Parliament approves Appropriation Bill

The parliament Tuesday passed the Appropriation Bill, 2015, authorising the government to spend Tk. 4.15 trillion for meeting revenue, development and charged expenditures in the next financial year, starting today (Wednesday).
Finance Minister AMA Muhith moved the bill in the House seeking a total allocation of Tk 4.15 trillion for the next fiscal year beginning July 01 next.
An appropriation bill or running bill or supply bill is a legislative motion (bill) that authorises the government to spend money.
This is a gross figure to spend but it will be equivalent to Tk 2.95 trillion if the net spending is accounted for.
The House approved a total allocation of Tk. 2.71 trillion against 56 demands for grants by different ministries and organisations by voice vote while Tk. 1.44 trillion was charged on the consolidated fund.
Lawmakers moved 513 cut motions against the 56 demands for grants but most of the cut motions were mutually resolved leading to direct voice vote.
The cut motions were mainly moved by Haji Md Selim (Dhaka-7), Md Showkat Chowdhury MP (Nilphamari-4), Nurul Islam Milan (Comilla-8), Md Rustom Ali Farazi (Pirojpur-3), Begum Mahjabin Morshed (women reserved seat-45), Fakhrul Imam (Mymensingh-8), Abdul Matin (Moulvibazar-2), Tahjib Alam Siddiqui (Jhenidah-2).
However, four cut motions were discussed. Lawmakers discussed the cut motions on the ministry of health and family welfare, the ministry of industries, the ministry of liberation war affairs and the anti corruption commission.
Speaking on the cut motion on the libertarian war affairs ministry, lawmakers alleged that some people were now being listed as freedom fighters to distribute financial benefits.
The lawmakers were critical of the age restriction given to get Tk 10,000 freedom fighters' allowance.
Replying to the cut-motions, liberation war affairs minister AKM Mozammel Hoque said they have been enlisting the genuine freedom fighters.
Speaking on the cut motion on the anti corruption commission (ACC), a lawmaker suggested that a counter intelligence unit should be set up to oversee the operations of the ACC.
Replying on the motion, agriculture minister Motia Chowdhury claimed that the ACC had been enjoying full freedom.
She said the government has brought back laundered money from abroad.
However, the cut motions were rejected by voice vote.
With the adoption of both the Appropriation Bill-2015 on the day and the Finance Bill-2015 on Monday last, the parliament passed the national budget for fiscal 2015-16.
There were some changes in the Finance Bill-2015 including the cuts in source tax on apparel exports.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Raushan Ershad, Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad and senior ministers were present in the parliament Tuesday when the Appropriation Bill-2015 was passed.
The session started on the day at 10 in the morning with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
jasimharoon@yahoo.com