Although the finance minister has prepared the budget in line with the interim-poverty reduction strategy paper (I-PRSP), it fails to design a proper way of poverty alleviation, they said.

They also said the fiscal measures will do little for the people without ensuring good governance, improving law and order and strengthening local government.

Separation of judiciary from executive and setting up of an independent bureau of anti-corruption is also necessary.

They were speaking at the seminar titled 'Poverty Eradication and the Budget 2003-2004', jointly organised by Manusher Jannya and Samunnaya, held at CIRDAP auditorium.

Chairman of Samunnaya economist Atiur Rahman and researcher Arifur Rahman presented the keynote paper in the seminar. Team leader of Manusher Jannya Shaheen Anam was also present.

Former advisor to the caretaker government Syed Manzur Elahi, who chaired the seminar, said there are no hints in the proposed budget for creating employment opportunities for thousands of educated young people.

He also urged the government to increase the funds for disabled people, who are the one tenth in number of our total population.

Pubali Bank Managing Director Khondaker Ibrahim Khaled said improved growth rate is not enough for poverty eradicaTtion without ensuring good governance.

He said increased growth rate without good governance may make rich people richer and poor people poorer and expand flow of black money.

He also called for strengthening local government.

Member of the parliament GM Quader underscored the need to establish an independent bureau of anti-corruption.

He also stressed the need for separating the judiciary from the executive to ensure good governance.

Shamiron Khatun, a union parishad member in Shanthia thana in Pabna, said rural people did not understand the budget but they knew that it never brings well for them.

"Discussion should be arranged among the Union Parishad chairmen, members and government officials to ensure rural people's demand," she observed.

The Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman said increased duty on various essentials may affect the middle class people.

Rahman said it is a matter of shame that lawmakers are busy raising their perks while common people's demand is ignored.

Citing example of dropping several projects related with poverty eradication from the annual development programme (ADP), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haque Inu said every year it is seen that maximum budget funds are spent in unproductive sectors.

"A Tk 324 crore project for modernisation of land administration and another Tk 50 crore scheme for capacity building of local government have been dropped from ADP," he said.

Bangladesh Mohila Garments Shramik Federation President Najma Akter said budget fails to address the worry of around one million garment workers in the post multi-fibre agreement (MFA) era.

Bangladesh Adibashi Forum President Sanjeev Drong said tribal people have failed to get any allocation in any budget.