‘They are looting our forex reserves’

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader yesterday claimed the country’s foreign exchange reserves have actually been looted.

Quader, also deputy leader of the opposition, said Bangladesh is turning into a failed state due to corruption and mismanagement. The IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank do not want to give the country loans. “Because, we have anomalies in our forex reserves.”

He said this while speaking at the biannual conference of Jamalpur District Jatiya Party at Mirza Azam Auditorium in Jamalpur.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said money from the country’s forex reserves is being used for development activities, imports, and the people’s welfare.

“Many people are questioning where the money from the forex reserves is going. The money goes to Payra Port. It is being used to purchase food and fertiliser for the people. It is also being used for imports and people’s welfare. No one is misappropriating the money,” she said.

GM Quader yesterday said, even a year ago, the country had USD 48 billion in forex reserves. Due to spending from the reserves, the amount now stands at USD 27 billion. The country may face a severe economic disaster next year.

“The reserves have been used to invest in airport projects, Payra seaport, and investments in Sri Lanka. In fact, reserve money has been looted,” he said.

Quader said, “We supported Awami League in the 2008 elections to save the country from the corruption of Hawa Bhaban. But Awami League did not keep its word.”

“At first, it thought Jatiya Party is its affiliated organisation, then a servant, and now a slave. It wants to control everything. We don’t want to be controlled by anyone. We will not be slaves to anyone,” he said.

Quader claimed that a conspiracy has started to weaken Jatiya Party again.

Without mentioning any name, he said the conspirators are trying to split the party and create divisions.

He said there is no democracy in the country. The citizens cannot protest. Everyone wants freedom from such misrule. Because there is no democracy, there is no accountability in the country.