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Change Your Life! |
New leaders of DCCI
meet Prime Minister |
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News |
June 19, 2000
Dhaka
(UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday (Sunday) urged private
entrepreneurs to create a viable domestic market for their products and
increase the buying capacity of the poor to build a robust economy.
“We want to improve the economic status of our vast rural population and increase their buying capacity,” she said.
Talking to newly elected office-bearers of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries at her parliament office, the Prime Minister also called for setting up agro-based industries and food processing units using government incentives. Aftabul Islam, president of DCCI, led the delegation and submitted a set of recommendations for creating congenial atmosphere for more industrialization and strengthening the economy.
After taking over power against the backdrop of a shambled economy, she claimed her government restored discipline in the banking sector and granted loan to genuine industrialists and entrepreneurs.
The Prime Minister said that despite natural calamities and man-made “disasters” like hartal, it has been possible to achieve 5.5 percent GDP without causing inflation.
Hasina said problems like gas and power supply could be resolved to a great extent. Steps are underway to supply gas to the country’s northern region, she added.
She
said an MOU would be signed shortly to set up marine cable to join
information superhighway.
About extension of tax holiday period, Hasina said the number of taxpayers is very low, as many people, despite their capability, want to remain outside the tax net. She said the highest taxpayers would be given the status of VIP.
Referring to existing rules relating to sick industries, she said steps are being taken to update the law so that a specific industrial unit is declared sick without affecting allied concerns.
The Prime Minister urged the private entrepreneurs to come forward in setting up World Trade Center in Dhaka.
About the proposed national budget, she said it was prepared in consultation with different segments of society, making it an industrial friendly budget.
Hasina assured that Board of Investment would be made effective to increase investment in the country.
She admitted the fact that one does not get gas and telephone lines usually through normal process until one “gives something”. She said it would take sometime to overcome this situation.
One stop service was introduced at BOI to help investors and entrepreneurs to get quick services, she said.
About law and order situation, Hasina said her government is trying hard to improve the situation by taking stern action against terrorists, toll collectors and snatchers.
Referring to the action taken against her party MPs or leaders, she said such action was never taken or even thought of during the past regimes.
Hasina said if any legal action is taken against offenders belonging to the opposition, clamor starts that it is a political harassment.
She said law would take its own course and none should try to protect offenders by giving political color.
Earlier, the DCCI president welcomed certain budgetary measures that include Tk. 100-crore equity development fund for information technology and agriculture sector, highest allocation in education sector, ban on 2-stroke engine vehicles and reduction of import tax on raw materials for certain industries.
The chamber also pointed out some negative aspects of the budget like borrowing loan from banking sector, expansion of VAT net without reducing the VAT from 15 percent to 10 percent.
The DCCI suggested improvement of law and order, quick infrastructure development, smooth supply of gas, electricity, water and telephone link, fixing interest of industrial loan at 5-6 percent, stopping uneven competition between indigenous industry and NGOs, solving problems of sick industries and declaring Sunday as weekly holiday.
Among the DCCI delegation members were A.M. Mubashshar, Maksud Khan, M.H.Rahman, Golam Mostafa, Mohammad Reazuddin, A.Y. Kamal. Benajir Ahmed, Manzurur Rahman, Sajjatuz Jumma, Nasir Hossain and Geasuddin Ahmed
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