Azad ‘mortified’ over Muhith tirade

Former FBCCI president AK Azad is ‘mortified’ following outgoing Janata Bank chairman Abul Barakat's suggestion that Finance Minister AMA Muhith is dishonest.

Abdur Rahim BadalChief Economics Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 11 Sept 2014, 10:20 AM
Updated : 11 Sept 2014, 02:22 PM

“The finance minister is an honest man. He runs election but does not take money from anyone. He just manages to scrape by.

“Good people will not feel motivated to work for the country if an honest man like him is discouraged,” said Azad, who is the Chairman of Shahjalal Islami Bank and Managing director of Ha-Meem Group.

He was speaking on Thursday in presence of Muhith at a scholarship awards programme.

“I saw in the newspaper today that someone has questioned the honesty of the finance minister. I’m hurt," said Azad.

Barkat on Monday claimed the minister shut down the bank's CSR programme as his lobbying was ignored.

The following day, Muhith said Barkat was making such statements knowing his term as the bank's chief would not be extended.

On Wednesday, Dhaka University teacher Barkat questioned the finance minister's honesty and brought allegations of nepotism and lobbying.

Muhith said it was beneath him to answer the allegations.

"This finance minister has broadened the size of the national budget to Tk 2.5 trillion from Tk 820 billion, increased VAT collection many times.

"He has made the country's economic base strong by improving various indices," said the business leader.

Azad believes Bangladesh's economy would have flourished “like that of Denmark” if Muhith were given "full freedom".
The finance minister was on stage, listening to the speech with his head down, but did not comment on Azad's remarks.
Shahjalal Bank awarded scholarships at the programme to 500 financially insolvent but meritorious students who passed the SSC and HSC in 2013.
"A nation's best investment is its education sector," the finance minister said handing over cheques to the students.
"The more a country invests in education, the more it will progress," Muhith said.