Ziauddin Bablu’s comments on Beximco loans are not party views: Ershad

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has distanced his party from the remarks of Presidium Member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu criticising facilities given to Beximco Group to enable the business conglomerate to repay loans.

Ershad’s Press and Political Secretary Sunil Shuvo Roy said in a media statement quoting Ershad on Wednesday that Bablu’s comments made on the issue in parliament on Tuesday were 'his own views.'
 
“The Jatiya Party does not agree with this view of Ziauddin Bablu,” the statement said. 
 
Beximco Group Vice-Chairman Salman F Rahman is Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina’s private sector development adviser. 
 
In August 2014, the Bangladesh Bank rescheduled Tk 500 billion loans taken by the group.
 
As it failed to pay back even after the rescheduling, the group is being given extra facilities and has been given time until 2027 to repay the loans, according to a report run by daily Prothom Alo on Tuesday.
 
In the same evening, Bablu asked Finance Minister AMA Muhith in parliament: “Is there any special law for Beximco? (If not) Then why will they enjoy special facilities?”   
 
He also told Muhith: “Please save our economy, share market, banking sector. Take measures so that the people can live; otherwise, we will never get the status of a middle-income country.”      
 
Ershad said in the release, “Beximco Group is a multi-dimensional business firm with 60,000 employees. This Group is playing a key role in developing Bangladesh’s private sector.”     
 
He also said everyone “should consider the advantages and disadvantages of such a group in the national interests”.
 
“We believe the government and the finance minister have the banking sector under control. So there should be no scope for misunderstanding over Mr Bablu’s personal views on the issue,” he added.