CHATTOGRAM, June 07: Ordinary people in Chattogram are not bothered about the 2024-25 fiscal budget, but what concerns them is the price hike of commodities and rampant corruption in projects.
The spending power of the common people has been decreasing under the pressure of ever-increasing prices of products for months.
Commoners are already vexed at the skyrocketing prices of goods as they fear further rises after the budget as witnessed customarily every year.
Aminul Islam, a car driver, says the price of fuel has already been increased before the budget and the prices of essentials are hiking every now and then.
Expressing her reaction to the FY25 budget, Sanjida Begum, a service holder, says, "Budget is vital for a nation, but our budget is preserving the interests of the rich."
"We need a special budget for the health sector. I think the government should be concerned about the interests of citizens," he adds.
Shoibal Das, a cultural activist, said, "Every year, the public expects that the government will do something better for them. But in every budget, people cannot be happy as they suffer the worst."
"People are familiar with such budgets. The ruling party will say it's a good budget, while the opposition will say it's the worst one."
Shopkeeper Saifuddin Ahmed says, "It's ritualistic that commodity prices increase before and after budget. Budget cannot control the hike?"
Newspaper hawker Saidul Haque says, "I heard that government would increase prices in parliament. I don't know what actually budget is…"
Mohammed Kamal, a day-labourer, expects that the government will tame prices instead of any hike.
"We're so upset about price rises. It's disturbing that price hikes after budget every year," he tells the FE.
Fasiul Alam, a freedom fighter, says, "Businessmen increase the prices of essential commodities after budget. Our budget is not for the common people."
"The business community will be the biggest beneficiary of the budget," he tells the FE.
Shamsul Islam, an inhabitant of Anwara upazila, says, "Rich people have interests in the budget. But we urged the government to prepare a pro-people budget."
The dwellers of the port city demand that the government control the price hike and do not impose any taxes on the poor or middle-class people.
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