Budget gets less priority

Lawmakers in parliament speak less on the proposed budget than on other topics during discussion on the budgetary proposals in the House, reveals a study.
The study also shows that lawmakers in the last three years have alarmingly lost interest in speaking about the proposed budget during discussions in the House.
Conducted by the Budget Analysis and Monitoring Unit (BAMU), a unit under the Parliament Secretariat, the study analysed the three annual budgets passed by the ninth parliament since 2009.
A number of MPs were also interviewed as part of the study.
According to the study, MPs who took part in the discussion on the proposed budget for 2009-10 fiscal year spent only 48 percent of their allocated time for speaking on the topic. They spent 40 percent of their allocated time by speaking on other issues and 12 percent to speak about issues in their respective constituencies.
During discussions on the proposed budget for 2010-11 FY, MPs spent only 38 percent of their allocated time to speak on budgetary documents. They spent 47 percent of their allocated time to speak on other issues and 15 percent time on issues in their respective constituencies, the study adds.
The MPs spent less time during discussion on the proposed budget for 2011-2012 FY. They spent only 37 percent of their allocated time to speak on the budgetary proposals and 46 percent to speak on other issues. The remaining 17 percent was spent on issues in their respective constituencies, the study continues.
Over 40 hours of discussions took place over each of the last three budgets in the absence of the BNP-led opposition MPs, who boycotted all three budget sessions.
Akbar Ali Khan, a former adviser to a caretaker government, said the main obstacle to a people oriented budget was the lack of participation of MPs in the passage of the budget.
"The parliamentary standing committees should also be involved in the process to make the budget people oriented," he added.
Akbar Ali Khan was speaking at a discussion on the findings of the study held at the ministers' hostel at the parliament building.
He suggested that the rules of procedure of parliament be amended to pave the way for sending a proposed budget to the standing committees for detailed discussion.
A number of MPs, who were present at the discussion, agreed with him and said the duration of the budget session should be increased to two months.
Chief Whip Abdus Shahid said any MP may place a proposal for amending the rules of procedure of parliament.
Fazle Rabbi Mia, chief of the parliamentary standing committee on law ministry, said even if 350 MPs spoke at the budget discussion and brought in numerous amendments, it would not work unless the prime minister wished to bring any changes into the proposed budget.
People's desires were reflected only in the budget placed by then finance minister Tajuddin Ahmad, he added.