Finance Minister AMA Muhith said there would be no change in this fiscal year’s budget deficit even though the size of the annual development programme (ADP) was slashed.
“We may cut the size of ADP due to slow implementation rate. However, this won’t affect the present budget deficit, which is 5% of GDP,” he told journalists in Dhaka yesterday after making an online payment of his income tax. Muhith paid Tk55,870 as income tax for the fiscal year 2015-16.
Finance minister said the revenue income of the government remained slow, although the National Board of Revenue earning increased in November.
He said the amount of ADP this fiscal year was more than Tk1 lakh while the figure was Tk63,000 last year. “But the current figure of ADP might be cut in February next year while revising the budget.”
In reply to a question, Muhith said the amount of ADP for the Matarbari power plant project in Cox’s Bazar would not be reduced.
About the pay scale, he said: “There is no chance to amend the 8th pay scale as two provisions - time scale and selection grade – have been retained.”