‘This time no one said budget to kill poor’

This time no one said the proposed budget to kill poor, claimed Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.

He said, “We all are from farmer families. So, I put special importance in agricultural sector. Because we all are involved in agriculture somehow.”

The Minister said this in post-budget virtual briefing on Friday afternoon.

He said, “We didn’t budget to kill anyone, but to save people. People must be saved first. The rural economy will be fixed first.”

Mustafa Kamal said, “I will spend whatever money is needed, income after expenses before. People must be protected first. Works must be done for all people.”

He said, “We are in good position. We are 9th in the world in terms of economic health. We do not have a debt burden. We do politics for country’s people.”

Over coronavirus pandemic, the minister said, “Impacts of coronavirus would ease gradually. Hope, the country will get back normal pace very soon.”

On Thursday, Finance Minister placed the proposed national budget of Tk 568,000 crore in the Parliament. Among the revenue targets in the budget, the income in the tax sector has been estimated at Tk 3,78,000 crore.  Of this, the income under the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is Tk 3,30,000 crore.

The proposed budget has set a target of getting Tk 15,000 crore from non-NBR tax system. The non-tax revenue has been estimated at Tk 33,000 crore. Apart from domestic revenue, the government expects to receive a grant of Tk 4,010 crore from abroad in next fiscal year.


Dhaka/Hasibul/AKA