Govt to outline objectives for next 5 yrs in FY15 budget

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Wednesday said that the government would give an outline of its objectives for the next five years in the coming national budget for fiscal 2014-15. Decentralization of power and devolution of government would be the main features of the present government’s future programme, he said when a delegation of International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) met him at his secretariat office in the afternoon. IBFB president and Runner Group of Companies chairman Hafizur Rahman khan led the delegation. About the district budget, Muhith said, “I hope that by the end of the 5th year, we should have a number of districts which would have their own budget and own implementation though within the framework of national budget.” “We’re trying to this end as some more works are being done on this district budget and it looks like it will not be difficult,” he added. Replying to a question as to which are the districts to be chosen initially for district budget, the Finance Minister said that the divisional headquarters are likely to be picked. Asked by an IBFB delegation member about the delay in decision making process, he said that the government is also aware of this fact. “We always try to see how delay could be reduced by leaving out which process in which place or by making reform,” Terming the high-bank interest rates still a major problem, Muhith said that he had discussed the issue with the banks many times, but the problem still persists as the lending rate should be in line with the inflation rate, according to a news agency.