STAFF REPORTER
Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the government has no plan to form a banking commission right now for further look into irregularities in the country’s banking sector.“I have no desire to form a banking commission right now,” he said adding that the government may consider the formation of such a body after observing the outcomes of the ongoing inquiries into some recent banking scams.
Muhith said this while exchanging views with the members of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at the Secretariat as part of pre-budget discussions with various stakeholders.
Muhith said, “Though inquiries into some banking incidents (scams) are rather limited, we’ll first see the probe results. Then we can determine whether the formation of a banking commission is essential.”
About upazila-level tax offices, he said there should be a timeframe to set up tax offices in all 495 upazilas across the country.
The minister directed Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Nojibur Rahman who was also present at the views-exchange to fix a timeframe for setting up such offices at all upazilas.
About income disparity, the Finance Minister admitted that there is no doubt that it is widening in the country. “Income disparity is of course dangerous. So, we are trying to reduce it.”
He, however, said though income disparity will increase a little bit, it will not go up to such extent where social problems are created.
Lower-class people are also being benefitted due to the country’s income growth as a significant proportion of it is trickled down to them.
“So, the rate of extreme poverty will definitely go below two digits at end of this year. Now it’s around 11 percent,” he said.
Finance Division Senior Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, Economic Relations Division Secretary Mohammad Mejbahuddin and Bank and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Md Eunusur Rahman were present at the function moderated by ERF President Saif Islam Dilal.
ERF members, including its general secretary Ziaur Rahman, general secretary of the Jatiya Press Club Quamrul Islam Chowdhury and Sultan Mahmud, placed their suggestions over the next budget.
