Planning Minister MA Mannan MP said, 'Bangladesh has good foreign exchange reserves. In 2009 during BNP's tenure, the government's reserves rose from $5 billion to $48 billion. Foreign exchange reserves are being politicized. A group is spreading misleading information among the people about the reserve. Although the reserve decreased for a few days, the reserve has started to increase due to remittances sent by expatriates.
Foreign exchange reserves are increasing with expatriates earning their hard-earned money. Expatriates are now sending more money back home. They are the heroes of our reserve growth. Salute them. There is no question of our reserves being at the bottom, having dropped to 39 and crossed 40 again. There is no reason to fear about reserves. The government had an administrative control over the price of the dollar, which collapsed under pressure from the world market. So the price of the dollar had increased. Now the price of the dollar has started to fall again. It will be more coherent. Dollars are not our money. This is the money of 20,000 Americans.
He said these things while addressing the chief guest at the reception and awarding of scholarships to the students who obtained GPA-5 in SSC and HSC examination on the occasion of the 47th martyrdom anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at District Art Academy Hashan Raja Auditorium on Saturday afternoon.
The planning minister also said that we are looking for a place so that small planes can land in this district. Because Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina saw the flood situation in the helicopter last time due to the lack of airport. The village wants to reduce the urban gap and prioritize the development of the backward districts. Everything will be done for the development of Sunamganj. Even if the government is struggling a bit, all the problems will be solved very soon.
The Planning Minister said that the government is aware of the issue of fair wages for tea plantation workers. Justice needs to be done to those who live by manual labour. They are victims of poverty and injustice. Many reforms are needed for the welfare of tea plantation workers. Garden owners give them many facilities not in money. Government wants to ensure fair wages. He also said, now a new gas market has been created all over the world. For that there is pressure on Bangladesh.
Gas coal is not something that can be found just by looking for it. Gas coal exploration will take time.
The energy source of tomorrow is not gas, not coal, not oil. The energy source of the future will be renewable solar energy. The government is walking in that direction. Bangladesh is not alone, the whole world will go towards the use of solar energy.
Zilla Parishad Administrator Nurul Huda Mukut presided over the event as special guests, Deputy Commissioner Md Jahangir Hossain, Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Abdul Wahab Rashed, Educationist Parimal Kanti Dey and Yogesh Chandra Das etc.
In the event, the guests gave away the book of biography of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with the prize bond of 8000 rupees to 175 students who got GPA-5 in SSC of 2021 academic year and 101 students who got GPA-5 in HSC.