Focus on lives and livelihood, not the economy: Fakhrul
BNP yesterday made a 13-point proposal on the budget for the upcoming fiscal, urging the government to focus on saving people's lives and livelihood.
The party also urged the government not to emphasise on economic growth when the whole world is fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a virtual press conference unveiled the proposal from his residence.
"Importance should not be given on economic growth but to people's lives and livelihoods during the pandemic. If the corona situation is not properly handled, then it would not be possible to rescue the economy," said Fakhrul, who used to teach economics earlier in his life.
He said his party thinks that a three-year long planning should be framed to rescue the economy from the disaster of the pandemic.
Fakhrul said budgetary allocation should be increased in health, social safety net, labour welfare, agriculture, education, local government and rural development.
Presenting a gloomy picture of the health sector, the BNP leader said the pandemic has exposed how fragile the country's healthcare system is.
"To save the people of the country, the healthcare system should be restored, restructured and a long-term sustainable programme should be taken."
The party demanded that five percent of GDP should be allowed for healthcare system, and the poor should be brought under health allowance.
The party proposed for 6-7 percent of GDP allocation for marginalised and underprivileged people under the social safety net programmes.
It also proposed for special allocation in IT sector, and increasing allocation in agriculture and food sectors.
Expressing concern over job cuts in the readymade garments industry, the party said, "Owners of factories took Tk 5,000 crore in incentives. You (owners) will take incentives and at the same time will terminate workers — this is double standard. During the crisis of pandemic, termination of workers is inhuman and wrong decision."
Fakhrul said as economic activity have shrunk, so income tax and vat collection will be lower. To meet the budget deficit, the government has to emphasise on foreign loans.
He also criticised the government for poor governance and loan default, and said, "Covid-19 is signalling a change in the economy, politics and overall people's lives. The economy will be stuck if changes do not take place and social stability will be hampered."
The process of change entirely depends on the state and democratic process of the state, he added.
"The incumbent government is not accountable to the people as it was not elected by people's vote. But even after that, in the time of great crisis, we are urging the government to forge a national unity burying all sorts of divisions to tackle the situation."
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