National Budget FY 2021-2022 – (III) Finance Minister’s Jugglery (Vanumoti’s game)
Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury :
VII. One is the ugly provision of the government, the other is the pleasure.
1). Two notable incidents of the Hasina government – the first is the weeping, the arrest of the police, the silencing of the voice of the people for fear of a case under the Digital Security Act against the interests of the people, the Honorable Justices of the High Court have also become speechless. The second is that the Hasina government has provided electricity to the families living in remote areas and made the villagers smile. As the power generation capacity of the country has been increased to 25226 MW, the beneficiary population has increased by 99 percent.
Honorable Prime Minister, congratulations to you. Of course mega looting continues through Quick Rental.
2). The finance minister lied about the poverty rate, saying that the poverty rate has not decreased by 20.5 per cent, but has increased by 42% due to Covid and the number of new poor has increased by at least 20 million.
This time too quick rental did not stop. The Finance Minister did not raise his voice in budget speech against Quick Rental corruption.
(3) Your future as a chartered account is bright. Those who are milking the government are benefiting. 10 years income tax exemption for AC Fridge, home alliance producing domestic company, waiver of various duties and advance income tax is a correct step but VAT should not be waived in all these cases; in case of 15% , 8.5% VAT can be levied.Mr. Jashim, President, Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), described the proposed budget as business and investment friendly.
The traders are happy that The Finance Minister has not increased the bidi, Cigarette, liquor and gul tax and also reduce of corporate tax.
Table- 3: Tariffs on harmful Tobacco products
To enforce the law on smoking as a punishable offence in railways, public transport, markets, stations, parks, educational institutions, court premises and all public places, the minimum fine is 1000 taka non-payment will be 7 days in jail. Law enforcement, courts, and all other smokers must be repealed by recruitment law.
The highest allocation has been made for bureaucrats in public administration. However they have maintained a non- democratic government without a vote and gathering all kinds of certificates. Reduce the allocation to a minimum of 1/3 in public administration. Retire all senior secretaries. District officials must stay in the workplace with their families. Bureaucrats are not obeying Prime ministers instructions. The monthly expenditure for a car does not exceed 10,000 taka in any order. Close Quick Rental, reduce allocation to the defense sector .All College and university students must take 6 months of compulsory military training before completing their education. The cost of studying in all the military universities, engineering and medical colleges should be equivalent to that of the private sectors not less.
Allocation need to be at least doubled to empower elected local governments through orderly decentralization. The fourth largest expenditure is the payment of interest on domestic and foreign loans 11.4%.
The logical proposal of the conscious people is to reduce allocation in public administration from 18% to 12.7%, in travel4% to 7.9%, in defence 3% to 3.2%, and in energy power 4% instead of 4.5%.
The people have recommended increasing the allocation for local government and rural health, agriculture and social security.
Table -4: Finance Minister’s allocation versus People’s expected allocation
(Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury is Trustee
Gonoshasthaya Kendra).
(To be continued)
