'Proposed budget has no clear indication'

 
The proposed budget for fiscal 2021-22 has no clear indication which was supposed to be in it for the recovery of the pandemic-ravaged economy, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said in an instant reaction on the proposed budget placed by the finance minister in Parliament on Thursday.

The private think-tank said, "The allocations in health, education and social safety sectors are not satisfactory. The proposed budget has been prepared based on the poor projections and there have been limitations to implement the targets."

In a virtual press conference on Thursday evening, CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun highlighted the weak aspects of the proposed budget.

CPD Distinguished Fellow Mostafizur Rahman, Research Director Khandaker Golam Moazzem, Senior Research Fellow Toufique Islam Khan were also present at the press conference.

Fahmida Khatun said, "The government has kept aside Tk 10,000 crore to implement the vaccination program in tackling the pandemic, but the amount is not adequate."

There is no change for the allocation of the health sector in the upcoming fiscal year.

For the outgoing fiscal year, the allocation is 0.83 of the gross domestic product (GDP), which may remain the same for the next one.