Dhaka, April 29 -- Commerce Minister Khondaker Abdul Muktadir on Wednesday said the government will reduce the bank interest rate to help encourage new investment and sustain the existing business growth.

"Energy crisis and double-digit bank interest rate are the major problems that industries are suffering," he said, adding that 13 to 14 per cent high bank interest rates are not conducive for the labour-intensive textile and garment sector which profit margins are low.

Regarding the gas crisis, he said the problem is not created by the current government but was inherited with a 1400 mmcf to 1700mmcf gap between supply and demand.

The minister was speaking while addressing the inaugural session of the four-day-long BTKG at Internation...