Mega projects will not adversely affect economy: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday ruled out the possibility of mega projects adversely impacting the balance of foreign currencies and the country's economy.

In reply to a query from Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam, she said proper financial and economic analyses were done before the projects were undertaken.

Saying that most of the projects were undertaken with foreign loans or grants, the premier said these are soft loans with comparatively very low interest rate as well as long repayment tenure and grace period.

"Moreover, no major complexity was noticed in regards to releasing the loan funds by development agencies," she explained.

Besides, Hasina said since the projects (except Padma Multipurpose Bridge Construction and Payra Deep Sea Port Project) are being financed by foreign sources, project-related import costs would not put any adverse impact on the balance of foreign currencies.

In reply to another question from treasury bench member AKM Rahmatullah, the PM said some unscrupulous individuals are making efforts to increase illegal stocks and prices of essential goods, taking advantage of the global inflation caused by the war and pandemic.

She said the government has taken measures to keep price-hike, illegal hoarding and market system of daily essentials under control.

Responding to a question from Awami League lawmaker Nur Uddin Chowdhury Nayan, Hasina said the government has a plan to construct an 85-km inner circular road to ease Dhaka's traffic congestion.

In reply to a question from AL lawmaker Md Mamunur Rashid Kiron, the PM said enactment of a law related to universal pension scheme and formation of an authority under the law are under process.

Answering a question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Rustum Ali Faraji, the PM said inflow of remittance is returning to the normal trend of pre-Covid situation.