Energy sector to get highest budgetary allocation: Muhith

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NGO leaders and activists have urged policymakers to devote special attention to education, human rights, agriculture, labour migration, energy and power, and social safety net before finalising the budget for the next fiscal year (2010-11), reports UNB.
They came up with their demands during a pre-budget meeting with Finance Minister A M A Muhith at the Ministry Thursday afternoon.
Addressing the NGO leaders, Muhith said the energy and power sector will get the highest priority in the next budget, followed by agriculture.
"The government believes that agriculture is the foundation of the country's economy. We will then give emphasis on transport and infrastructure," he added.
Muhith said the family planning initiatives are not gaining much success, so these should be revived seeking active participation of all.
Advocating the highest allocation to be given to the education sector, Rasheda K Chowdury of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) requested the Finance Minister to earmark at least 4.0 per cent of the GDP to education, amounting to nearly Tk 200 to Tk 220 billion.
In her written proposal to the Finance Minister, she requested for introduction of an 'education channel' as the 2nd channel to BTV, increasing budgetary allocation in facilitating agricultural education and research, and strengthening the BBS and BANBEIS.