Paying govt salaries could be difficult for debt: Minister

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku has warned that the government may eventually struggle to pay the salaries of its officials if the country fails to plan properly amid mounting debt.

“Bangladesh is now standing amid ruins. So much debt has been accumulated that one day it may become difficult to pay government officials’ salaries if we do not plan properly,” he said on Friday (August 14) at a meeting with municipal officials and employees in Sirajganj.

The minister stressed that sustainable development is not possible without proper planning. He said the government had prepared a budget aimed at avoiding excessive tax pressure on the people, but successful implementation would require coordinated efforts from citizens and the administration.

Earlier, Tuku distributed six vehicles, including dump trucks, for municipal waste-management activities in Sirajganj.

He also inaugurated the construction of an RCC drainage system and a road in Ward 10 of the municipality.

His remarks come amid wider concerns over the government’s fiscal pressure and debt burden.

A Finance Division assessment earlier this year also highlighted significant financial risks facing many state-owned and autonomous entities.