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BUDGET-DISCUSSION
Proposed budget help to create employment and digital Bangladesh : Lawmakers
SANGSAD BHABAN, June 26, 2019 (BSS) – Lawmakers today said the gradual increase of the proposed budget outlay would bolster country’s economy by creating employment for the youths and build a digitalized country launching landmark development in the Information communication and technology (ICT) sector.
Taking part in the general discussion for the eighth consecutive day on the proposed budget for 2019-20 fiscal in the Jatiya Sangsad, the lawmakers said the proposed budget will create huge employment, cut poverty and build a digitalized one by 2021 and 2041.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on June 13 in the Jatiya Sangsad unveiled a Taka 5,23,190 crore national budget for 2019-20 fiscal setting the GDP growth target at 8.2 percent and delineating a set of programmes to transform the country into a role model of modern and welfare state by 2041.
Referring to create employment in the proposed budget, Health Minister Zahid Malique said, “Industrialization and stability of the share bazaar which have been mentioned in the budget would create a scope of new employment, adding that even the decline of the bank interest rate into a single digit would also create huge investment in the country.”
Approximately 2 crore youth voters for the first time have mandated the ruling Awami League in the 11th parliament elections, said the minister, adding that so the budget is containing a reflection considering the expectations of the young voters.
In addition to this, Malique said 1.13 crore more people have also been brought under the safety net programmes in the proposed budget, which resulting in to reduce poverty as a whole.
Highlighting the ongoing GDP growth as significant, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said according to a report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Bangladesh will see a fastest GDP growth in Asia compared to other Asian countries in 2019.
Bangladesh has been forecasted 8 per cent GDP growth while it would be 7.2 per cent for India, 3.9 per cent for Pakistan, 6.8 per cent Vietnam, 6.6 per cent for Malaysia, 6.2 per cent for Hong Kong, 4.5 per cent for Thailand, 3.5 per cent for Nepal and 5.6 per cent for Sri Lanka, the minister added.
Regarding the ICT development, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said “we have set a target to bring 90 per cent citizen service in online, connecting 90 per cent people with internet service, create employment of 20 lakh youths in the sector and to enhance ICT export earning up to 5 billion US dollar by 2021.”
“We have set three light houses in our action plan —my village my town, potency of youths and good governance and we are working to implement these three light houses,” he told the House.
BSS/MORE/OG/QC/19-41HRS