SANGSAD BHABAN, June 26, 2024 (BSS) - Lawmakers today said the proposed budget has been placed aiming to fulfill the demand of the people.
 
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 focused on education, health, food, local industries and social security which would improve peoples' life and ensuring forming a developed society.
 
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 with a target to create employment, rejuvenating the local industries and curbing inflation and it will fulfill the demand of the common people", said Deputy Leader of the parliament Matia Chowdhury of Sherpur-2.
 
Although different political and social quarters including a research outfit have sharply criticized the economy of the country and termed the proposed budget as 'not implementable', she said, adding, "But the deputy leader asked them how the country already has secured 33rd position of the world economy if the economy is not work properly."
 
"The highest outlay of budget means the economy of the country is rising fast and people are getting the benefit", said Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud.

The budget has proposed to reduce import duty from 3 percent to one percent on rice, wheat and pulse import which would make the livelihood of the lower middle class and poor people", said AFM Bahauddin Nasim of Dhaka-8.
 
Welcoming the proposed budget, Abdur Razzaque of Tangail-8 said the budget has been placed in line with the electoral manifestoes of the ruling Awami League.
 
The allocation under the safety net programmes has been proposed Taka 1,36,026 crore for FY25 while it was only Taka 22,000 crore during the BNP-Jammat regime, said the lawmaker.
 
"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", said State Minister for Planning Shahiduzzaman Sarker of Naogaon-2.
 
Terming the proposed as land mark, the state minister said the allocation under annual development programme (ADP)was Taka 21,600 crore during BNP-Jamat regime while it is now reaches to Taka 2,65,000 crore.
 
Participating in the discussion, Jatiya Party deputy leader Anisul Islam Mahmud of Chattogram-5 said, "We must have to be united for implementing a balanced distribution of resources, resist corruption and strengthening economy in line with realizing the dream of Bangabandhu for greater interest of the people".
 
Another opposition lawmaker Hafijuddin Ahmed of Thakurgaon-3 said the proposed budget has increased Taka 64,000 crore new tax which would create negative impact on the common people.
 
Treasury bench members, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Kujendra Lal Tripura, Ashiqullah Rafique of Cox's Bazar-2, Mujibur Rahman Majnu of Bogura-2, Abdul Latif Siddiqui of Tangail-7, Amatul Kibria Keya Chowdhury of Hobiganj-1, Dr Sri Biren Sikder of Magura-2, Enamul Huq Babul of Jashore-4,KhaledaBahar Beauty of Women seat-16, Runu Reza of Women seat-12,Sharif Ahmed of Mymensingh-2,Independent lawmaker Shahjahan Omar of Jhalokati-1, B.M Kabirul Haque of Narail-1, Abdullah Al Islam Jakob of Bhola-4, M. Abdul Latif of Chattogram-11, Kazi Nabil Ahmed of Jashore-3, 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.