DHAKA: Business leaders demanded the government to implementing the “stimulus package” properly.

They also urged to keep the package outside the regular facilities and reduce the interest rate on bank loan.

Leaders of FBCCI, BGMEA and BKMEA came up with the demand at a meeting with Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith at his Secretariat office Tuesday.

The Minister assured them of considering the demands and said that the government will inform its decision within a month after consultation.

Regarding the interest rate of bank loan, Muhith said the government wants to reduce the interest rate. “But if we reduce the interest rate of loan, interest rate of deposit would have to be reduced. It is not possible to cut the interest rate at this moment.”

The business leaders said they were not getting any results from the stimulus package and demanded for quick implementation of the decisions taken under the package.

They also demanded the government to keep 0.25 percent tax at source unchanged and proposed to supply fuel oil at the imported cost instead of providing subsidy.

Finance Secretary Dr. Mohammad Tareq, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman, Deputy Governor Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui, FBCCI president AK Azad, BGMEA president Abdus Salam Morshedi and BKMEA president Nasim Osman attended the meeting.

The FBCCI president said people are pouring into Dhaka for lack of industrial units outside the capital.

He urged the government to provide the entrepreneurs with various facilities for setting up industrial units in the district towns to prevent stream of population towards the capital.

BDST 2140 HRS AUG 17, 2010