FROM PARLIAMENT: The government has fixed a target of attaining commitment of foreign aid of $6,000 million for the upcoming fiscal year 2014-15 from different countries and development partners.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith was addressing the parliament in response to a question from independent lawmaker MP Mohamad Rustam Ali on Tuesday.

He also told the House that discussions on the foreign aids to the different projects are still underway, he added.

The minister said Bangladesh received 3,460 million USD foreign aids commitment till May in the current fiscal year 2013-14.

Of the amount, 2,981.47 million USD is considered as loan while 478.53 million USD as donation, the parliament was told.

According to data provided by the finance minister, some 49 projects out of 82 of upcoming fiscal year 2014-15 are dependent on foreign aids.

The rest 33 projects are dependent on foreign donation.

In response to another question, the minister said per capita foreign loan is $178.83. The government pays 351.79 million USD every year as interest.

Responding to a question from Mohammad Ilias, the finance minister said foreign currency reserve in the country till June 16 was 21 thousand 38.20 million USD. 

It was 15,224.34 million USD in last year. The reserve has increased 6 thousand 713 million USD or 44.75 percent in a year.

BDST: 1555 HRS, JUN 24, 2014