BSS, Rajshahi :
Speakers at a discussion here Tuesday stressed the need for formulation of district budget for reflecting the hopes and aspiration of the peoples in general in the annual budget.
They viewed there is no alternative to formulating district budget for creating scope of participating grassroots people to the national budget formulating process which is very important for balanced development besides reducing regional disparity.
The budget should be pro-people and welfare-oriented so that it could bring economic emancipation of the grassroots people, they added.
Gonotantrik Budget Andolon (GBA) organized the discussion styled “District Budget Expectation and Attainment” held at General Public Library conference hall.
Dr ANK Noman, a professor of Economics Department of Rajshahi University, addressed the discussion as focal person with GBA local unit convener Akbarul Hassan Millat in the chair. GBA Member-secretary Foyzullah Chowdhury, SUPRO National Committee Chairman Mustafizur Rahman Khan and Prip Trust Regional Manager Saiduzzaman Shipon spoke on the occasion.
During his concept paper presentation, GBA Member Rashed Ibne Obayed highlighted the aims and objectives of the campaign for district budget. “There should be measures of ensuring equity and justice in the budget formulation and its implementation process,” he added.
Prof Noman said making the budgeting process decentralised could be the effective means of attaining the goal of a democratic budget.
As the budget is formulated with the public money so the public opinion must be reflected and the public development planning should be opened before them, he added.
He also said emphasis should be given on participation of grassroots people in the national development process. Transparency and accountability in the budget implementation process must be ensured so that the people could derive total benefits of the development budget.
Other discussants demanded special allocations for surface water-based irrigation project and emphasized on preservation of river water before it goes to sea and protecting Rajshahi’s agriculture from adverse impacts of climate change.
