Finance minister tears into economists critical of government's financial policies

He sidesteps questions about whether the economy is currently performing well on any indicators

Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali has launched a broadside at economists who have critiqued the government's financial strategies at various times.

However, the minister, who is naturally reticent, sidestepped questions about whether the economy is currently performing well on any indicators.

After a long time, on Sunday, following a meeting with a representative from the IMF at the Secretariat, the finance minister faced the press.

During a discussion about the preparations for the upcoming budget, a journalist asked for the minister's opinion on the evaluations made by independent economists.

A journalist asked although the IMF has expressed satisfaction, economists like Debapriya Bhattacharya and Wahiduddin Mahmud are saying that “the economy is in a crisis”.

In response, the minister said, "Who is Debapriya? I know him. What is the crisis? I didn’t understand. Just because he speaks against [the government], does he become a champion?

“Debapriya will of course say that. He's one of them. He's from the opposition. ‘Nothing is happening, everything is ruined’ - he will say that."

When asked if all critics are from the opposition, he replied, "No, you have to look at the tone. You have to see what he says: ‘Everything is ruined? There's nothing left?’"

And pressed to say which indicators show the economy is doing well, Mahmood Ali responded by saying: "I won't say now. No need.”