Containing inflation my first priority: New BB governor

Newly appointed Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder has said that containing soaring inflation will be his first and foremost goal among other issues.

"I have seven priority tasks and the first one is to control inflation. With the central bank and the Finance Division's joint efforts, we believe inflation can be tamed," he told a press conference, after taking charge of the central bank on Tuesday. 

Mentioning that the government took measures in the national budget and monetary policy to curb inflation, Abdur Rouf Talukder said the current inflation did not come from the country's money supply or money creation.

"The key reason behind the ongoing inflation was increased costs of imports."

The other priorities of the governor are stabilising foreign exchange rates, taking foreign currency reserves to a better level, ensuring financial stability, rebuilding the non-bank financial sector, increasing private sector investment and achieving targeted GDP growth.

"After my four-year tenure, I want to see three major changes in the central bank; it will be an intellectual institution, a more professional institution, and an apex regulatory body," added the newly-appointed governor.

On exchange rates, he said that there is a risk of making the rates free float. "There is no such example in the world. Intervention exists at one level or another. We may reduce the intervention. But the central bank will keep an eye on it."

The free-floating can increase the price of the product and increase inflation, he said, adding, "We can only move towards stability if we can reduce the gap between inflow and outflow."

On reserves, the governor said their goal is to take the reserves to a level enough for meeting the six-month import costs. "We had to spend $9 billion more to import just 8 products, including oil, wheat, fertilisers and gas. If their prices do not go down, the situation will be difficult to handle, because we have no control over them."

On financial stability, he said that the banking sector of the country has done well enough. "There may be problems in one or two, we have to see them. We will also look at how we can bring non-performing loans to an international standard."

He further added that most non-bank financial institutions are doing well. "There are problems in some of them, due to which people are looking at the whole sector negatively. We will work to restore people's confidence by rebuilding the sector."

Replying to a query from journalists about whether he was feeling any pressure as a governor in the present context of global crises, Abdur Rouf Talukder said that he is never scared of facing any challenge. "It is not a good sign to flee from the war field. Inshallah, we will overcome the challenges."

Abdur Rouf Talukder, a senior secretary at the finance ministry, was appointed as the 12th governor of the Bangladesh Bank for a four-year term on 11 June. He succeeded former governor Fazle Kabir, whose tenure as the central bank chief ended on 3 July.

On behalf of the officials of the central bank, the deputy governors welcomed the new governor with flowers. A ceremony was also held to mark his joining.