PM for gradually coming out from the trend of subsidies

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the authorities concerned to gradually come out of the trend of subsidies initially on utilities like electricity and water to reduce burden on the state coffer, reports BSS.

The Premier gave the directive while chairing the last ECNEC meeting of the present government held at the NEC Conference Room in city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the Premier had asked the authorities concerned to come out from the tendency of providing subsidies primarily on some key utility services like electricity and water.

"We'll have to come out of the practice of subsidies in phases. Utilities like electricity and water are universal and are used by all. All from the Minister to cleaner equally enjoy the benefits of such subsidies," Mannan said quoting the Premier as saying.

The Planning Minister said the Prime Minister in the meeting had suggested fixing charges or fees on such utilities area-wise, income-wise and family-wise.

Answering to a question, Mannan said this is still an initial thought by the Premier while related experts would work on it further to make the concerned charges and fees more justified.

"We'll have to come out from the trend of subsidies in phases and this is the main message," he said adding that such system would be developed in line with the practice of developed countries.

The Planning Minister said the Prime Minister once again stressed on the need for forming a dedicated fund through realizing tolls for maintaining the countrywide roads and Highways in the long term.

Sheikh Hasina also underscored the need for having low lying areas on both sides of the Highways so that rain water could be drained out from the roads and Highways to those areas and thus the highways would not be damaged.

Mannan said the Premier also asked the authorities concerned to keep special attention so that the ongoing or future multi-storey buildings in the capital could not create air funnel in the way of air traffic movement.

When asked whether the government is concerned over the ongoing blockades called by the BNP, the Planning Minister said, "We're not at all worried while there is no question for being feared since we're living in our own motherland,"