Finance Minister AMA Muhith has regrets over the communal mindset of many people, despite Bangladesh aiming to be a secular state.
He was speaking at a pre-budget discussion at Sylhet Zila Parishad auditorium on Thursday evening, which Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Jamal Uddin Ahmed presided over.
Muhith said: "Communialism remains strong deep within the minds of many people. We were supposed to be a secular nation, but we have not entirely accepted it, which is a shame."
While discussing various aspects of the budget for the next financial year, the minister said this is the first time that a children-friendly budget is going to be announced.
Citing the women budget, he said this initiatially had been formulated for four districts, but later it was expanded to all 64 districts.
The size of the children budget will also be expanded similarly, the minister said.