Muhith slams bureaucrats

Finance Minister AMA Muhith last night said different ministries “unfairly” closed five to six factories in Sylhet that were good to continue operations.

“Sometimes, bureaucrats take bizarre decisions which hurt the country's interest,” the minister said after a pre-budget discussion with the parliamentary standing committee on different ministries at state guesthouse Padma in the capital.

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The government would take action against them, he said.

Muhith said Water Development Board officials recommended a bizarre project in an area where there were no rivers or canals. The officials did not even notice that there were no rivers or canals there.

Talking about the discussion, Muhith told journalists that almost all the participants talked about providing monthly payment order (MPO) to at least three educational institutions in their areas as the election was coming up soon.

Quoting one of the participants, the minister said it was interesting that those who paid the highest tax were not eligible to get CIP status due to law. He said the ministry would look into it in the future.

The minister also talked about the importance of decentralising the hospitals, adding that the number of required doctor was less than required.

Establishing costal management department and strengthening rural economy were also discussed at the meeting.