Call to raise budget outlay for agriculture
The government should increase allocation for the agriculture sector in the upcoming national budget, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.
Citing Bangladesh Labour Force Survey 2010, they said although 47.5 percent of the country's labour force was employed in agriculture, the sector remained neglected in the national budget.
The discussion was organised by Parliamentary Caucus on National Planning and Budget, Centre on Budget and Policy of Dhaka University, and Gonotantrik Budget Andolon (democratic budget movement) with support of ActionAid at Senate Bhaban at DU.
Around 8.50 percent of the national budget was allocated for agriculture in fiscal 2012-13, but it dropped to only 4.95 percent in 2014-15, said Razekuzzaman Ratan, a member of the central committee of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, a socialist party.
He urged lawmakers to come up with a minimum living wage for the workers of all sectors.
“Living wage means the workers would be able to afford healthy food, household, healthcare and childcare with their wage,” he said.
Urging the government to stop violence against women, ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabir said violence remains a hurdle in women's path to development.
State Minister for Finance MA Mannan called upon people across the county to hold discussions on budget and provide their feedback to the government. Lawmakers Fazle Hossain Badsha and Kazi Rosy also spoke.
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