Bangladesh To Move Another Step Forward Through Budget Execution, Hopes PM

"The proposed budget for 2015-16 would pave the way for people's welfare and take the country to another step forward by alleviating poverty and materializing the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Insha Allah," she said.

The Leader of the House expressed this hope while participating in the discussion on the proposed budget in parliament. During her one hour 13 minute speech, she spelt out the development already done in various sectors and also her future strategies to place Bangladesh in line with the developed world.

Extending her sincere thanks to the people for electing the government despite hundreds of odds and obstacles, the Prime Minister said placing of this budget would not have been possible, had the Awami League government not been elected.

The Leader of the House also thanked the finance minister for placing the budget for the seventh time. "His well-thought out steps are taking the country in every step and helping to build Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu," she said.

The Prime Minister said none could deny Bangladesh's stunning socio-economic development. According to the World Bank and IMF, Bangladesh's economy has jumped to the 44th place from the 58th by advancing 14 steps in one year, she said.

The Leader of the House said Bangladesh has been placed at 33rd position from the 36th in 2013 on the basis of equality of purchasing capacity.

She said the per capita income has gone up to 1,314 US dollars now from $543 in 2005-06. "Bangladesh is advancing towards self-sufficiency economically and that's why the country has been able to place Taka 2,95.100 crore budget," she said.

The Prime Minister said though the size of the budget is big, it is implementable. The government has executed 95.67 percent of the 2014-budget despite the nonstop hartals and blockades enforced by the BNP-Jamaat nexus, she said.

Describing Bangladesh Awami League as an organization of the mass people, Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu founded this party for welfare of the people. "The aim of the party is to serve the people and work for them," she said.

The Prime Minister said the expectation of the people from Bangladesh Awami League is more. "We are working to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people," she said.

The Leader of the House said whenever Awami League forms the government, investment rises, economy soars up and poor people enjoys better life. "This happens as Awami League always works for the development of the people," she said.

The Prime Minister said the nation entered into the era of sorrow and sufferings after the assassination of Bangabandhu and the people suffered a lot for long 21 years.

She said the politics of killing and coup was initiated by violating the constitution after the assassination of Bangabandhu and there was no right to vote, food and democracy at that time.

When Awami League came to power after 21 years, she said, the people first realized that the government works for betterment of the people and there was a golden era from 1996 to 2001.

"But the people of the country again plunged into darkness for seven years when BNP-Jamaat and the caretaker government came to power," she said.

The Prime Minister said after coming to power again, the Awami League government took steps to advance the country further.

Spelling out the government's steps for the development of the country, Sheikh Hasina said the poverty rate has been reduced to 22.4 percent from 40 percent in 2005, while the extreme poverty rate came down to 7.9 percent from 24.23 percent.

She said the average growth in the last five years was 6.2 percent and the growth this year would be 6.51 percent. "The GDP rate would have crossed seven percent had the BNP-Jamaat not enforced hartals and blockades for three months since January," she said.

The Prime Minister said the inflation slumped to 6.57 percent from the double digit six years back. "The export earnings stands this year at 32 billion US dollars, up by 10.5 billion during 2001-2006 BNP rule," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the forex reserve has now crossed 25.02 billion dollars from three billion, while the annual remittance is to surpass the 15 billion US dollar mark in the outgoing fiscal year.

She said her government over the last six years created employment for 1.50 crore people while five crore people graduated to the middle class status from the lower class.

While talking about the development in the power sector, the Prime Minister said the country's power generation capacity was raised to 13,725 MWs in the last six years. "Seventy power plants were constructed during the period and 70 percent people were brought under electricity facilities," she said.

The Leader of the House said the government after coming to power in 2009, had taken immediate, short and long term plans for solving the electricity crisis in the country. "Under the plans, she said, steps have been taken to produce electricity through solar, nuclear and coal-based power plants side by side with importing from India," she said.

Taking a swipe at the critics of Rampal Power Plant, Sheikh Hasina said there would be no adverse impact on the Sundarbans due to the power plant as the distance between the world's largest mangrove forest and the power plant is far long.

In this connection, the Prime Minister cited the example of Baropukuria coal- based power plant in Dinajpur. If the Baropukuria power plant has no adverse impact on the natural resources, then how the Rampal Power Plant would harm the Sundarbans, she said adding, "Those who don't tolerate Bangladesh's development make such criticism."

The Prime Minister also highlighted the impressive success in the fields of education, agriculture, health, food security, infrastructure, social safety net, sports and games and digitization. She also mentioned the government's initiatives for further development of the armed forces.

On bringing stability in the stock market, Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken various steps for the development of the stock market. Initiatives have been taken to infuse dynamism into the stock market by giving incentives to the small investors, she said.

The Leader of the House said arrangement for training of the youths on the stock markets has been made. Due to these steps, she said, stability has returned to the stock market.

While talking about Bangladesh National Cricket Team's success, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh whitewashed Pakistan and clinched win from the ODI series against India. "Bangladesh team will be given a reception soon for defeating India," she said.

The Prime Minister suggested withdrawal of all duties from the raw materials used for making medicines of the cancer patients, reducing tuition fee to 7.5 percent from 10 percent in the private educational institutions, waving tax on the income of first Taka 19 lakh in the poultry industry and imposing tax of five percent on Taka 20 lakh to Tk 30 lakh income and 10 percent on over Taka 30 lakh income.

She also made a proposal for waiving tax on the income of first Taka 19 lakh from the fish farming and imposing tax of five percent on Taka 20 lakh to Tk 30 lakh income and 10 percent on over Taka 30 lakh income.