Parliament on Monday passed the supplementary budget of Tk 13,987.27 crore for the fiscal 2020-21 to meet the increased expenditures under 19 different ministries and divisions.Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal placed the supplementary budget in the House on June 3 along with the national budget. Read: Poor, jobless people largely ignored in budget: BNPA total of Tk 568,000 crore was allocated in favour of 62 ministries and divisions in the budget of 2020-21 fiscal.In the supplementary budget, the expenditure for 19 ministries and divisions was increased by Tk 13,987.27 crore while the expenditures for 43 ministries and divisions was reduced by 42,481.87 crore.As a result, the budget allocations for these ministries and divisions were reduced by Tk 29,017 crore and the total allocation now stands at Tk 538,983 crore.On Monday, the Finance Minister moved the Supplementary Budget in the House following general discussions on it.Different ministries, divisions and institutions sought increased amount under 19 demands for grant. As many as 190 cut-motions were moved by 11 members. Read:New budget proposals inadequate in tackling poverty, say rights groupsDiscussions, however, were held on two cut-motions – on financial institutions division and health services division.These cut motions were brought by Jatiya Party MPs Kazi Firoz Rashid, Mujibul Huq, Fakhrul Imam, Rowshan Ara Mannan, Shamim Haider Patwary, Liaquat Hossain Khoka, BNP MPs Md Harunur Rashid, Rumin Farhana, Md. Mosharof Hosen and Gonoforum MP Mukabbir Khan and Independent MP Md. Rezaul Karim Bablu.However, those cut-motions were rejected by voice votes.The Local government Division got the highest allocation of Tk 2890.45 crore while the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division the lowest Tk 1.40 crore. Read: New budget underestimated impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, says SANEMThe Prime Minister’s Office got Tk 482.03 crore while the Cabinet Division Tk 9.70 crore, the Election Commission Secretariat Tk 79.09 crore, the Financial Institutions Division Tk 205.59 crore, the Planning Division Tk 242.75 crore, IMED Tk 6.74 crore, the Statistics and information Management Division Tk 142.84 crore, the Primary and Mass Education Ministry Tk 1005.15 crore, the Heath Services Division Tk 2850.48 crore, the Housing and Public Works Ministry Tk 489.37 crore, the Religious Affairs Ministry Tk 384.51 crore, the Industries Ministry Tk 565.37 crore, the Textile and Jute Ministry Tk 1905.68 crore, the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Tk 332.78 crore, the Water Resources Ministry Tk 1039.99 crore, the Transportation and Highways Division Tk 676.62 crore and the Shipping Ministry Tk 676.66 crore.

Prof. Md. Ali Ashraf, a frontline Awami League MP from Cumilla-7, on Sunday said that corruption and money laundering continue despite the government’s vow to stop the vices. Also on Sunday, another senior ruling party MP Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir from Chandpur-1 castigated the budget proposals to impose taxes on the income of private universities and medical colleges. Read: New budget proposals inadequate in tackling poverty, say rights groups Both the legislators were speaking on the Supplementary Budget in the parliament. Ali Ashraf said, “Our heads go down with shame and hate due to some big thieves.” This is not for what the nation had fought the Liberation War, he said. “We took part in the country’s Liberation War not for love for our own lives… not with the hope of getting and enjoying something,” he said. “We had fought in response to the call of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to free the people and to see smile on their faces,” he said. Read: New budget underestimated impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, says SANEM He said that although the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government unequivocally have vowed zero tolerance against corruption and those involved in money laundering, “I think adequate and proper steps should be taken in this regard.” The AL MP also suggested that the government should overhaul the tax administration to increase its efficiency, transparency, honesty and sincerity. “Otherwise, we will not be able to reach our desired destination.” Lawmaker Muhiuddin Khan criticized the government for imposing tax on the income of private universities and medical colleges in the budget for fiscal 2021-22. He said, such measures are not education friendly. Read:Budget fails to reflect people’s aspirations: BNP He mentioned that spreading of education through private entrepreneurship will be hindered due to imposing of such tax. Mohiuddin Khan also proposed that the government forms a bank commission and a tax commission for bringing reforms in these two sectors.  

Describing the recently proposed national budget as ‘humanitarian budget’, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Monday said the people have been given priority in this one.

Parliament on Monday passed the supplementary budget of Tk 46,516.11 crore for the fiscal 2019-20 to meet the increased expenditures under different ministries and divisions.