Bangladesh: New budget symbol of progress, lawmakers say

Lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches on Thursday highly appreciated the proposed budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year terming it a symbol of progress, which is fully possible to implement.

Taking part in the general discussion on the fiscal plan in the Jatiya Sangsad, they said the new budget bears the sign of economic emancipation of the common people and also the reflection of non-communal politics in Bangladesh.

They said the fiscal measures indicate that Bangladesh is proceeding towards a tremendous development with the target of becoming the middle-income country by 2021.

The MPs observed that the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working with only the motto of ensuring development in all sectors particularly education, agriculture, health, infrastructure, ICT and foreign diplomacy.

The lawmakers bitterly criticized the role of BNP-Jamaat saying that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia ultimately refrained from unleashing terror in the name of hartal and blockade as the people rejected her agitation progarmme against an elected and democratic government.

The lawmakers also praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for solving the longstanding enclaves issue through her farsighted diplomacy and charismatic leadership.

State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, treasury bench members AKM A Awal Saidur Rahman, Md Altaf Ali and Fazley Hossain Badsha of Workers Party took part in the discussion with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

Finance Minister A M A Muhith placed a Taka 2 lakh 95 thousand 100 crore national budget for the fiscal year 2015-16 (FY16) on June 4 in parliament with a 7.0 percent GDP growth aiming at transforming Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041.

Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said the proposed budget is time-befitting and people-oriented one, which is definitely possible to implement if all concerned provide their necessary cooperation.

Despite criticism of some identified quarters, general people cordially hailed the proposed budget as no negative impact was seen in the market prices after announcement of the budget.

The state minister thanked the Prime Minister and Finance Minister AMA Muhith for placing the budget where child issue has been included for the first time of the country.

He demanded that corporate taxes should be reduced and incentive packages included for investor fixing a timeframe to boost the country’s economy.

About the regional connectivity, the minister said it would gear up the development of the country but this connectivity should be applied within the territories as well. (Source: BSS)