The private sector, affected during the COVID-19 induced shutdown, did not get priority for sustainable recovery in the proposed budget, economists say.

The government has allocated Tk 95,574 crore for programmes under the social safety net in the proposed national budget for the 2020-21 fiscal, with a proposal to expand the coverage of some programmes to alleviate the plight of the poor amid the situation arising out of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The government has proposed an amount of Tk 10,000 crore to meet emergency requirements caused by COVID-19  saying it will do whatever is needed to address the pandemic.

The Cabinet at a special meeting on Thursday approved the proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2020-21.