Muhith estimates GDP growth at 7.24pc for current fiscal 2016-17

Parliament Correspondent: Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Tuesday said the GDP growth would be made 7.24 percent for current fiscal 2016-2017.

The minister came up with the disclosure while replying to a question of treasury bench member Mamunur Rashid Kiron in the parliament referring from Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

"The aim of the GDP growth has been fixed at 7.04 percent for the fiscal 2017-2018," the minister said.

The growth of GDP was achieved 7.11 percent in 2015-2016, Muhith said, adding that the government is taking different steps including industrialization, to create employment opportunity, production and increasing export to achieve higher GDP growth.

Muhith said the present government has already taken decision in principle to set up 100 economic zones across the country. The government has also approved to set up 22 economic zones by May in 2017, he added.

Besides, the finance minister said the governing board of the zone has already approved to set up 76 economic zones and selected places for 59 zones.

Earlier, the sitting of the sixteen session (Budget session) of the 10th parliament resumed at 11.04 am today with Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

risingbd/DHAKA/June 20, 2017/MA Rahman/Amirul