) defending an inefficient organization?" she said adding, "You are not sent to Bangladesh to defend the BBS."
She warned the global agency not to make any 'tall talk' as the situation has been changed.
"You don't give us enough money to make whatever statements you want," Matia said.
The minister informed the House that the government has taken initiative to open the closed Adamjee Jute Mills.
About the tax at source on savings instruments, she criticised the government move and said savers are subject to 'double taxation'.
Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque said vaccine manufacturers should be waived of value added tax to make it cheaper for the people.
He informed the House that the government has taken steps to introduce separate packaging for medicine provided by government to prevent its sale in open market.