Involving grassroots people in budget preparing stressed
Sunday, 17 May 2009
FE Report
Speakers at a seminar underscored the need for involving grassroots level people in preparing budget to make it a farmers and workers-friendly one.
They were speaking at a seminar organised by Equity and Justice Working Group, Bangladesh (EquityBD) on 'Our learning from world capitalists' crisis, long term planning and reforms of national budget system' at CIRDAP auditorium in the city on Saturday.
Dr. Tofael Ahmed and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD moderated the seminar while Syed Aminul Hoque and Asjadul Kibria of Bangladesh Economic Association presented the keynote papers.
Professor Abu Ahmed said the government should not go for deficit budget with more than 2-3 per cent of GDP. The government should not take credit from International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB), he said adding the government should prepare a small and logical budget considering the domestic resource availability.
Awami League lawmakers Shawkat Momen Shahjahan and Monoranjan Shil Gopal laid emphasis on participation of parliament members in the budget-making process. They said the budget-making process is still traditional and bureaucrat-dependent. There should be scope for participation of local government institutions in the process, they added.
President of Bangladesh Garments Federation Nasrin Aktar demanded creation of a 'Special Security Fund' for garment workers especially for woman workers as they would be the worst victims due to global economic recession.
The speakers also suggested publication of a draft budget three months ahead so that people could give their opinions on the final budget.
Speakers at a seminar underscored the need for involving grassroots level people in preparing budget to make it a farmers and workers-friendly one.
They were speaking at a seminar organised by Equity and Justice Working Group, Bangladesh (EquityBD) on 'Our learning from world capitalists' crisis, long term planning and reforms of national budget system' at CIRDAP auditorium in the city on Saturday.
Dr. Tofael Ahmed and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD moderated the seminar while Syed Aminul Hoque and Asjadul Kibria of Bangladesh Economic Association presented the keynote papers.
Professor Abu Ahmed said the government should not go for deficit budget with more than 2-3 per cent of GDP. The government should not take credit from International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB), he said adding the government should prepare a small and logical budget considering the domestic resource availability.
Awami League lawmakers Shawkat Momen Shahjahan and Monoranjan Shil Gopal laid emphasis on participation of parliament members in the budget-making process. They said the budget-making process is still traditional and bureaucrat-dependent. There should be scope for participation of local government institutions in the process, they added.
President of Bangladesh Garments Federation Nasrin Aktar demanded creation of a 'Special Security Fund' for garment workers especially for woman workers as they would be the worst victims due to global economic recession.
The speakers also suggested publication of a draft budget three months ahead so that people could give their opinions on the final budget.