Power & Energy sector to get highest allocation: Muhith
Dhaka, Apr 26 (UNB) – Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Thursday said the power and energy sector would get the highest budgetary allocation for fiscal 2012-13 to meet the growing demand for power.
“Power will get the highest allocation, next human resources development, education, health, communications, social welfare,” he said at a pre-budget meeting with the chairmen of different parliamentary standing committees at the Finance Ministry this afternoon.
Muhith said the government would give special emphasis on generation of wealth, reducing disparities and utilization of foreign aid in the next fiscal year.
During the meeting, the lawmakers suggested the Finance Minister to give the utmost importance to the power and energy sectors as these could be the turning point to form the next government.
They also advised the government to ensure smooth supply of essentials like pulse, edible oil and sugar before the holy month of Ramadan.
The parliamentarians called for increasing transmission and distribution of power, reducing SIM card charge as well as internet charge.
On internet charges, Muhith said the government would consider reducing the charges as some 30 lakh people are currently using the internet in Bangladesh and the number is on the rise.
The lawmakers also stressed the need for maintaining peace in politics to ensure sustained development in the future.
About availability of LNG, the Finance Minister said he is in doubt whether it would be available during this term of the Awami League government.
On subsidy, Muhith said it has nearly approached 4 percent of GDP in the current fiscal exceeding well over the fiscal target.
He hoped the subsidy management would be much better than the next year.
Regarding power situation, JSD president Hasanul Haque Inu said he was scared of going to his own constituency due to disrupted power supply which was affecting irrigation for boro paddy cultivation.
Inu said the Grand Alliance should resolve the power crisis by any means and there is no alternative to it.
He also advised the government to make special allocation in the next budget for overhauling the old and dilapidated power plants.
Subid Ali Bhuiyan, MP, observed that the issue of power would be a turning point to the formation of the next government and suggested to go for coal-fired and nuclear-based power generations to materialize the government’s plans for large scale power generation.
AKM Rahmatullah MP, Mostafa Faruk Mohammad MP, Alhaj Momtaj Begum MP, Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali MP, Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury MP, Meher Afroz Chumki MP, M Israfil Alam MP, Alhaj Adv Rahmat Ali MP, Principal Motiur Rahman MP, among others, attended the meeting.
“Power will get the highest allocation, next human resources development, education, health, communications, social welfare,” he said at a pre-budget meeting with the chairmen of different parliamentary standing committees at the Finance Ministry this afternoon.
Muhith said the government would give special emphasis on generation of wealth, reducing disparities and utilization of foreign aid in the next fiscal year.
During the meeting, the lawmakers suggested the Finance Minister to give the utmost importance to the power and energy sectors as these could be the turning point to form the next government.
They also advised the government to ensure smooth supply of essentials like pulse, edible oil and sugar before the holy month of Ramadan.
The parliamentarians called for increasing transmission and distribution of power, reducing SIM card charge as well as internet charge.
On internet charges, Muhith said the government would consider reducing the charges as some 30 lakh people are currently using the internet in Bangladesh and the number is on the rise.
The lawmakers also stressed the need for maintaining peace in politics to ensure sustained development in the future.
About availability of LNG, the Finance Minister said he is in doubt whether it would be available during this term of the Awami League government.
On subsidy, Muhith said it has nearly approached 4 percent of GDP in the current fiscal exceeding well over the fiscal target.
He hoped the subsidy management would be much better than the next year.
Regarding power situation, JSD president Hasanul Haque Inu said he was scared of going to his own constituency due to disrupted power supply which was affecting irrigation for boro paddy cultivation.
Inu said the Grand Alliance should resolve the power crisis by any means and there is no alternative to it.
He also advised the government to make special allocation in the next budget for overhauling the old and dilapidated power plants.
Subid Ali Bhuiyan, MP, observed that the issue of power would be a turning point to the formation of the next government and suggested to go for coal-fired and nuclear-based power generations to materialize the government’s plans for large scale power generation.
AKM Rahmatullah MP, Mostafa Faruk Mohammad MP, Alhaj Momtaj Begum MP, Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali MP, Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury MP, Meher Afroz Chumki MP, M Israfil Alam MP, Alhaj Adv Rahmat Ali MP, Principal Motiur Rahman MP, among others, attended the meeting.
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