Budget placed thinking welfare of people: PM

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SANGSAD BHABAN, June 27, 2018 (BSS)- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the budget for upcoming fiscal 2018-19 was placed thinking the welfare of the people ‘unlikely to the budget of other non-Awami League governments to make fortune of a particular group of people’.

“People of Bangladesh had forgotten how to dream. Now they have learned to dream as they have confidence in our economic programme to build up their future,” she said.

“The fate of the common people of Bangladesh has really changed as we have taken steps to give the people at all level a decent and economically prosperous life,” the prime minister added.

The prime minister was taking part in the discussion on budget for 2018-2019 fiscal placed in the parliament with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury in the chair.

“It’s an excellent budget on which none could raise any question”, the prime minister said.

She congratulated Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith for having the opportunity to furnish the budget for ten consecutive times.

The prime minister said the size of the budget has been enlarged seven times over the last ten years and the government now has acquired the capacity of implementing ninety percent budget with domestic resources.

Terming the projected economic growth rate of 7.78 percent as genuine the prime minister said Bangladesh has been maintaining a steady growth rate over the last few years.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is no more a least developed country (LDC), which was known earlier for all odd things. Bangladesh doesn’t like to live on support of others and as a victorious nation the country should not depend on others for its future prosperity, she said.

The prime minister thanked the countrymen and administrative officials of all level for their constant endeavour for implementing the development programmes undertaken by the government for country’s development.

Everybody including the government officials and law enforcing agencies worked like a family for implementing our fiscal, social and development programmes, she said adding that Bangladesh is now the 42nd strong economy in the world according to the World Economic Outlook.

Laying importance on continuation of the accelerated pace of development the Prime Minister said economic strength of the country was the foundation of the big budget of the country.

Sheikh Hasina said annual budget of her government is a part of implementation of five-year plan designed for well-planned development of the country. The government has already started work to devise development plan for the period 2021-2041.

Pointing out pressure of Rohingya influx on country’s economy Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government has given shelter to the Rohingyas on our small land on humanitarian ground. However, the government very careful about the welfare of the local people, she said.

Highlighting the success of her government in socioeconomic sectors the prime minister said there would have no homeless people in Bangladesh as the government has undertaken programmes for giving home to every homeless family.

Reiterating her stand on cancellation of quota system in the public service recruitment the Prime Minister said, a committee led by the cabinet secretary is working on this. However, she suggested continuation of the existing freedom fighter quota in the civil service.

About the ongoing drive against drug the prime minister said the drive would continue whatever a section of people says about it.

Sheikh Hasina said the government is consulting with a British firm to construct rail line from Padma Bridge to Patuakhali and Barisal.