Dhaka //

Currently, only 12 out of 60 private banks are active. Directors have withdrawn customers’ money from the rest, said Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed. The government is taking necessary steps to overcome this crisis.

Briefing reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday (February 4), the Finance Advisor said that controlling the market is the biggest challenge for the government now. To keep the market stable and supply of goods normal, the government is emphasizing on importing essential goods. Its impact is expected to be felt in the market from March onwards.

He also said that when the interim government took office, the country’s economic situation was worse than Sri Lanka’s. However, it is now gradually improving. The country’s inflation will come down to 6 to 7 percent by June. He expressed optimism that this has the potential to reduce the prices of daily necessities.

The Finance Advisor clearly stated that there is no plan to withdraw the increased VAT on fruit imports. He said, VAT has been increased on some products to increase revenue, which is not very high. Even if someone protests about this, the government’s decision will not change.

The government has decided to import rice, pulses, fertilizer and LNG to keep the prices of daily necessities affordable in view of the upcoming month of Ramadan. The Finance Advisor said that this decision was taken at a meeting of the Procurement Advisory Council.

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