Minister: Budget yet to pass, many things can be revised

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Thursday said that the government is considering all realistic criticism and suggestions regarding the national budget before passing it in the parliament.

He said after placing budget at the National Parliament for FY 2024-25,  reactions are coming from various quarters.

“We are taking all feedback into consideration. Those that are realistic and feasible in the budget must be reconsidered. Because the budget has not been passed yet,” he pointed out.

The finance minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting titled 'Economy of Bangladesh in Global Context: Growth, Inflation, Food and Nutrition' held at the auditorium of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Farmgate in the capital on Thursday.

He said that after the budget presentation, various quarters made statements and comments. “I will tell them to look at what the World Bank is saying about our economy and budget,” he added.

He said: “There is more to say about the budget, the World Bank has said it is good. I need money, I need to listen to the World Bank. If not, you (the critics) give me the money.”

The finance minister told to the critics that some said the government is bankrupt, but what does bankruptcy mean? "We are not bankrupt. The World Bank does not understand anything, you understand everything?"

“Look at it and try to understand it. This budget is a people-friendly budget. If there is a problem with something there is a possibility to reconsider,” he opined.

State Minister of Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, representative of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization appointed in Bangladesh Dr Jiaoqun Shi, former state minister for planning  Shamsul Alam, Agriculture Marketing expert Dr. Muhammad Jahangir Alam, Sajjadul Hasan MP, among others, also spoke in the seminar.

Source: UNB