Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday expressed her optimism that the GDP growth in the current fiscal year would hit 6.5 percent and even more although the World Bank apprehended that it might come down to 5.7 percent due to political violence. “We’ve curbed all things with an iron hand after assuming office this time and we’ve also ensured peace and security to public life. The exports will increase and the GDP growth may reach 6.5 percent and even more,” she told Parliament replying to a supplementary question from Haji Selim (Dhaka-7) during her scheduled question-answer session. The GDP growth target in the current fiscal year is 7.2 percent. The Prime Minister said investment proposals are now coming largely and the export markets being diversified due to the proactive steps taken by her government to boost export earnings. “I hope the people of Bangladesh will get its benefits.” Earlier, replying to a starred question from Haji Selim, Hasina said all the economic indexes witnessed a rising trend despite various subversive acts by the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir through enforcing hartals and blockades, especially over the last few months. Through the January 5 polls, she said, the attempt for snatching the voting rights of the common people has been foiled and a business-friendly environment has been created in the country with the assuming of office by the new government. “We’ll be able to infuse a new pace into the economy with the cooperation of all through boosting trade and commerce,” Hasina told the House. Highlighting various favourable macro-economic indicators in the first half of the current fiscal year, Hasina said the budget deficit is within 5 percent of the GDP while the foreign exchange rate remained at a stable position. – UNB
