Dhaka: Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday apparently backed Finance Minister AMA Muhith by criticising those cabinet members who lambasted Muhith on the previous day, reports UNB. Participating in the discussion on proposed budget in Parliament, Tofail said, since this budget has earlier been approved by the cabinet, if I've anything to say, the cabinet meeting is the proper place for it.
“Once the budget is passed (by the cabinet), then MPs (not cabinet members) can place their suggestions on it.”he added. Earlier several ministers, including Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, criticised Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith for imposing additional excise duty on bank accounts and reducing interest rate on saving certificates. Tofail also blasted Jatiya Party leaders Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu and Kazi Firoze Rashid for demanding resignation of the finance minister and raising question about his capacity for his age.
“You raised question about the age of the finance minister, but you don't consider the age of HM Ershad who is five year older than the finance minister. Why did you demand the resignation of the finance minister?” the commerce minister said. “He (Muhith) placed 12 budgets in Parliament. He'll place more if Awami League is in power. The Prime Minister has the trust in him,” Tofail said. About the 11th parliamentary election, he said the next polls will be held under this government and Sheikh Hasina will be the head of the interim government during the election.
Besides, Awami League MPs Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, Akabbar Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Bazlul Haque Haroon, Momotaz Begom and Waseqa Ayesha Khan, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam, and independent MP Dr Rustum Ali Faraji joined the general discussion on the proposed 400,266-crore budget on the day. He told the parliament that rice prices will become normal soon as the import duty on it has been reduced, reports UNB.
“The import duty on rice has been reduced to 10 per cent from 28 per cent as per the Prime Minister's instruction. The rice price will be declined by Tk 6 per kg,” he said joining the general discussion on the proposed national budget for 2017-18 fiscal. Tofail said the rice prices went up as the mills owners discontinued the normal supply to the market.
