‘Mega projects for mega corruption’
Nagorik Oikya, a component of Oikyafront, yesterday claimed that the proposed budget for fiscal 2019-20 is not pro-poor but rather will make the rich even richer.
Leaders of the party alleged that the government, using state power, is amassing wealth from people and handing it over to a handful. As a result, disparity between the poor and rich are increasing day by day.
They were speaking at a post-budget press conference at Jatiya Press Club.
In his speech, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, convener of the party, said the government is giving a scope for whitening black money and exempting loan defaulters. “Such budget will force the country’s economy into a fragile condition,” he said.
He also alleged that the government increases the size of budget each year to show off, but the budget allocation is reduced after a few months.
The government is undertaking different mega projects only to create opportunities for “mega corruption”, he alleged. “Every development project initiated by the incumbent government is for fanfare,” he claimed.
Manna said the government should have allocated at least 6 percent of the total budget to the education sector and 5 percent to health sector.
While reading out a written statement, Nagorik Oikya member Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said the proposed budget was for a privileged group, who are pro-government.
Criticising the proposal to include of all freedom fighters under social safety net, he said many will be deprived due to this as all freedom fighters are not economically vulnerable.
Zahed also alleged that the government seemed reluctant in collecting revenue, boosting the agricultural sector, creating adequate employment opportunities, reducing prices of essentials and lowering income disparity.
They [government] need not do something for people who cast votes, as they were elected through a one-sided election, he alleged. That is why the government is giving privileges to a chosen quarter who are also backing them up, he claimed.
On Thursday, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presented Tk 523,190 crore budget for the fiscal 2019-20.
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