District-wise budget, low GDP growth target slated

Ruling Awami League (AL) lawmaker Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir has termed 'unconstitutional' the finance minister's proposals for unifying revenue budget and development budget, and district-wise budget from the fiscal year (FY) 2010-11.
Participating in the budget discussion on the second day yesterday in the House, he also criticised 'low target' of gross domestic product (GDP).
MK Alamgir, who heads the parliamentary standing committee on public undertakings, said the proposed budget for the next FY contains 'inconsistencies'.
The main opposition BNP is boycotting parliament proceedings for 'not rearranging respectably' front row seats for legislators from the party.
AL lawmakers, who took part in the budget discussion yesterday, urged the finance minister to take budgetary measures so that the party's electoral pledges, especially on power sector, can be materialised.
A number of them differed on the finance minister's proposals for high slab tax on private cars, air-conditioners, tax on power generation equipment, low rate of tax for whitening black money, less allocation for the disabled and tax on importing newsprint.
They proposed formation of economic intelligence unit to deal with militancy, and narcotics, and increasing the tax rate for money whitening to 25 percent from the proposed 10 percent.
Participants in the discussion include advocate Fazle Rabbi Mia, Nazma Akhtar, Khaledur Rahman Tito and Enamul Haque.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary standing committee on finance ministry yesterday placed in the House its report on scrutiny of the public money and budget management bill. It recommended passing the bill.