Bonik Barta photo The issue of employment generation is not getting importance
in the development strategy of the country in last 10 to 15 years, Dr Hossain
Zillur Rahman, adviser to former caretaker government, said on Wednesday.
“Now 50 percent of the youths cannot see future in the
country,” he said while addressing an event titled ‘CPD Budget Dialogue 2024 at
a hotel in the capital. The Centre for Policy Dialogue organized the event.
“Industrious entrepreneurs in this country are like ducks that
lay golden eggs. But, efforts are on to slaughter these ducks. Business
environment is very important for them. But, the reign of red tapes is still forceful.
The potentials of the country are not stuck in the political triangle. In order
to get rid of the triangle, problems will have to be raised during budget
discussions,” said the eminent economist.
Presenting the keynote paper at the program, CPD Executive
Director Dr Fahmida Khatun said that deficit stands at Tk 2.56 trillion in the
proposed budget for 2024-25. Loans of about Tk 1.37 trillion will be taken from
banks to mitigate the deficit which is 53.71 percent of the deficit. It is an inconsistent
estimate which is not achievable.
Anisul Islam Mahmud, deputy leader of the opposition at the
Parliament, MA Mannan, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on
Ministry of Planning and Kazi Nabil Ahmed, chairman of the Parliamentary
Standing Committee on Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information
Technology attended the program as special guests. Razekuzzaman Ratan,
president of Samajtantrik Sramik Front, and Dewan Hanif Mahmud, editor of The
Daily Bonik Barta, participated in the event as discussants. Syed Manzur Elahi,
treasurer of the CPD Board of Trustees, presided over the program.
