National budget yet to pass, many things can be revised: Minister

National budget yet to pass, many things can be revised: Minister

Dhaka, June 20 - Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Thursday said that the government is considering all realistic criticism and suggestions regarding the national budget before passing it in the parliament.

The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting titled 'Economy of Bangladesh in Global Context: Growth, Inflation, Food and Nutrition' held at the auditorium of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), in the capital on Thursday.

He said, reactions for the FY 2024-25  budget are coming from various quarters.

“We are taking all feedback into consideration. Those that are realistic and feasible in the budget must be reconsidered. Because the budget has not been passed yet,” the minister pointed out.

He said that after the budget presentation, various quarters made statements and comments. “I will tell them to look at what the World Bank is saying about our economy and budget,” he added.

The Finance Minister said, “There is more to say about the budget, the World Bank has said it is good. I need money, I need to listen to the World Bank. If not, you (the critics) give me the money.”

He told to the critics that some said the government is bankrupt, but what does bankruptcy mean? "We are not bankrupt. The World Bank does not understand anything, you understand everything?"

“Look at it and try to understand it. This budget is a people-friendly budget. If there is a problem with something there is a possibility to reconsider,” the Minister opined.

State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, representative of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization appointed in Bangladesh Dr Jiaoqun Shi, former state minister for planning  Shamsul Alam, Agriculture Marketing expert Dr. Muhammad Jahangir Alam, Sajjadul Hasan MP, among others, also spoke in the seminar.-UNB