There is enough money in the banks: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday categorically denounced “rumours that banks are facing acute liquidity crisis”.

“It’s a blatant lie that there is no money in the banks,” she said while addressing a massive public rally at the district stadium in Jashore, organised by local Awami League.

Sheikh Hasina said that on Wednesday (November 23, 2022) she had a meeting with Bangladesh Bank governor and other concerned officials.

“There is enough money in the banks,” she assured.

She said that some people are talking about forex reserves. “There is no problem with forex reserves,” she added.

She also said that some people are spreading a lie that there is no money in the banks, and paying heed to that rumour, some are withdrawing money from banks.

“If you withdraw money from banks and keep it at home, thieves will be encouraged to steal the money. It is just creating an opportunity for the thieves,” she said.

She said that remittances are coming in, foreign investments are happening, export income has gone up, and tax collection has been increased as well.

“While other countries are facing serious debacles due to global recession, Bangladesh is still going strong,” she said.

She urged people not to pay heed to any rumour. “It is BNP’s job to spread rumours all the time, you know that,” she added.

The prime minister said that BNP had never done anything for the welfare of the country and its people. “They have always engaged in looting when they were in power,” she said.

She mentioned that during its 2001-06 tenure, BNP left foreign currency reserves at USD 2.5 billion only. When AL formed the government in 2009, forex reserves were USD 5 billion after the caretaker government’s regime.

During the coronavirus pandemic there was no export and import, as a result forex reserves accumulated to USD 48 billion, she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the AL president, said to procuring Covid-19 vaccines, fertiliser, rice and wheat for the people, the government has spent money.

“It (forex reserve) did not go anywhere, it was spent for the welfare of the people,” she said.

“We have invested in various works, giving stimulus for export, agriculture and giving deficit money which accumulated up to USD 8 billion,” she said.

AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, AL MP elected from Khulna Sheikh Helal, AL presidium members Md. Abdur Razzak, Piyush Kanti Bhattacharya and Jahangir Kabir Nanak also spoke at the rally.

Jashore District AL president Shahidul Islam Milon presided over the rally. District Awami League General Secretary Shahin Chaklader conducted the Jashore rally.