bdnews24.com :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has pitched for political stability to ensure development.
“We will become a developed nation by 2041. For that political stability is a must,” she said during budget discussion in Parliament on Saturday.
Hasina said, implementation of the 2014-15 budget would help improve socio-economic development.
She said, the budget deficit is only five percent. “This is no big deficit at all. All countries have deficit budget.”
The Prime Minister expressed her ‘firm belief’ that Bangladesh would turn into a middle-income state by 2021.
Hasina asked for reconsidering several proposals on taxes and surcharge on mobile phone use.
She hailed Finance Minister AMA Muhith for imposing surcharge to raise funds for health and environment.
She said, the import tax on mobiles was somewhat higher.
Addressing the finance minister, Hasina said, “You may consider reducing tax on import of mobile phones.”
She laid, emphasis on reconsidering the proposal to raise tax on import of LPG cylinder.
“LPG cylinder is now being manufactured in our country. But this is not sufficient. LPG cylinder has to be imported without making it a burden.” She proposed minimising the proposal of increasing tax at source on real estate as the sector was going through a bad phase.
“If the proposal of imposing additional tax on soap and detergent is withdrawn, it won’t cause much trouble.”
The prime minister said reforms for the development of the capital market will continue.
She described the proposed budget as ‘realistic’. Hasina lambasted those who criticised the proposed budget.
“They do not find anything positive whatever you do… always find ‘but’ in everything.”
“I have no idea what pleasure they find through unwarranted criticism.”
Referring to the government’s move to bring back money of the Bangladeshis deposited with the Swiss Bank, “We have sought a list from the Swiss Bank authorities. We will try to bring back as much as we can and spend it on development.”
The prime minister said pay of the public servant would be raised after the pay commission report is available in December. She pitched for boosting export. “Those who want to invest in agro processed products, leather, plastic goods and information technology will be offered facilities.”
The prime minister thanked Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad for taking ‘the right decision in right time’ to participate in the election. She also lauded Rauson Ershad for making ‘constructive criticism’.
While taking part in a budget discussion the Opposition Leader addressing the Prime Minister, said, “If you are the daughter of Bangabandhu , stop (the use of) poison in food.
“Don’t you have empathy for the people of the country? Won’t you stop poison?” she said.
In her reply Hasina said, “She (the Opposition Leader) would not have known about formalin in food if the government did not move to contain it.”
On Raushon Ershad’s remark that river water was polluted, Hasina said, “They were also in power. If they had moved from the beginning the situation would not turn worse.” Rauson Ershad said the prime minister did not realise the people’s predicament because she drank pure drinking water. “But people can’t.”
A smiling Hasina pointed to a green bottle kept at the table of Raushon Ershad.
“I am drinking local water. Look at her table. She is drinking foreign water in a green bottle.” Then the prime minister drank water from a glass kept in her table.
