Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Saturday asked which country in the world allows journalists unrestricted entry to its central bank.
鈥業n which country in the world can you enter the central bank freely? There is all information on the website... Why do you enter?鈥� said Obaidul Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, as he was responding to journalists鈥� questions at a press conference at the party president鈥檚 political office at Dhanmondi.
When a reporter asked Quader whether the government is worried because the country鈥檚 reserves have dropped from $48 billion to $13 billion, he counter-questioned, 鈥榃ho told you $13 billion? Which news is telling you? We have updates on the reserve.鈥�
Then the journalists told the minister that the Bangladesh Bank governor said that there is $13 billion to be used.
At this the Awami League general secretary said, 鈥楾hen ask the governor why it has come to this stage? We don鈥檛 know that. We know that it hovers between $19 billion and $20 billion.鈥�
The reporters asked the minister that as the journalists were not allowed to enter the Bangladesh Bank, how it is that they could ask the governor.
He said in response, 鈥楥an anyone enter India鈥檚 鈥渇ederal bank鈥� at random? Why would you enter?鈥�
Reporters sought Quader鈥檚 opinion about many economists expressing fear that the reserve had dropped to $13 billion.
The minister answered, 鈥榃ith how many billion dollars did we start the journey after independence? How many billions of dollars did the BNP leave us behind? Three billion plus. So now there are 19鈥�20 billion dollars, is it less? Now our export income is increasing; remittance is also increasing which is the trend of the moment. If these increase, the reserve will also increase.鈥�
鈥榃e do not say one thing, why is today鈥檚 Bangladesh so developed and prosperous? It鈥檚 due to continuity and stability of the government. Because of this, so much development and achievement has been possible. Because of this the country has become a wonder of the world,鈥� he said.
Awami League joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, organising secretaries Mirza Azam and Sujit Roy Nandi, science and technology affairs secretary Abdus Sabur and liberation war affairs secretary Mrinal Kanti Das and deputy office secretary Sayem Khan were present at the press conference among others.
