The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League yesterday said that the Caretaker Government presented a bulky budget for 2008-09 fiscal with heavy deficit, as it will not have to bear the responsibility of implementing it.

The major political party, which ran the government from 1996-2001, also put a broad hint to revise the budget if it assumes power at the mid time of the fiscal year.

The caretaker government violated the Constitution by proposing budget twice outside parliament, the party leaders said, at a press conference at its Dhanmondi office to give its reaction on the proposed budget.

Awami League's Finance and Planning secretary Dr Ali Ashraf in a written statement described the budget as an account full of "false hopes to woo people."

Asked if Awami League would revise the budget if elected to power in December, Tofael said, "We will take necessary steps responding to the demands of the situation of that time."

He, however, suggested the Government to consult with political parties and bring necessary changes in the proposed budget in line with their suggestions.

He said it is the Government's responsibility to maintain political stability in absence of which implementation of the budget will be impossible.

"There is no possibility of political instability if the Government holds election," by December' the seasoned politician said.

Dr Ali Ashraf said Government's effort to curb inflation would go in vain as the government will have to for huge borrowing to cover the Tk 30,500 crore deficit.

He further said if the government failed to get the foreign aid (6.4 percent) and loans (17 percent), then it must have to borrow from the banks which will create liquidity crisis that will cause reduced investment in the country.

Party presidium member Matia Chowdhury and Suranjit Sengupta, among others, were present at the press conference.

The party leaders termed the proposed budget as extra constitutional, as according to Article 58(d) of the Constitution, interim caretaker government has no jurisdiction to propose the budget.

Citing Article 83 of the Constitution, Dr Ashraf said tax cannot be levied or collected without sanction of parliament.

The Awami League leaders also said the caretaker government should have declared an interim budget as it will get only six months to implement a budget.

"There is no way but to hold the election by December this year. So the government has only six months to go. Then, it should have declared an interim budget in line with its tenure," Tofael Ahmed said.

Tofael and Ali Ashraf both said the next elected government would have to suffer for such "ambitious and unrealistic" budget.

He further said despite several positive attempts by the government, its aim to overcome the economic crisis would not be fulfilled due to its failure to control inflation, reduction of development allocation, high amount of bank borrowings, possible rise of fuel price in the global market.

Dr Ashraf said the millennium development goals which are supposed to be achieved by 2015 would remain a far cry if the growth rate cannot be raised up to 7-8 percent.

He said country's agriculture sector would not be benefited getting only subsidies. The government would have to come up with specific plans for fundamental research for production of hybrid seeds, crop preservation, flourishing agro-industry and innovation of alternative fuels, he suggested.

Dr Ashraf was also critical of the budget as the size of Annual Development Programmes (ADP) has been reduced in the proposed budget, saying that employment opportunities will be reduced in the country.

He also voiced concern that the country's export sector could collapse because of government indifference to provide adequate gas and electricity to the industries.

He also demanded increased dearness allowances for non-government employees, teachers, workers and others.