No dollar shortage in country, it is media's fabrication: Momen
There is no dollar crisis in the country, rather it is fabricated by the media, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday.
The foreign minister made the statement after attending a programme at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).
In response to a question from journalists regarding the claim that banks are not letting people open LCs due to the dollar crisis, he said, "We do not have a dollar crisis. But that's what the media is promoting now. We still have reserves of $34-35 billion. It is plenty of money for a few months of imports."
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He said, "Our forex reserve used to be $3 to 3.5 billion in 2001-2006. Now it remains within $36-48 billion."
About LCs he said, "I do not know anything about it. Ask the banking people, ask Bangladesh Bank and our Ministry of Commerce."
"I have heard that people over-invoicing as they show more than what they are bringing [into the country]. That is probably why this is happening, as otherwise there is no reason, no issue in funding LCs," he added.
"This needs to be checked because there is no dearth of evil people in our country," he said.
The foreign minister said the government broadened its network of sources for energy supply through successful discussion with a number of friendly countries.
"We had limited sources before. Now, we have widened the sources of the network. We have made it very successfully," he said.
Momen said the energy crisis is now a global crisis as there is a disruption in the supply chain and financial transaction due to the war in Ukraine.
He mentioned his successful discussion with the ministers of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where there is plenty of oil stock.
Momen said the countries like Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia are also willing to supply energy to Bangladesh.
"Even China is willing to supply energy if Bangladesh faces a crisis. You see more nations are coming," he said.
Momen said Bangladesh will soon manage the situation and there will be availability of energy. "We will do whatever is needed for the welfare of the country."
