Matia blasts Muhith over tax proposal
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury yesterday bitterly criticised the finance minister for imposing tax on savings certificates in the proposed budget and urged him to scrap the proposal.
Taking part in a discussion on the proposed budget, Matia also blasted the World Bank for their "interference" in the government activities and asked the monetary organisation officials to refrain from doing so.
She also lambasted Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) for its "inefficiency" in preparing proper statistics and conducting surveys.
Coming down heavily on the proposal for imposing tax on savings certificates, the minister said people would have to pay tax twice once the proposal is implemented.
She said people pay income tax and the finance minister proposed to also impose tax on their savings certificates.
"Did middle and lower class women commit a sin by purchasing savings certificates?" Matia asked, saying the finance minister has to reply to the question before the nation.
She said by making the proposal the finance minister made injustice towards the middle and lower class people who have savings certificates.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith was present in the House and was seen taking notes at that time.
On failure of BBS to prepare correct statistics, Matia said the Bureau gave wrong data on Boro production. The BBS has turned into an inefficient organisation to perform its duties, she observed.
But on the basis of satellite images, SPARSO gave the correct facts and figures on Boro production, she added.
The agriculture minister said unfortunately the World Bank acting country director Zahid Hossain backed the BBS's wrong data on Boro production.
"May I ask him [Zahid] if he is supporting people who are not working efficiently," Matia said. "Stop such interference in the government activities. You do not give us much assistance that you will whip on us," Matia said.
"I read in the newspapers that you [World Bank] have become bankrupt. Then how will you give assistance to others? Think before speaking… rein in your tongue," she said.
"Did the World Bank send you here to speak such things?" Matia questioned.
Participating in the discussion, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said the government has taken various measures to arrest price hike of essentials.
He also criticised the main opposition for their inefficiency in implementing the budget proposals while they were in power.
Awami League lawmaker Abdul Jalil and a number of his parliament colleagues also blasted the main opposition BNP for calling hartal today.
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