ZCZC
JS-11
BUDGET-LGRD
Tk 41,010cr proposed for LGRD
DHAKA, June 3, 2021 (BSS) – Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal today proposed allocating Tk. 41,010 crore for the local government and rural development (LGRD) sector in the budget in fiscal year (FY) 2021-22.
“In the next financial year, I am proposing to allocate Tk. 41,010 crore in the local government and rural development sector which was Tk. 38,338 crore in FY2020-2021,” he said while delivering his budget speech in the Jatiya Sangsad this afternoon.
This year’s proposed allocation is Tk 2,672 crore higher than the previous year’s allocation.
The finance minister said there is no alternative to rural road development for sustaining the rural economy and continued development of the facilities in rural life.
‘It is possible to attain all other socio-economic targets, such as access to education and health, employment, poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment and business ventures by ensuring improved rural road network,” he said.
Kamal said the goal of the government is to upgrade the busy rural roads to double lanes to adapt with the fast expansion of rural economy, ensure their sustainable maintenance and build rapid connectivity to the villages that are currently without roads.
In the next fiscal year, he said, a total of 3,140 km of new roads, including expansion of the core road network, and 18,500 meter bridges or culverts will be expanded or constructed on those roads in rural areas.
A total of 8,500 km metalled roads and 3,800 meter of bridges or culverts will be maintained to make the constructed rural road infrastructure sustainable.
In addition, 130 growth centers like ‘haat-bazars’ will be developed to stimulate agricultural economy, accelerate development, create employment and increase agricultural and non- agricultural production by strengthening the supply chain, he said.
The minister said Upazila Complex buildings will be constructed or expanded to strengthen local government facilities.
“A total of 120 cyclone shelters will be constructed in the coastal areas. As a result of these interventions, the road network coverage in rural areas will increase from 36.75 percent to 38.50 percent,” he said.
Besides, a target has been set to construct 770 km of roads and footpaths and 250 km of drains in urban areas, he said, adding that implementation of these projects will create direct employment for 890 lakh man-days in the next fiscal year, and create opportunity for huge indirect employment.
Kamal said the government has made notable progress in implementing the concept of ‘My Village-My Town’, one of the main concepts espoused by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a pledge made in the Election Manifesto-2018.
In response to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in rural areas, he said, the Local Government Division has allocated Tk. 14 crore to 328 municipalities in FY2020-2021.
With this allocation, free masks, hand sanitizers and soaps have been provided to the common people and students in hats, bazaars, bus stations, schools and colleges in the municipal areas, he added.
BSS/ASG/MKD/GA/1639 hrs