New budget to take Bangladesh ahead towards prosperity further: Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader Saturday hoped Bangladesh will cross one more step towards prosperity to become a Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu through successful implementation of the proposed budget for FY 2022-23.

"We firmly believe it is possible to face any local and international conspiracy or any disaster under the leadership of successfully statesman Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina who has pure patriotism, profound love for people, strong morale, honesty, sincerity and courage," he said.

 

Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said this in a press conference arranged to express the AL's reaction over the proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 at AL's Bangabandhu Avenue Central Office here.

He said the new budget has been prepared in light with the 8th five-year plan (2021-2025), Perspective Plan (2021-2041) and Delta Plan (2100) which are formulated as per Sheikh Hasina's plan.

Welcoming the new budget on behalf of AL, he said the budget is very much realistic and time-befitting one in post-Covid period and during ongoing Russia-Ukraine war which is putting adverse impacts on global economy.

This budget is for Bangladesh to make a turnaround for becoming a completely self-reliant nation under far-sighted leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina, he hoped.

"We extend thanks to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal for placing a pro-people and people's welfare-oriented budget," he said.

Quader said AL's manifesto "Din Bodoler Sonod" (A Charter for Change) in the 2008 general elections announced by Sheikh Hasina opened a golden door of possibilities for Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina assumed office after gaining more than two-third majority in the elections and implemented Vision 2021, he said.

In the same way, Sheikh Hasina formed government for two consecutive terms in 2014 through achieving people's mandate with the manifesto "Marching Ahead Bangladesh Road to Peace, Democracy, Development and Prosperity", he said.

He said AL formed government for the three consecutive terms in 2018 by winning the parliamentary polls on December 30, 2018 with the manifesto "Bangladesh on the March towards prosperity" and Sheikh Hasina took charge as the head of the government for the fourth time.

The country has been going through a golden chapter under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina, he said.

Today Bangladesh has become a role model for any country in the world in facing crisis, he said, adding that Sheikh Hasina is the savior for all crises of Bangladesh.

Amid the reality of present world economy, the budget of Taka 6.78 trillion is the revelation of Bangladesh's economic capacity achieved under Sheikh Hasina's leadership, he said.

Because of Sheikh Hasina's leadership, Bangladesh economy today stands on a strong basement in the last nearly one and half decades.

About BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's comment that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, a convict on graft cases, should be taken abroad for treatment otherwise the government will have to bear all liability, he questioned why the government would take responsibility.

"Has Khaleda Zia been freed at the movement of BNP leaders including Fakhrul Islam? Khaleda Zia is staying home due to generosity and humanity showed by Sheikh Hasina. There is no problem for her treatment. If required, physicians could be brought from other countries. No Problem… This matter is under the jurisdiction of law and home ministries. I don't want to say any more," he said.

Asked whether money launderers will get encouraged or not if the tax amnesty is given to them to bring back laundered money, the minister said this matter should not be taken in that way.

"The country's a big amount of money has been laundered and many countries give such scopes to bring back money. We are also giving this scope. Let us see, if it doesn't bring any benefit, we will withdraw it. But we can get benefit by giving this scope in this budget," he said.

AL Presidium Members Kazi Zafarullah, Dr M Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Mofajjal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram, Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Dr Dipu Moni, Organizing Secretaries Ahmed Hossain and SM Kamal Hossain, Labour Affairs Secretary Habibur Rahman Siraj, Liberation War Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das,

 Publicity and Publications Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Industries and Commerce Secretary Siddiqur Rahman, Information and Research Secretary Dr Selim Mahmud, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Agriculture and Cooperatives Secretary Faridunnahar Laily,

 Education Affairs Secretary Shamsun Nahar Chapa, Central Working Committee Members Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Riazul Kabir Kawser were present among others.