Economists in a pre-budget discussion on Sunday in the capital Dhaka suggested employment generation schemes, expansion of social spending and maintenance of a high food stock in the forthcoming financial year.
They also suggested measures for expansion of the direct tax reducing dependency on indirect tax to give general people relief amid high inflation prevailing in the country for the past two years.聽聽
Presided over by finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, the government鈥檚 first budget discussion of the year was participated by Centre for Policy Dialogue chairman Rehman Sobhan and other economists, including Mustafa K Mejeri, MM Akash, Zaidi Sattar, Mamun Rashid, Fahmida Khatun and Mustafizur Rahman at the state guest house, Padma.
The finance adviser said that there were also suggestions that the reforms in the revenue and development sectors would be initiated in a way that the next elected government should continue those.
Salehuddin said that they would continue the process of correction in the social safety net programme to delist ineligible beneficiaries and include eligible ones.
Besides, measures will be taken for proper utilisation of budgetary allocation for the primary education and skills development of youths as part of the employment generation schemes, he said.聽
Earlier, MM Akash told reporters that his suggestions included additional tax on , and food ration for the readymade garment sector.
The finance adviser, however, said a suggestion made by the economists over taking legal action against errant taxpayers could face criticisms from the businesses.
He also said that they would follow suggestions from the economists to make a realistic budget amid the shortage of resources.
The finance adviser, however, did not disclose the overall size of the budget to be announced by him on June 5 through a televised address in the absence of parliament.
The parliament has remained dissolved since the ouster of the authoritarian Awami League regime on August 5, 2024, amid a mass uprising.
This will be the first budget for the interim government that assumed power on August 8 past year.
The next pre-budget meeting will be held on March 19.
