Terming the upcoming budget optimistic, State Minister for Finance MA Mannan yesterday said it would mainly focus on implementing the new pay scale that requires around Tk14,000 crore.
The junior minister also mentioned that country’s assets had grown gradually but “we are not utilising it properly. Most of the time we are investing in the wrong sectors from where we will never get anything in return.”
He made the remarks at a roundtable titled “Economic Decentralisation and Local Governance Budget” organised by Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB) held at the National Press Club. The MAB advocates for decentralising budgetary allocation.
The government can implement the budget properly with the support of the civil society, he said.
Mannan also emphasised on eliminating discrimination in allocating budget for rural and urban areas. “It is a concern for the government that most of the development activities take place in the capital.”
He said the tax net would be increased in the next budget.
Shamim Al Rizvi, secretary general of MAB, said the objectives of the budget could be fulfilled if the municipalities were made stronger. He also demanded that the loopholes in audit of municipalities be removed.
Referring to Bangladesh’s earning foreign exchange worth around $12b from the readymade garments sector last year, Rizvi said 40% of the amount was earned by factories in Gazipur.
“If the local government bodies are supported by the government, then road and infrastructure will be developed while agriculture will get a boost too,” he added.
