Finance Minister SAMS Kibria yesterday told the House that the government repaid Tk 2.095 63 crore (461.27 million US dollars) as principal amount and interest of foreign loan during the 1997-98 fiscal, reports UNB.

Replying to a question from Mohammad Fazlul Azim (BNP), he said of the amount Tk 1441.21 crore (317.12 million US dollars) has been paid as principal amount while Tk 654.42 crore (144.04 million dollar) as interest.

The Finance Minister said during 1996-97 fiscal the government repaid Tk 1977.80 crore (463.18 million US dollars) as principal amount and interest for foreign loan.

The repayment of foreign loan with interest in 1997-98 is 5.96 per cent higner than that of 1996-97 fiscal, he said.

In reply to Goutam Chakrabarty (BNP), the Finance Minister said in 1972-73 fiscal, the inflation was 49.4 per cent and the foreign currency reserve was 173 million US dollars. No GDP growth was mentioned in the 1972-73 fiscal.

Yearwise GDP growth (%). inflation (%) and reserve (million, dollars) position from 1972-73 to 1997-98 fiscal are as follows: Year GDP Growth Inflation Reserve

1972-73 - 49.4 173

1973-74 9.6 39.1 110

1974-75 (-14.1 67 257

1975-76 5.7 (-J8.4 213

1976-77 2.7 2.6 294

1977-78 7.1 12.7 269

1978-79 4.8 7.9 393

1979-80 0.8 18.8 275

1980-81 3.4 12.3 250

1981-82 1.2 16.1 122

1982-83 4.9 10.1 358

1983-84 5.4 9 5 539

1984-85 3.0 11.2 395

1985-86 4.3 9.8 476

1986-87 4.2 10.3 715

1987-88 2.9 11,4 856

1988-89 2.5 8.0 913

1989-90 6.6 9.3 520

1990-91 3.4 8.8 880

1991-92 4.2 5.1 1608

1992-93 4.5 1.4 2121

1993-94 4.2 1.8 2765

1994-95 4.4 5.1 3070

1995-96 5.3 4.1 2039

1996-97 5.9 3.9 1719

1997-98 • 5.6 6.3 1704