It’s pro-rich, Amir Khasru about budget

 BNP chairperson’s adviser Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury termed the proposed national budget for FY 2015-16 pro-rich one, saying there is no cheering for common people in the budget.

In his immediate reaction to the proposed budget at a city hotel, Mahmud said, “There’s no good news for common people in the announced budget. The prices of all the essentials will go up following the budget. In fact, this budget is not pro-people one as it has been framed for the convenient of the rich.”

Though the BNP leader made his personal observation about the budget, his party did not give any reaction to it yet.

Contacted, BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon said they will formally come up with the reaction to the budget after thoroughly reviewing it.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith unveiled a Tk 2,95,100 crore proposed national budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year targeting to achieve a GDP growth rate of 7 percent on Thursday afternoon.

Amir Khasru, also a former commerce minister, said the new budget is illegal as it has been placed by an unelected government. “Only an elected government has the right to place the national budget in parliament.”

Talking to reporters at Hotel Sarina in Banani, the BNP leader claimed though the last BNP-government had achieved the GDP growth 7 percent, Awami League-led government has been hovering around 6 percent for the last seven years.

He opined the new budget will fail to attract foreign investment while it ignored private sector investment.

It will not be possible for the government to achieve GDP 7 percent in the next fiscal as the country lacks the rule of law, human and basic rights of people, Mahmud observed.

“This unelected government can get success from such a mega size budget as there is no democracy, the rule of law in the country. The countrymen won’t be benefited from the national budget until a pro-people government comes to power,” he said.

Source: UNB