SANGSAD BHABAN, June 24, 2024 (BSS) - Lawmakers today said the proposed budget FY25 which is sixteenth of the incumbent government and 53rd of the country has paved the way to smart Bangladesh within the stipulated time as the incumbent budget has given significant importance on peoples welfare.

Taking part in the general discussion on the national budget for 2024-25 fiscal at the Jatiya Sangsad here, the lawmakers said the proposed budget has given significant importance on fresh employment generation, national security and people's safety which would help to turn the country into a smart one by 2041.

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on June 6 unveiled a Taka 7,97,000 crore national budget for 2024-25 fiscal setting the GDP growth target at 6.8 percent amid an economic meltdown across the world due to ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and Hamas-Israel-Palestine conflict.

"The proposed budget has been placed to reach the target of smart Bangladesh as the budget has preferred of creating employment generation and controlling inflation", said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Muhibur Rahman.

The budget outlined for materializing the target of smart Bangladesh will enhance the per capita income to US$ 12500, eliminate the extreme poverty, inflation reach between 4 to 5 percent, budget deficit come to less than 5 percent and investment will rise to 40 percent of the GDP, said the state minister.

Sharply criticizing the proposed budget, workers party lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon of Barishal-2 said although the budget has reduced the import duty on different imported goods but it has no reflection in the commodity markets due to syndication of the businessmen.

The lawmaker, however, urged the government to check corruption, criminalization and plundering of banks as the people can get the benefit of the development.

Welcoming the proposed budget, SM Rezaul Karim of Pirojpur-1 said the proposed budget is time-befitting considering the geo-political circumstances across the world.

"The proposed 53rd budget titled "March Towards Smart Bangladesh Following the Path of Sustainable Development" which is only 4.6 percent bigger than that of the current fiscal year, would help to build a smart Bangladesh while the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and Hamas-Israel-Palestine conflict have created an emerging challenge for the economy", said AFM RuhulHaque of Satkhira-3.

Treasury bench members, State Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Shafiqur Rahman of Sylhet-2, State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruque of Barishal-5, Golam Faruque of Lakhipur-3, Sabera Begum of Women seat-26, Nuruddin Chowdhury Nayan of Lakhipur-2, Salauddin Miaji of Jhenaidah-3, Nurul Islam Sujan of Panchagarh-2, Jatiya Party lawmaker ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader of Patuakhali-1, Shammi Ahmed of Women Seat-17, Sagufta Yasmin of Munshiganj-2, Syed Muhammad Ibrahim of Cox's Bazar-1, Md.Abdus Sabur of Cumilla-1, Jharna Hasan of Women Seat-36, Sayed Sayedul Haque of Habiganj-4, Abdus Salam of Chittagong-8, Mst Nasima Zaman (Boby) of Women Seat-4, Parul Akter of Women Seat-25, Khadizatul Anwar of Chattogram-2, Jahangir Alam of Cumilla-3, Bedowra Ahmed Salam of Women Seat-38, took part in the discussion.

Earlier, they paid their cordial tributes to the memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders, martyred Freedom Fighters and also those who made their utmost sacrifices during the War of Liberation and all subsequent democratic movements in the country.