BD to become middle-income country within 7 yrs: Muhith

SYLHET, Jan 23: Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said today Bangladesh would be a middle-income country within next seven years if the present economic progress continues, reports BSS.

"The Awami League- led grand alliance government has made a remarkable socio-economic development in the country in last five years, and if the consistency is maintained, Bangladesh would be a middle-income country within next seven years," he said.

The minister said this while attending a reception here organised in his honour for becoming the finance minister for the second term in the grand alliance government. Sylhet District and City Awami League accorded the reception at the Central Shaheed Minar.

He said the AL- led government has worked for the development and welfare of the country as well as farmers, labourers and poor people, resulting in the alleviation of poverty and hunger.

Citing the violence, vandalism and bomb attacks by the BNP- Jamaat led 18 party alliance, Muhith warned that those who would resort to violence, vandalism and firing, will be dealt with severely.

The finance minister thanked BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia for shunning the path of violence and vandalism.

Muhith reached Sylhet M A G Osmani Airport at 2pm and went to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal ® and offered Fateha here.

Later, the minister also offered Fateha at the graves of Commander-in-Chief of Bangladesh Forces during the Liberation War M A G Osmani, former speaker of parliament Humayun Rashid Chowdhury, former foreign minister Abdus Samad Azad and former MP Dewan Farid Gazi.

Earlier, Muhith paid tribute to the martyrs by placing floral wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar.