Chattogram, May 16 (V7N) – Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the country’s economy is currently in a negative state and may take at least two years to recover.
He made the remarks on Saturday while speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of an 18-storey Mother and Child Hospital Medical College building in Agrabad, Chattogram.
The minister said previous governments had left outstanding liabilities of around Tk 50,000 crore in the energy sector, which the current administration is now struggling to clear. He also noted that rising global energy prices, driven by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, have significantly increased import costs, with around Tk 40,000 crore already spent beyond the planned budget.
According to him, the government is also under pressure to settle unpaid bills left by earlier administrations, further straining fiscal management.
Despite the challenges, the finance minister assured that the upcoming national budget will prioritize the health sector, with increased allocations aimed at expanding free healthcare services for the poorest citizens.
He added that stabilizing the economy remains a key priority and that recovery efforts are underway through fiscal reforms and sectoral restructuring.
END/SMA/AJ
