Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader has said comparing Bangladesh's economy with Sri Lanka is part of a conspiracy and intentional propaganda.
“Those who say that Bangladesh will be Sri Lanka are either knowingly or intentionally spreading propaganda. Our capital account is not open, so no one can send dollars abroad if they want to like Sri Lanka. If you want to send money abroad for any education or medical work, you have to open an account and send it,” he said.
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He made the remarks while delivering his speech as the chief guest at an introductory meeting with the new unit-level leaders of the Dhaka North Awami League.
The programme was organised at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the morning.
“Many people talk about megaprojects. Padma Bridge is not dependent on foreign loans. Sheikh Hasina is building Padma Bridge with our money, there is no foreign debt. There is no such mega project with any foreign loan. Bangabandhu's daughter has proved to the whole world what Bangladesh can do,” he said.
He further said that our Padma Bridge is being implemented with own funds. Most of Sri Lanka's loans have to be repaid in a short period of time on difficult terms at higher interest rates while most of our debts have to be repaid in the long run.
“After the propaganda against Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel, and Metrorail project, now they are spreading that Bangladesh will be Sri Lanka. After overcoming the corona crisis, the economy of Bangladesh is at a balanced level at the grassroots. There was no crisis in Bangladesh as in Sri Lanka,” he emphasized.
He told the propagandists that there is no benefit in spreading propaganda as Bangladesh will never be Sri Lanka.
Quader said the work on Bangabandhu Tunnel, Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, and Karnaphuli River is almost completed. There has been a lot of propaganda about these but the progress could not be stopped by propaganda.
Saying that commodity prices had risen before Ramadan but now it has come to a tolerable level, he said Bangladesh has never been in default since independence. Sri Lanka's debt ratio is 61 percent while Bangladesh's debt ratio is 14 percent.
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“Overcoming the Corona crisis, our export earnings are set to surpass the record this year as our currency is still stable against the dollar. Sri Lanka's foreign currency reserves are only 2 billion while our reserves are 45 billion. By lending money to Sri Lanka, Sheikh Hasina has shown the potential of Bangladesh,” he added.
Leaders from 26 thanas, 64 wards and one union Awami League joined a total of 1600 Presidents and General Secretaries at the historical meeting, the organiser informed.
Organisers also said that the units were finalised through the council in every area of the North Awami League territory to strengthen the root level for the very first time.
General Secretary of Dhaka North Awami League unit SM Mannan Kochi conducted the programme while its President Bazlur Rahman presided over the meeting.