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BUDGET-DISCUSSION
Stresses on stability of govt to turn country into a modern high-tech like Singapore
SANGSAD BHABAN, June 27, 2019 (BSS) – Treasury bench members today put emphasis on continuity of the incumbent government for keeping the pace of development to lead the country not only to a digitalized one but it also help to transform the country into a highly technology-based smart country like Singapore.
Taking part in the general discussion for the ninth consecutive day on the proposed budget for 2019-20 fiscal in the Jatiya Sangsad, the lawmakers said the stability of the present government for more fifteen years would help the country to an economic power and modern country like Singapore within the stipulated time.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on June 13 in the Jatiya Sangsad unveiled a Taka 5,23,190 crore national budget for 2019-20 fiscal setting the GDP growth target at 8.2 percent and delineating a set of programmes to transform the country into a role model of modern and welfare state by 2041.
Participating in the proposed budget discussion, former health minister Ruhul Haq said Lee Kuan Yew, a Singapore Prime Minister, whose efficient but often heavy-handed leadership helped transform Singapore from a chaotic British colonial backwater into one of the world’s most prosperous and orderly states between 1959 to 1990.
Under his leadership, Singapore’s rise as one of the globe’s leading financial centers and busiest ports, with GDP per capita ranked third in the world, said the ruling party leader.
At the same time, Haq said, Lee Kuan Yew had turn Singapore into a prosperous one as he had been ruled the country for at least 30 years, saying that so, Bangladesh could be a smart country like Singapore if the present leadership led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would continue for another 15 years.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the country now has emerged as developing country from the status of Lower Development Country (LDC) as per the evaluation of the United Nations, said Minister for Industries Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun.
The proposed budget would reinforce the trend of industrialization as the tax holiday for the industrialization will be continued till 2024, said the minister.
Highlighting the proposed budget as time-befitting, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Minister Dr Enamur Rahman said the proposed budget has allocated Taka 2,11,683 crore for the Annual Development Programme (ADP), Taka 9,270 crore for Primary and Mass Education, Taka 8,927 crore for higher secondary education, Taka 9,960 crore for health sector and Taka 74,000 crore for the social safety net.
These budgetary allocations would ensure development of our fundamental needs like education and health and also cut the extreme poverty rate, the state minister echoed.
BSS/MORE/OG/QC/1608 hrs