Power sector, share market 2 major concerns for reelection: Ershad
Dhaka, June 26 (UNB) – Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad on Tuesday in Parliament identified power sector and share market as the two major concerns for the Awami League-led grand alliance government to be re-elected in the next general election.
“Power and share market are the two minus points for us. We’ll get good return in the election if these two issues are dealt with carefully,” he said while taking part in the discussion on the proposed budget for the next fiscal (2012-13).
Ershad, whose Jatiya Party is a part of the government, said the present grand alliance government lost at least one crore votes due to the share market collapse.
He said: “Many investors lost everything and some even committed suicide after incurring heavy losses. Steps will have to be taken right now to make the market vibrant again and get back the lost one crore votes.”
Taking a swipe at Finance Minister AMA Muhith, the former Army General said some people had destroyed the share market, but no action was taken against the manipulators whose names came up in the share market scam probe report.
He also criticized the Finance Minister for making unnecessary comments like ‘naughty share market’ and said “we should refrain from making such comments.”
Ershad suggested dissolving the governing body of the stock exchanges through demutualization to ensure discipline and transparency in the capital market.
He also urged the government to identify the conspirators who are hatching conspiracy to destroy the country’s highest export earning sector – readymade garments. “Anyhow, we’ll have to keep this sector unhurt.”
On black money whitening, the Jatiya Party chief said: “It’s immoral, certainly it’s immoral. But what alternative we’ve. If we don’t utilize the black money for the country’s development, the money will be siphoned off. So, I support the provision of black money whitening.”
Referring to a newspaper report, he said about Tk 10,000 crore are siphoned off abroad every year while 36 percent of the GDP is black money.
He urged the government to concentrate on the infrastructure development and remove liquidity crisis in the banking sector to ensure credit flow to the private sector.
On Rohingya issue, Ershad said he fully supports the government’s stand. “We can’t allow them inside our territory. If they come, they should be sent back immediately after providing required food and healthcare.”
He urged the United Nations to put pressure on Myanmar instead of putting burden on Bangladesh.
Opposing the proposed 1.2 percent tax at source on all types of exports and tax on mobile phone calls, he urged the Finance Minister to withdraw the proposals.
Ershad sought Prime Minister’s initiative to make the country free from drugs – Yaba and Phensydil - and also of formalin.
He expressed doubts about achieving the targeted 7.2 percent GDP growth in the coming fiscal and sought pragmatic steps to achieve the target.
He thanked the government for the 15th amendment to the Constitution by which caretaker government system had been scrapped and said: “It erased the stigma about the politicians.”
Making his grave observations on the current political scenario, the former military ruler said: “The path of democracy is gradually getting bumpy… parliament is calm in absence of the opposition. I don’t know where it will see a full stop.”
He, however, expressed the hope that he would see the democracy is well-established in the country during his life-time.
Ershad requested fellow lawmakers not to brand him autocrat. “Brothers, please don’t call me autocratic. I feel pain. We’re passengers on the same vehicle. Let’s work together.”
Making a flashback on his regime, he said that in 1986, he gave election ending his military rule. “At that time, I told the era of military rule is finished, it won’t come again. And it didn’t come.”
“Power and share market are the two minus points for us. We’ll get good return in the election if these two issues are dealt with carefully,” he said while taking part in the discussion on the proposed budget for the next fiscal (2012-13).
Ershad, whose Jatiya Party is a part of the government, said the present grand alliance government lost at least one crore votes due to the share market collapse.
He said: “Many investors lost everything and some even committed suicide after incurring heavy losses. Steps will have to be taken right now to make the market vibrant again and get back the lost one crore votes.”
Taking a swipe at Finance Minister AMA Muhith, the former Army General said some people had destroyed the share market, but no action was taken against the manipulators whose names came up in the share market scam probe report.
He also criticized the Finance Minister for making unnecessary comments like ‘naughty share market’ and said “we should refrain from making such comments.”
Ershad suggested dissolving the governing body of the stock exchanges through demutualization to ensure discipline and transparency in the capital market.
He also urged the government to identify the conspirators who are hatching conspiracy to destroy the country’s highest export earning sector – readymade garments. “Anyhow, we’ll have to keep this sector unhurt.”
On black money whitening, the Jatiya Party chief said: “It’s immoral, certainly it’s immoral. But what alternative we’ve. If we don’t utilize the black money for the country’s development, the money will be siphoned off. So, I support the provision of black money whitening.”
Referring to a newspaper report, he said about Tk 10,000 crore are siphoned off abroad every year while 36 percent of the GDP is black money.
He urged the government to concentrate on the infrastructure development and remove liquidity crisis in the banking sector to ensure credit flow to the private sector.
On Rohingya issue, Ershad said he fully supports the government’s stand. “We can’t allow them inside our territory. If they come, they should be sent back immediately after providing required food and healthcare.”
He urged the United Nations to put pressure on Myanmar instead of putting burden on Bangladesh.
Opposing the proposed 1.2 percent tax at source on all types of exports and tax on mobile phone calls, he urged the Finance Minister to withdraw the proposals.
Ershad sought Prime Minister’s initiative to make the country free from drugs – Yaba and Phensydil - and also of formalin.
He expressed doubts about achieving the targeted 7.2 percent GDP growth in the coming fiscal and sought pragmatic steps to achieve the target.
He thanked the government for the 15th amendment to the Constitution by which caretaker government system had been scrapped and said: “It erased the stigma about the politicians.”
Making his grave observations on the current political scenario, the former military ruler said: “The path of democracy is gradually getting bumpy… parliament is calm in absence of the opposition. I don’t know where it will see a full stop.”
He, however, expressed the hope that he would see the democracy is well-established in the country during his life-time.
Ershad requested fellow lawmakers not to brand him autocrat. “Brothers, please don’t call me autocratic. I feel pain. We’re passengers on the same vehicle. Let’s work together.”
Making a flashback on his regime, he said that in 1986, he gave election ending his military rule. “At that time, I told the era of military rule is finished, it won’t come again. And it didn’t come.”
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