DHAKA, June 08:- Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has said about the national budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 that the government has formulated this budget to fulfill the basic rights of the people by moving forward in a conservative way keeping in mind the current world situation.
He said, “Keeping the global situation in mind, we have to continue with our plan. We want to proceed in a limited and very reserved manner so that the people of the country do not suffer and we want to meet the needs of the people. Keeping that in mind, we have budgeted accordingly.”
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina said this while presiding over a discussion meeting organized by the party on the occasion of the historic ‘6-point’ day at Bangladesh Awami League office, Tezgaon this afternoon.
Referring to the increase in the price of imported goods due to the global economic recession caused by the war situation in various parts of the world after Covid-19, he said that the developed countries are suffering due to inflation.
He said we want to proceed in a limited and very reserved manner so that the people of the country do not suffer and we want to meet the needs of the people. Keeping that in mind, we have budgeted accordingly. Although inflation is high now, we have quadrupled rice production. We have increased production of everything from fish, meat, and eggs. As production has increased, people’s financial well-being has also increased, along with the amount of food consumption of people has also increased.
Referring to his government’s budget announcement yesterday, the Chief Minister said that during BNP’s tenure, there was only a budget of Tk 62000 crore, and the caretaker government seems to have given a budget of Tk 68000 crore. There we have been able to provide a budget of 7 lakh 97 thousand crore rupees.
He said that education, health, agriculture, domestic industry, and social security have been given the highest priority in this budget to ensure the basic rights of people, which will improve people’s lives.
Pointing out that common people with limited income are suffering due to inflation, the Chief Minister said that the government has given them family cards for the cheap purchase of daily necessities and is giving free food to the poor. More than 150 are providing financial assistance to people through social safety net programs. 30 types of medicines are being provided free of charge through free books, scholarships, and community clinics.
He said that the crops of the fields were destroyed in the recent natural calamities after the boro paddy was grown, now initiatives are being taken so that the farmers can cultivate the lands again. Storms and floods may come again, but steps are being taken to meet people’s needs.
At this time, he reiterated his call to increase production by bringing every inch of uncultivated land under cultivation and everyone to come forward to plant trees. Although the Krishak League is in charge of planting trees, he called on every subsidiary organization of the Awami League to pay attention to this matter.
He said, now the biggest challenge is to control inflation. Especially food prices. There should be increased production and supply.
The Prime Minister said, keeping in mind the global situation, we have to continue with our plan.
General Secretary of Awami League and Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader were present on the discussion stage.
Members of Awami League’s presidential council, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Salim MP, Shajahan Khan MP, Advocate Kamrul Islam MP and Dr. Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin spoke on the occasion.
Awami League’s Liberation War Affairs Secretary Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Md. Abdus Sabur MP, Party Executive Member Advocate Sanjida Khanam MP, Dhaka Metropolitan Awami League North and South General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi and Humayun Kabir also spoke.
Publicity and publication secretary of Awami League. Abdus Sobhan Golap and Deputy Publicity Secretary Abdul Awal Shamim moderated the meeting.
Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu called a day-long hartal on June 7, 1966 in favor of the 6-point demand for autonomy to end the exploitation, deprivation, subjugation and oppression of the then central government of Pakistan on the people of East Pakistan and intense mass movement started across the country.
During the strike, the police and paramilitary East Pakistan Rifles (EPR) opened fire on the protestors in Dhaka, Tongi, and Narayanganj, killing many including labor leaders Manu Mia, Shafiq, and Shamsul Haque.
It should be noted that the 6th point was a point of independence. Within the 6 points lay the seeds of freedom.
The Prime Minister said that today is the historic 6-point day. These 6 points were the ‘Magna Carta’ for the Bengali nation. We achieved freedom through the 6 points given by the father of the nation to free this nation from deprivation. It was through these 6 points that the Awami League under the leadership of Bangabandhu achieved absolute victory in the 1970 elections.
The Father of the Nation held 35 meetings in 32 days across the country in favor of the 6 points and strengthened the Awami League throughout the country, at that time he was arrested in 8 districts.
