Bangladesh to be a country of higher growth
BSS
The treasury bench members yesterday hailed the proposed budget for the next fiscal year saying, Bangladesh would be a higher GDP growth country with speedy progress in all sectors leading to the fulfillment of Vision 2021 of the present government, reports BSS. Finance Minister AMA Muhith on June 2 tabled the Taka 340,605 crore national budget for 2016-17 FY setting the GDP growth target at 7.2 per cent and delineating a set of programmes to transform the country into a role model of modern and welfare state by 2041.
Taking part in a general discussion, treasury bench member Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said the proposed budget has been criticized as highly ambitious, but there are certain features which would together put the national economy in the wheels of further progress and prosperity.
When Bangabandhu placed the six-point demand, it was also criticized with the same term but later Bangladesh achieved independence by way of that historic demand. From that point of view, the new budget may be highly ambitious but Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government holds the capacity to implement it, he said.
Opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam said there is a large gap in the proposed budget, which is big with no mention about any guideline as to how to implement it. He, however, thanked the Finance Minister for allocating handsome money for the education sector and increasing tax on tobacco.
Criticizing the increase in tax on power generator, advertisement and mobile telephone, the opposition chief whip said these taxes would hinder the process of building an equality-based society.
He said there is no denying the fact that the governments allocation for the health sector is inadequate. Because of this, the health sector itself is ailing and unable to provide necessary healthcare for the people he added demanding more budgetary allocation in the health sector to reach the healthcare service to the doorstep of the roots level people.
The lawmakers called for reducing tax on bicycle imports as the bicycle riding to work, school, university or college and short neighborhood trips would greatly help ease traffic jam in the city.
They said some quarters are criticizing the budget as highly ambitious but the World Bank said it could be bigger in line with the growth in the countrys economy.
The treasury bench members referred to the attempts on the life of Bangabandhus daughter Sheikh Hasina for as many as 19 times, but nothing negative could happen only by the grace of the Almighty Allah. But there was no attempt on the life of BNP Chief Begum Khaleda Zia and this proves that all the killing attempts on Sheikh Hasina were taken by BNP, they said.
Hailing the new fiscal document, they said the allocations in the proposed budget should be utilized properly and it would boost the countrys economy further in education, power, agriculture, health, gas and other areas.
Dr Dipu Moni, former Prime Minister, called upon all sectors to work jointly to develop the shoals areas in the country and also urged the government to establish a separate tribunal to control militancy.
To reduce the import tax on medical machineries, Dipu Moni suggested withdrawal of the value added tax (VAT) on meditation services as it helps people to overcome mental and physical stress naturally.
The MPs said the national and international awards already received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are the evidences of successes achieved during her regimes. They prayed to the Almighty Allah for the long life of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, so that the country can proceed further with its democracy and development.
Treasury bench member Shagufta Alam, AKM Rahmatullah, Abu Saleh Mohammad Sayeed, Muhibur Rahman Manik, Yussuf Abdullah Harun, Nurjahan Begum, Shamsuzzaman Sarkar, Sk Hafizur Rahman, Khandker Abdul Baten, Kamrun Nahar Chowdhury, Selina Akhter Banu opposition bench member Merina Rahman, Abdul Matin and Ushaton Talukderfrom independent seat took part in the discussion.
Earlier, they paid their heartfelt tribute to the memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders, martyred freedom fighters and also those who made their supreme sacrifices during the War of Liberation and all subsequent democratic movements in the country.
