The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Leaders of different political parties have expressed mixed reactions to the proposed budget placed by Adviser for Finance Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam on Monday.

Major political parties termed the budget luxurious and imaginary saying that it neglected the development sectors.

BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain termed the proposed budget illegal saying that the caretaker government has no constitutional rights to place a budget.

"It has no right to impose out-of-parliament tax," he told reporters at his NAM flat residence following the placement of the budget.

He said the BNP did not have any interest in the proposed budget. "I did not even care to look at the budget," he said, and added according to Article 58 (B) and 58 (C) of the constitution the Caretaker Government cannot announce the national budget. The Government has violated the Constitution also according to Article 83, he added.

"We do not want to make any comment on the budget when the entire nation is disappointed," he observed.

Awami League Presidium Member Suranjit Sen Gupta told reporters that an unstable political atmosphere could never offer a stable budget.

"Political stability is the prerequisite to have a sound budget. The Government is isolated from the people. That is why this budget will be failed to meet the people's demand," he said while expressing his instant reaction on the proposed budget.

Suranjit said the democratic government, which would be elected in December, would have to take the challenges to reach the goal of this budget.

Prof Ali Ashraf, Finance Secretary of Awami League told reporters that the budget will intensify the poverty and unemployment problem in the country.

In his instant reaction, he said as per the budget the Government did not heed to the infrustructural development of the country and it will discourage the businessmen to invest.

"Without the additional investment economic development of the country is impossible," he said.

Ali Ashraf said the Government had the intention to press on the responsibilities of implementing the target of the budge to the next elected government, as the tenure of the Caretaker Government would be ended by December. It would be a burden for the next elected government.

"The Caretaker Government failed to implement their promises, which were declared in the previous budget. The promises includes establishment of stable economy, controlling of price hike, ensuring food security, reducing the discrimination between poor and rich and resolving unemployment crisis in the country", he pointed out.

Pro-reformist BNP leader Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said it is not possible for a non-elected government to ensure welfare and development of the people.

However, he said the new budget contains both negative and positive aspects.

The BNP leader observed that the next elected government could make the budget bigger if the election was held in December.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed said it the violation of the Constitution to place the budget by a non-elected government.

The Government has broken the record of anomalies by prolonging its power not holding the elections in time, he observed.

The Jamaat leader referred that it was wise for the Government to handover power to an elected government by holding a free and fair election since 17 months have already passed and said it would be an honour for the Government if the budget could be placed by an elected government.

President of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Manjurul Ahsan Khan and General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said the budget would enhance the gap between rich and poor.

In their instant reaction they said the government has failed to create alternative measure for the economy.

They said the poor friendly measures including creation of employment opportunity, gender sensitivity, subsidy in agriculture sector, recovery of khas lands and administrative reforms were not ensured in the proposed budget.