Staff Reporter :
Md Rezaul Karim, Chairman of the `Shippers’ Council of Bangladesh, has welcomed the proposed budget for 2021-22 claiming it exceptional and courageous one amidst worldwide pandemic and countrywide havoc created by the Covid-19.
Unlike is the past, under the directive of Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal did not impose any new taxes. We welcome that he, instead, either withdrew, reduce or increase advance tax, vat, import duty, supplementary duty etc conveniently to protect local industry, export oriented industry and agro processing industry, he said. I believe these steps will increase private investment and thereby employment and development of local industry, Rezaul said in a statement.
I welcome his strong and robust budget of Tk. 1 lac 7 thousand and 614 crores as social safety net for the benefit of poor, extreme poor, distressed peasants and small professionals. Millions of people are being benefited by this programme, the statement said.
The budget provided for Tk. 32,731 crores is 2021-22 in place of only Tk. 19,245 crores to maintain normal health infrastructure as well as to protect people from deadly Covid-19 Tk 10,000 crores have been kept as emergency fund.
Transport and communication sector has been allocated Tk. 69,417 crores, much above the last years’ level. I thank him for that.
The Council is glad to know that during the last 12 years, the container handling facility in Chittagong Port has been raised to 49,018 TUES from only 27,000 TEUS. For safe navigation machineries have been upgraded, digital berthing has been installed and Patenga-Halishahar Bay Terminal and Port at Matarbari are at progress.
The Council is very much encouraged to now believe that Country’s foreign trade will great by be benefited by these measures. In addition, dredging at Mongla Port will also enhance our handling capacity.
Council again thanks Bangabandhu Kanya, Honourable Prime Minister, Shiekh Hasina and Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal for presenting a business, industry and poor friendly budget for the year 2021-22.
