Budget of FY2004-05
Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman placed our national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad on June 10. The Tk 57,248 crore budget is really a colossal budget for our country. My feedback on the proposed budget is positive. The budget may be ambitious but it is realistic. Without being ambitious we cannot energise our economy. The education sector has been prioritised with 13% allocation in this budget. The agriculture sector has drawn attention and sympathy, thanks to BJP's election debacle in India. Poverty eradication, economic stability are highly impossible, if we ignore our agriculture sector. So, Tk 850 crore farm subsidy in the proposed budget deserves praise. But the money should reach the farmers. Though the Tk 22,000 crore ADP is huge, for overall development it is urgent. But it should be materialised without any ulterior motive. In FY2004-05 budget, revenue collection is really going to be challenging. But to be self- reliant, it is very essential. If the govt can set up the office of a Tax Ombudsman, the revenue collection will be boosted. I hope the budget for FY2004-05 will be implemented for the welfare of the country.
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