Budget meant for welfare

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the budget for the upcoming fiscal 2018-19 was placed keeping the welfare of the people in mind, something the budgets of non-Awami League governments did not consider, BSS reports. 

“The people of Bangladesh had forgotten how to dream. Now they have learned to dream as they have confidence in our economic programme to build up their future,” she said.

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“The fate of the common people of Bangladesh has really changed as we have taken steps to give the people at all levels a decent and economically prosperous life,” Hasina added at the discussion on budget for 2018-2019 fiscal placed in parliament.

Reiterating her stance on the cancellation of quota system in public service recruitment, the PM said a committee led by the cabinet secretary was working on the matter.

"The system has been there for a long time. I've already said there'll be no quota system. This can't be reformed overnight. The committee has been constituted to find a way to scrap the existing system," she said, UNB reports.

However, she suggested continuation of the existing freedom fighter quota in the civil service.

Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Raushon Ershad said the freedom fighter quota must be kept intact.

In this regard, she said it was the freedom fighters who liberated the country. "We got the country for their contributions."

In April, the PM had announced the cancellation of the quota system for all, except ethnic minorities and the physically-challenged, following quota-reform demonstrations by students of public and private universities across Bangladesh.

“The quota system will be scrapped as the students do not want it,” she had said while addressing parliament.

On the budget, Hasina said it was an excellent one about which “no one could raise any question”, BSS reports. 

She congratulated Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith for placing budgets for the 10th consecutive year.

The PM said the size of the budget had grown by seven times over the last 1o years and the government now had acquired the capacity of implementing 90 percent budget with domestic resources.

Terming the projected economic growth rate of 7.78 percent genuine, she said Bangladesh had been maintaining a steady growth rate over the last few years.

Mentioning her governmet's various successes, the PM said the country's foreign currency reserve rose to $33.41 billion in the 2017-18 from only $3.48 billion in 2006, UNB reports.

She said the per capita income was only $543 in 2006, which currently stands at $1,752.

The poverty rate has now decreased to 22 percent from 41.5 percent in the 2005-06, Hasina added.

The PM said the export volume was only $10.5 billion in 2006, which now stands at $34.8 billion.

According to BSS, Hasina said Bangladesh was no more a least developed country (LDC), and it did not depend on others for its future prosperity.

She thanked the countrymen and the administration at all levels for implementing the development programmes taken up by the government.

All, including government officials and law enforcements agencies, worked like a “family” for implementing the social and development programmes, she said, adding that Bangladesh was now the 42nd strongest economy in the world according to the World Economic Outlook.

Stressing the importance of continuation of the accelerated pace of development, the PM said economic strength of the country was the foundation of the big budget of the country.

She said the annual budget of her government was a part of implementation of a five-year plan designed for the development of the country. The government has already started work to devise a development plan for the period 2021-2041.

Talking about the pressure the Rohingya influx had on the country's economy, Hasina said the government had given shelter to the Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds, but was very careful about the welfare of the local people.

Highlighting the success of her government in socioeconomic sectors, the PM said the government had undertaken programmes for giving homes to every homeless family.

About the ongoing drive against drugs, Hasina said it would continue.

"Drugs destroy a country, a nation and a family. We'll continue the drive, no matter who says what," she said, UNB reports.

The PM said her government was carrying out “successful” drives against terrorism, militancy and drugs as it wanted to build a drug-free country.

"Why would our children be drug addicts? They'll pursue education and become worthy citizens. We'll do whatever is needed to ensure that. This [drive] will continue," she said.

Compared to other countries, students in Bangladesh are pursuing education at a nominal cost, she said.

Hasina said the government was consulting with a British firm about constructing a rail line from Padma Bridge to Patuakhali and Barisal, BSS reports.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury chaired the discussion in parliament.