President of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) Dr Abul Barkat on Monday said those opposing the construction of Padma Bridge, the country’s largest-ever infrastructure project, with own funding are World Bank agents.“Those who are saying building Padma Bridge with own resources will hurt Bangladesh, I tell them clearly, they’re World Bank agents,” he told a post-budget press conference at the BEA conference room.
Barkat also sharply criticised those who claimed that Padma Bridge construction with own financing will shrink allocation in the social sector — education, health and others.
He said construction of the Padma Bridge with own resources could be the best scope for national solidarity.
BEA general secretary Dr Towfique Ahmed Chowdhury and BEA leaders were also present at the press conference.
Construction of the Padma Bridge is surely possible with own financing, he said outlining how it is possible. “We’ve identified 12 sectors from where an additional amount of Tk 94,748 crore can be mobilised,” Abul Barkat said.
He said 46 persons in the country each pay income tax worth Tk 1 crore or above a year. “But, in our calculation, there are 50,000 people in the country who can pay each income tax worth Tk 1 crore or above annually. So, Tk 50,000 crore may come from them.”
Responding to a question, the noted economist said people know the 46 persons and other 50,000 others who can pay income tax worth more than Tk one crore each per annum.
Barkat also said some Tk 3,000 crore can be earned as revenue from tobacco sector but the Finance Minister could not do it. “The lobbying is very strong.”
He also said the substitutes to breast milk is simply poison. “We asked to stop the import of infant formulas. But the big importer of it is the owner of a newspaper.” (Source: UNB)
