Published: 12:23 AM, 14 May 2026
'Country inherited BDT 30 lakh crore debt from AL government'
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that the country inherited a debt burden of 30 lakh crore taka due to the alleged looting carried out by the previous Bangladesh Awami League (AL) government. He stated that Bangladesh will have to repay 5 billion US dollars in foreign debt every year.
He made these remarks on Wednesday morning while speaking as the chief guest at the prize-giving ceremony for the final winners of the month-long Islamic competition titled "Alokito Mahe Ramadan," held at the Uttara Community Center in the capital.
The event was organized by Dhaka-18 Member of Parliament S M Jahangir Hossain.
The minister said that at least two more years would be needed to restore the fragile and allegedly plundered economy left behind by the previous government and make it self-reliant again. During this critical period, maintaining social and political stability at the national level is essential for the country's development and prosperity. He added that import expenditures are significantly higher than export earnings and remittance inflows.
The Information Minister said, "Turning around this huge deficit and devastated economy is a difficult challenge. Money will not fall from the sky; we must rebuild the economy through hard work and a stable environment."
Zahir Uddin Swapan further stated that those who had seized state power without voters had tried to benefit by creating division among the people and promoting religious polarization.
The minister also said that constructive debates with the opposition are taking place in the National Parliament and that such discussions would continue.
However, he urged everyone to remain vigilant so that no one could use parliamentary debates as an excuse to create disorder on the streets.
The minister said that in the past, an environment had been created where even identifying oneself as a madrassa student or wearing religious attire was viewed with suspicion.
He added that the current government has removed that culture of fear and ensured a balanced social environment.
Addressing Islamic scholars and clerics, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said, "You can play an important role in maintaining social stability. If we fail to maintain a peaceful environment over the next two years, economic recovery will be obstructed."
Mentioning that in the past, planned incidents had been staged to attack religious institutions and damage religious harmony in the country, the minister said, "Those of us who believe in our holy religion also respect the beliefs of followers of other religions. People of all faiths have lived peacefully in this country for thousands of years. No evil force should be allowed to destroy this unity."
Special guests at the event included the khatib of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Allama Mufti Abdul Malek, and the khatib of Baitun Noor Jame Mosque in Uttara Sector 12, Hafez Maulana Nazmul Hasan Qasemi.
