Lawmakers in their budget discussions on Sunday warned the government that talk of development and progress would not work if price hike of essentials could not be checked.
Jatiya Samajtanrik Dal's lawmaker Hasanul Huq Inu, a partner of the ruling Awami League-led alliance, said the people did not understand budget or progress. 'What they understand is prices of essentials. If prices soar, all praises for your progress will go in vain.'
He called for steps to control prices of some specific essential commodities rather than working on the idea of market control.
Inu also criticised the ruling alliance for proposing price hike of fertiliser in the budget.
He said people had expected some measures over the share market collapse but none was punished. 'I do not understand why the government is delaying action against the culprits?'
Inu said the finance minister should care about the risks of price inflation and weak administration in implementing his budget.
Inu also came down hard on opposition leader Khaleda Zia describing
her as 'Sidr' and 'Aila' of current politics. 'The grand alliance is the
shelter for the people against such disastrous politics,' he said.
He also branded BNP lawmaker Moudud Ahmed 'black sheep' in politics
and said the opposition leader should avoid the advices of her advises.
Awami League lawmaker Abdul Matin Khasru said, 'People do not understand progress. Situation in the market affects them. It needs to be taken care of,' he said.
He also dismissed the opposition's claims that cases had been filed against its men to harass them. 'Foreign courts gave verdict against Coco [Arafat Rahman] but the opposition is plotting to enforce hartal. You have right to call strike and the people have the right not to observe it,' he said.
The minister for planning, AK Khandaker, said though the size of the
budget was big, it would not be difficult to implement it. 'Many countries in the west are getting over recession. It will create demands for commodities and chances for us to supply our goods there.'
Jatiya Party lawmaker Ruhul Amin Hawlader called for strengthening the 'grand alliance'. He also stressed the need for keeping prices of essentials at
tolerable levels and ensuring safety and security of the people.
The chairman of parliamentary panel on home ministry, Abdus Salam,
said price hike had caused sufferings to middle-income group forcing them to indulge in corruption. In such a situation, implementation of budget would be difficult.
Lawmaker Tipu Munshi said 30 lakh families had suffered due to stock
plunge. He called for allowing investment of black money in stock market to restore normalcy.
Source : New Age
