PM tells business leaders to keep money in Bangladesh, not in Swiss banks

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged businessmen to keep their money in Bangladeshi banks following reports that their Swiss bank accounts are swelling.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 13 Oct 2015, 04:44 PM
Updated : 13 Oct 2015, 05:58 PM

She made the appeal at a reception for her hosted by Bangladesh’s apex business body FBCCI in Dhaka’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Tuesday.
 
She reminded them that their deposits would fetch greater interest in Bangladesh.
 
“I don’t understand business; I know nothing of it,” she said at the function attended by business leaders.
 
“But I am doing all that is necessary to give people a better life.”

Then she smilingly told the businessmen: “Keep your money in Bangladesh. You get better interest here. We have to build the country.

Media reports quoting the Swiss central bank said deposits of Bangladeshi nationals in Swiss banks increased by 36.02 percent in 2014 over the previous year’s figures.

Citing Swiss National Bank data, the reports said deposits by Bangladeshis had touched about Tk 40 billion, while it was a little over Tk 30 billion in 2013.

Hasina also appealed the businessmen to keep environmental concerns in mind while setting up industries.

“You build factories, select the land; one will have to acquire land.

“But no one cares to find out if forestation is being properly done, whether the waterbodies are in good health, and farm lands are in good shape,” she said.

Referring to the dumping of industrial waste in rivers, she said big hospitals were being set up in Dhaka without taking adequate waste management measures.

“We will have to protect the environment,” she stressed, drawing attention to the urgency of the issue.

“We are a predominantly agricultural country. We will have to protect agricultural land,” she said, emphasising the importance of farmlands.

She also called for a broadening of the country’s export basket.

Hasina said the per capita income had to be raised from $1,314.

“We are working to reduce income disparity. No one in Bangladesh should be homeless or go hungry.”

The government’s main aim was to maintain the pace economic development, she added.