Staff Reporter:
Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Prime Minister’s Adviser on the Ministry of Finance and Planning, yes-terday identified securing fuel oil funding and implementing urgent structural fiscal reforms as the gov-ernment’s foremost priorities.
Speaking to reporters following a meeting at the Finance Division, he outlined a comprehensive strategy to maintain economic stability through energy security, transparent social safety nets, and enhanced do-mestic revenue mobilization.
Dr Titumir characterized ensuring energy security as a non-negotiable imperative for the nation at this critical juncture.
He affirmed that the government remains prepared to allocate necessary funds at any cost to prevent in-stability within the energy sector.
To achieve this without compromising the broader economy, the administration is utilizing a strategic borrowing framework designed to engage with global lenders and ensure an uninterrupted supply of fuel oil, he added.
To facilitate these energy requirements, he said, the government is actively pursuing low-interest interna-tional financing from global partners.
Dr Titumir specifically identified three primary international financial institutions currently being en-gaged the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank.
The Adviser clarified that the government’s credit strategy is strictly governed by the pursuit of the low-est possible interest rates and the maintenance of long-term debt sustainability.
The objective is to engage with lenders offering the most favourable terms to support the national ex-chequer, he added.
As a corollary to international borrowing, he said, the government is focusing on internal expenditure rationalisation.
This involves a disciplined tightening of fiscal outlays and trimming budgets in various other sectors to prioritise the continuous procurement of fuel oil, he added.
Dr Titumir explained that this internal restructuring is essential to ensure that the energy sector remains stable while the government manages its broader financial obligations.
Dr Titumir emphasized a definitive shift toward the de-politicization of social safety nets, asserting that state assistance must reach the most vulnerable citizens without partisan interference.
Contrasting this eligibility-based approach with previous instances of politicalization, the Adviser stated that family cards have not been politicized, and political influence will also not be permitted in the issu-ance of Farmer Cards.
He underscored that only those who are genuinely eligible will receive these cards, marking a clear de-parture from past administrative processes.
During his assessment of the nation’s fiscal health, Dr Titumir described the current tax-to-GDP ratio as statistically anemic and noted it remains among the lowest globally.
He categorised this deficiency as a structural bottleneck that severely limits the government’s capacity to drive large-scale national development.
According to the Adviser, elevating this ratio is a fundamental necessity for the resilience of the national economy and the delivery of essential public services.
He said that the government remains committed to creating the necessary fiscal space for sustainable growth by restructuring its fiscal priorities and building a more robust, transparent economic foundation for long-term national resilience.
