Proposed budget allocates Tk 81,519cr for communication sector

Staff Reporter :
Considering the importance of communication, the Finance Minister has proposed Tk 87,629 crore in the proposed budget for the FY2023-24, which was Tk. 81,519 crore in the FY2022-23 for the integrated development of various means of communication, including roads, bridges, railways, waterways, sea routes and airways.

The proposed budgetary allocations for the upcoming fiscal year for both the Road, Transport and Bridges Ministry, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication stood at Tk 87,629 crore which was Tk 81,519 crore in the outgoing budget for the 2022-23 financial year.
Placing the budget, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in his budget speech said, “We are laying emphasis on the integrated

development of various means of communication, including roads, bridges, railways, sea routes, and airways. Our primary objective is to establish a domestic and international communication network which is secure, sustainable, environment-friendly, and economical. We are committed to ensuring timely completion of ongoing projects and their subsequent maintenance after implementation.”

Since assuming office in 2009, the government has successfully constructed a well-structured network of 22,476 km of highways, facilitating seamless transportation of both goods and passengers across the country, he said.
The government has given special emphasis on the development and management of sea, river, and land ports as 95 percent of country’s import-export trade depends on it.
Besides, the government has undertaken the task of upgrading of 718 km of national highways to accommodate four or more lanes, while also constructing or reconstructing 1,558 bridges and 7,498 culverts across different highways.

During the tenure of the present government, a total of 100 bridges including Padma Bridge have been inaugurated across 25 districts in eight divisions of the country.
The finance Minister, however, proposed Tk 39,710 crore for road transport and highways division, Tk19,010 crore for the ministry of railways, Tk 10,801 crore for the Ministry of Shipping, Tk 6,596 crore for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Tk 2,439 crore for the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication and Tk 9,073 crore for the Bridges Diviosion for the financial years 2023-24.