Finance Minister holds pre-budget meeting with JS standing body chairmen
Sunday, 27 April 2014
Chairmen of parliamentary standing committees Sunday proposed expansion of tax net, raising direct tax, resolving land scarcity hindering investment and liberalising the credit policy in the upcoming national budget.
They also called for proper allocation for river dredging, encouraging PPP initiatives in development of tourism and ensuring more transparency in government activities in the budget for fiscal year 2014-15, according to a news agency.
The Parliamentary standing committee chairmen put forward their suggestions in a pre-budget meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith at the NEC conference room in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Suranjit Sengupta, chairman of the standing committee chairman on Law, Justice and Parliamentary affairs, alleged many corporate houses are holding thousands of acres of land across the country for years without making promised investment.
He also alleged that money is being siphoned off to countries like Malaysia, Dubai and Canada and suggested the government take drastic actions to prevent the flight.
Prof Md Ali Ashraf, chairman of the standing committee on Commerce Ministry suggested widening the tax net and bring more transparency in the government activities.
Standing committee chairman on Information Ministry AKM Rahmatullah suggested setting up of a separate zone for the RMG sector in districts like Dinajpur and Rangpur with dormitories.
Standing committee chairman on Water Resources Ministry Ramesh Chandra sen, chairman on Liberation War Affairs Cap (retd) AB Tajul Islam, standing committee chairman on Textiles and Jute Ministry Begum Munnujan Sufian, chairman on Civil Aviation and Tourism committee Faruk Khan and chairman on CHT Affairs Ubaidul Muktadir Chowdhury were among those who spoke.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman, Finance Division Secretary Fazle Kabir, NBR chairman Ghulam Hossain, Bank and Financial Institution Division secretary Dr M Aslam Alam and other high officials were present in the meeting.