Tofail defends Muhith against relentless criticism in parliament

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has stood by his colleague Finance Minister AMA Muhith, who has been facing harsh criticism over the proposed budget from colleagues in parliament.

The budget, which was presented on Jun 1, drew criticism due to increased excise duty to be imposed on bank accounts with at least Tk 100,000 and a uniform VAT of 15 percent.
 
During Wednesday's budget discussion in parliament, Ahmed responded to remarks by ministers and lawmakers, both from the ruling party and the opposition.

"I did not expect this from Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu and Kazi Firoz Rashid," said Ahmed, the senior Awami League leader who disapproved of the way they criticised Muhith in the House.
 
Senior leaders of opposition Jatiya Party Bablu and Rashid, on Tuesday, went as far as to ask Muhith to step down and even recommended pressing criminal charges against him.

During the budget session, several ruling party leaders, including Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque came down hard on the octogenarian finance minister.

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"If you talk about age, then you should think of your leader HM Ershad, who is five years older than the finance minister," Ahmed said in the presence of Bablu and Rashid in the House. "I wonder how Bablu forgot that his leader is more than 86 years old."  
 

Senior Awami League lawmakers have come down hard on Finance Minister AMA Muhith for his statements which they have said embarrassed the government. File photo

Ahmed faulted his cabinet colleagues for criticising Muhith in parliament, saying the budget was approved by them before the finance minister unveiled his proposals in the House.

The MPs, not the ministers, may choose parliament to vent their anger against issues, according to Ahmed. "For ministers, the cabinet is the appropriate place."

On the demand for the finance minister to resign, Ahmed said: "Why do you want (only) him to step down? You can also demand my resignation as I am also part of it."

He told the House that he believes the prime minister is well aware of what people want. "She will address the parliament on the 28th of this month and instruct the finance minister on what should be done. People will praise the budget, which will be passed, as the best."
 
Ahmed, a member of the ruling party's policymaking presidium, hinted at a revision of the decision to impose 15 percent uniform VAT. "This government is business-friendly."
 
Over criticism by opposition MPs Bablu and Rashid on setting aside Tk 20 billion in the revised FY2017 budget to bail out state banks, Ahmed said there have been some 'unfortunate incidents' in the banking system.