CPD concerned at budget deficit

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has expressed concern saying that the proposed annual budget will face a revenue deficit of Tk300 billion (Tk30,000 crore). Dr Mostafizur Rahman, executive director of the CPD, a civil society think-tank, expressed the concern in his keynote paper at a post-budget discussion in a Dhaka hotel on Saturday morning. Dr Mostafizur Rahman said revenue collection will be one of the top challenges of the government in the 2015-2016 national budget. The CPD executive director informed the audience that at least Tk570b (57,000cr) private investment is needed to achieve 7 per cent gross domestic product (GDP). He further said that it will also be a big challenge for the government to implement Tk970b (97,000cr) annual development programme in the proposed budget, according to a news agency.