The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

The national budget placed by the Finance Advisor for the next fiscal yesterday reportedly did not reflect the aspirations of the ordinary masses.

Though a handful of relatively known individuals and the business community hailed the budget, no political party apparently called it a budget of ultimate national welfare and vision.

Acting Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation M Manzurul Alam said he had felt rather happy of the budget announced for the next fiscal because it contained several propositions for slashing the miseries of the ultra-poor.

President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Saifuzzaman Chowdhury in a late night statement welcomed the proposed budget and thanked the Finance Advisor Dr. Mirza Azizul Islam for adopting some of the chamber's proposals.

The statement said that the CCC&I leader had felt hurt as priority funding went to Rajshahi, Khulna and Barisal divisions skipping Chittagong and the absence of clear directive on abolishing the Pre-shipment Inspection (PSI) system.

He thanked the government for focusing on agricultural boost, rural development and employment generation. "Proposal for expanding the social safety net program deserves appreciation," the statement said.

Economic Affairs Secretary of the BNP Golam Akbar Khandaker called the budget an ambitious one and doubted its ultimate implementation.

Vice President of Chittagong City Awami League Advocate Sunil Sarkar said the budget would not address the miseries of the poor.

Presidium member of the Jatiya Party (Ershad) Solaiman Alam Sheith frustrated over the national budget saying it lacks direction on many issues including development of the port city.

Former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University Professor Abu Yusuf Alam said that the propositions were not enough but its implementation would be important. "No successive government has ever implemented the budget of their tenure," he added.