Proposed budget highway to more development: lawmakers

Published : 22 Jun 2016, 14:16

Jagoroniya Desk

Treasury bench members today described the proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2016-17 as a highway to development, which is time-befitting, pragmatic, a guideline of progress to bring benefit for the mass people.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on June 2 rolled out a Taka 340,605 crore national budget for 2016-2017 fiscal setting the GDP growth target at 7.2 percent and delineating a set of programmes to transform the country into a role model of modern and welfare state by 2041.

During the discussion, Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif expressed his satisfaction over the preservation of digital land records survey documents and asked all concerned to expedite the process for the greater benefit of the nation.

He said, once the Khatian and Porcha maps are digitized by the year 2021, it would play a positive role in land management through preservation of proper land records and survey documents. Scanning of 31 lakh khatians and 9,051 map sheets has been digitized under 45 upazilas of seven districts, he said.

In course of discussion, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said there is no IS in Bangladesh but some followers who are creating anarchy to grab power from the backdoor.

Speaking about the proposed budget, he sought more allocation for his ministry to realize the successful tourism year 'Visit Bangladesh' declared by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

State Minister Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the present government has increased the electricity supply and very soon electricity would reach every house even in the remote areas. Now the power sector is playing a significant role in the socio-economic development, he said.

Dr Hasan Mahmud from the treasury bench said 'Digital Bangladesh' is no more a dream for this country rather it is a reality now for the nation. The massive innovation, expansion and application of ICT in both urban and rural areas have put Bangladesh onto a path of quick development, he said adding, Bangladesh would become a middle-income country even before 2021 because of swift expansion and application of ICT.

Bangladesh would become a middle-income country even before 2021 because of the swift expansion and application of ICT, he said adding, now the people in the remotest corners have access to internet.

He slammed the BNP-Jamaat alliance's violent politics and asked people to counter those who raise questions about the glorious Liberation War and the freedom fighters.

Sahara Khatun from the treasury bench alleged that BNP considers Israel as their friend, who would help this party grab power. BNP has continuously been hatching conspiracy against the country, she said adding, this party has no right to do politics in the country.

The treasury bench members said, according to BNP, the democracy is holding general election but in reality they keep them aside at the time of general election and was involved in burning people to death, setting fire on the educational institutions and uprooting trees, he said.

Taking part in the general discussion on the proposed budget in parliament, they said if all concerned put in their best efforts from their respective positions, it would not be tough to implement the planned development programmes and the new budget.

The lawmakers prayed to the Almighty Allah for the long life of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, so that she can complete her major tasks to make Bangladesh a developed country through her outstanding performance. 

A F M Bahauddin Nasim, Moinuddin Khan Badal, Samsul Huq Chaowdhury, Tajul Islam, Abu Zahir, Ali Azam, Syeda Shaila Mohsin, Mahbub Ali, Begum Dilara opposition bench member M Elius, Shariful Islam Jinnah, Ziaul Haque Mridha took part in the discussion.

Earlier, they paid their heartfelt tribute to the memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders, martyred freedom fighters and also those who made their supreme sacrifices during the War of Liberation and all subsequent democratic movements in the country.

Source: BSS.

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