'Content' with country's economic situation: Adviser Salehuddin
In response to questions about the World Bank’s observation that poverty had increased, the finance adviser said he did not wish to engage in theoretical debates
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said he is content with the country's present economic situation, expressing confidence despite challenges.
He made the comment while speaking to journalists after a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Purchase at the Secretariat today (7 October).
When asked whether he believed the economy was in a comfortable state, Salehuddin Ahmed said, "I am content with the economic situation. That is why we are reasonably confident. I cannot speak about the rest of the matters."
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In response to questions about the World Bank's observation that poverty had increased, the finance adviser said he did not wish to engage in theoretical debates.
"I will not go into the theoretical aspects now. To state factually that poverty has increased, that poverty exists, I would have to give many statements. I know how they measure poverty. There is a base, there are clients," he said.
Referring to survey methods, he added, "You interview 5,000 people over the phone and say that poverty has increased; I am aware of these things. Someone told me, 'Sir, you write a paper,' and I said that a firm would give you 20,000 replies by tomorrow. These are matters of reliability. However, we definitely have challenges, I do not deny that."
He also mentioned a remark by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, saying, "Amartya Sen once said—I do not need to measure severe poverty. You will recognise a poor person just by looking at them, their face, their demeanour."
