President of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) Selima Ahmad on Sunday blamed bureaucratic tangles behind the ‘very slow’ utilisation of Tk 100 block allocation given for women entrepreneurs’ development.
“We fail to spend the allocated money due to bureaucratic complexities and delay made by the ministries concerned,” she told a post-budget discussion at the Jatiya Press Club.
Selima said this issue should be investigated and reported in the media which will help find a way forward for ensuring women entrepreneurs’ development with smooth disbursement of funds.
The BWCCI chief, also Vice Chairperson of Nitol Niloy Group, said the government allocated Tk 100 crore for women entrepreneurs in the budget in 2012 as demanded by the chamber.
“Only two projects were approved in 2012 — each of Tk 10 crore — while Tk only 1.10 crore was disbursed,” she said.
The BWCCI president also said four projects worth Tk 40 crore have been approved in the current fiscal year while so far only Tk 9.5 crore has been spent.
“I think attention should be given to this area. Making allocation isn’t enough…implementation is important,” Selima said adding that administrative efficiency needs to be enhanced to expedite project implementation.
She expressed dissatisfaction as the ministries do not have focal point for women entrepreneurs.
“Even, we don’t find focal point at the Commerce Ministry. A report should be unveiled which ministry has done what for the development of women entrepreneurs,” said the business leader.
She said men and women should be given equal importance for the overall development of the country. “Women’s empowerment is a must for achieving higher economic growth.”
Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) arranged the discussion titled ‘Budget for 2014-15: Will it boost growth and investment?’ with its President Sultan Mahmud in the chair.
Eminent economist and former finance adviser to a caretaker government Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam spoke at the discussion as the chief guest.
Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Dr Zaid Bakht, former Chairman of the then Securities and Exchange Commission Faruq Ahmed Siddique, Dhaka University Economics Department Prof Dr MA Taslim, Additional Research Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Vice Chairperson of Nitol Niloy Group and founder of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) Selima Ahmad, Ifad Group Director Tashfeen Ahmed and ERF General Secretary Sajjadur Rahman also spoke at the post-budget discussion.
Source: UNBConnect
