Budget in the light of 'Charter for Change'
Friday, 18 June 2010
O. H. Kabir
After independence, the first national budget for the fiscal year (FY), 1972-1973, presented by then Finance Minister Tajuddin Ahmed amounted to Taka 7.86 billion (786 crore) only. Today in FY 2010-2011 our national budget stands at Tk. 1.32 trillion (1,32,170) crore. Is it not a colossal, ambitious and challenging budget?
We would request our learned Finance Minister AMA Muhith kindly to let us know what steps he has taken in the light of the national budget for FY 2009-2010 to fulfill the two pledges of the Awami League (AL) government -- 'Din Badaler Pala' (Charter for Change) and Digital Bangladesh.
Since AL government came into power after winning a massive election victory, we do not find any 'Din Badaler Pala'- Charter of Change -- and any Digital Bangladesh. We find ourselves in the midst of 'As It is, Where It Is' of the past rule of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) goverment followed by the caretaker government some years ago. In some cases, the sufferings and hardship of the common people have increased. The rich are getting richer and the poor are becoming poorer. The income, salary and luxury of the rich and affluent persons, political leaders belonging to both the government and the opposition, bureaucrats, industrialists, traders and contractors have increased. They are spending more and more money on construction and renovation of their new and old houses, purchasing cars, air-conditioners, electric generators, IPS and many luxurious items, visiting foreign countries and what not. Whereas the poor and middle class people are struck with price-hike of essential commoditites and services and mounting problems with their housing, education and medical expenses of their children and family members, acute shortage of electricity and load shedding.
We understand that the government is contemplating and undertaking many giant development projects like the Padma Bridge, underground railway, expressway, flyovers, widening Chittagong-Dhaka highway and so on and so forth. We, however, feel that our most important and immediate requirement is adequate supply of electricity and total avoidance of load shedding. This problem should be solved by the government on the top-most priority basis, considering our colossal financial losses in trade, commerce, industry, education of our children, office work etc.
We are disappointed and shocked that we could not watch/listen the full text of budget speech of the Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the Jatiya Sangsad over TV and radio due to electricity failure and frequent load shedding. We are also missing World Cup, South Africa 2010 because of the same reasons.
Through the announcement of the annual budget we have come to know main incomes and expenditures of the government on various subjects and related head of accounts but we fail to know the expenditures on foreign tours of our ministers, MPS and bureaucrats, payment of electricity and telephone bills, purchase of cars, goverment expenditure on petroleum, oil and lubricant (POL), repair and maintenance of government vehicles, payment of honorarium, overtime and entertainment, official and state functions and celebrations etc.
We need accountability and transparency of all government expenditures, ban on misuse of wanton expenditure from the public exchequer, stoppage of illegal toll collection, bribe and corruption for "Din Badaler Pala" and Digital Bangladesh and for a prosperous, happy and peaceful Bangladesh.
We demand that our national budget must be realistic, practical and oriented towards people's welfare.
After independence, the first national budget for the fiscal year (FY), 1972-1973, presented by then Finance Minister Tajuddin Ahmed amounted to Taka 7.86 billion (786 crore) only. Today in FY 2010-2011 our national budget stands at Tk. 1.32 trillion (1,32,170) crore. Is it not a colossal, ambitious and challenging budget?
We would request our learned Finance Minister AMA Muhith kindly to let us know what steps he has taken in the light of the national budget for FY 2009-2010 to fulfill the two pledges of the Awami League (AL) government -- 'Din Badaler Pala' (Charter for Change) and Digital Bangladesh.
Since AL government came into power after winning a massive election victory, we do not find any 'Din Badaler Pala'- Charter of Change -- and any Digital Bangladesh. We find ourselves in the midst of 'As It is, Where It Is' of the past rule of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) goverment followed by the caretaker government some years ago. In some cases, the sufferings and hardship of the common people have increased. The rich are getting richer and the poor are becoming poorer. The income, salary and luxury of the rich and affluent persons, political leaders belonging to both the government and the opposition, bureaucrats, industrialists, traders and contractors have increased. They are spending more and more money on construction and renovation of their new and old houses, purchasing cars, air-conditioners, electric generators, IPS and many luxurious items, visiting foreign countries and what not. Whereas the poor and middle class people are struck with price-hike of essential commoditites and services and mounting problems with their housing, education and medical expenses of their children and family members, acute shortage of electricity and load shedding.
We understand that the government is contemplating and undertaking many giant development projects like the Padma Bridge, underground railway, expressway, flyovers, widening Chittagong-Dhaka highway and so on and so forth. We, however, feel that our most important and immediate requirement is adequate supply of electricity and total avoidance of load shedding. This problem should be solved by the government on the top-most priority basis, considering our colossal financial losses in trade, commerce, industry, education of our children, office work etc.
We are disappointed and shocked that we could not watch/listen the full text of budget speech of the Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the Jatiya Sangsad over TV and radio due to electricity failure and frequent load shedding. We are also missing World Cup, South Africa 2010 because of the same reasons.
Through the announcement of the annual budget we have come to know main incomes and expenditures of the government on various subjects and related head of accounts but we fail to know the expenditures on foreign tours of our ministers, MPS and bureaucrats, payment of electricity and telephone bills, purchase of cars, goverment expenditure on petroleum, oil and lubricant (POL), repair and maintenance of government vehicles, payment of honorarium, overtime and entertainment, official and state functions and celebrations etc.
We need accountability and transparency of all government expenditures, ban on misuse of wanton expenditure from the public exchequer, stoppage of illegal toll collection, bribe and corruption for "Din Badaler Pala" and Digital Bangladesh and for a prosperous, happy and peaceful Bangladesh.
We demand that our national budget must be realistic, practical and oriented towards people's welfare.