The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion yesterday laid emphasis on streamlining the budget formulating process for eliminating poverty from the country.

In the last fifteen years the real income of the poor people has plummeted significantly. The poverty is increasing in the country and the gap between rich and poor is widening, they added.

They also said that pro-poor growth was essential for eliminating poverty.

They called upon the Government to extend the range of social safety net for the welfare of the marginalised people by containing the inflation.

Their observation came at a post budget discussion on " Poverty, Discrimination and National Budget" organised by the Hunger Project at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, President of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) chaired the discussion and Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, Country Director of the Hunger Project presented the keynote paper.

It was also attended, among others, by Dr Abdur Razzak of Awami League, GM Kader of Jatiya Party, Waliur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Heritage Foundation, Ajoy Roy, President of Sammilito Nagorik Andolon, Md Jalaluddin Ahmed, Director of FBCCI, Prof Hannan Ara Begum, Dr Abul Hai Majumder, Dr AKM Saifur Rasheed, Sekendar Ali Mandal, Tajima Hossain Majumder, Lili Huq, Rafiqul Islam Sarker and MN Islam Tapan.

They also criticised the Government for reducing the size of ADP in the proposed budget for the next fiscal.

Favouring the big size of budget Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said there should be transparency in the government expenditure.

He said the public accounts committee is not effective due to the absence of the accountability culture in the country.

He called upon the businessmen to pay more taxes for the benefit of the country's economy.

He suggested establishment of national and human security schemes in the country for the betterment of the people.

" Unless administrative quality is improved all the commissions formed by the Government will fail to give good results," he said.

Dr Abdur Razzak said there is no clear assurance of getting foreign aid and grant for meeting the budget deficit. He demanded allocation of more money for the agriculture research.

GM Kader said the current fiscal budget need to be reviewed after six months. He suggested adjustment of the budget in line with the international price.

Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said though the budget has taken some measures for social safety net programme and generate employment and it has no clear mechanism for significant reduction of poverty.

He opined that the Government's borrowing from the internal resources for meeting the budget deficit might create a liquidity crisis and hamper private investment.

He suggested establishment of national and human security schemes in the country for the betterment of the people.

" Unless administrative quality is improved all the commissions formed by the Government will fail to give good results," he said.

Dr Abdur Razzak said there is no clear assurance of getting foreign aid and grant for meeting the budget deficit. He demanded allocation of more money for the agriculture research.

GM Kader said the current fiscal budget need to be reviewed after six months. He suggested adjustment of the budget in line with the international price.

Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said though the budget has taken some measures for social safety net programme and generate employment and it has no clear mechanism for significant reduction of poverty.

He opined that the Government's borrowing from the internal resources for meeting the budget deficit might create a liquidity crisis and hamper private investment.