thousand kilometres of Kuchha road would be constructed by LGED.
The allocation for the rural development and rural infrastructure sectors has been raised to Taka 6,383 crore, an increase by Taka 1,481 crore.

The budget also proposed to raise the grant for old-age allowance programme to Taka 180 monthly from the present 165 , for the widowed, deserted and destitute women from Taka 165 to Taka 180.
The budget also proposed to enhance the number of the beneficiaries to 70 thousand from present 60 thousand under Honorarium programme for insolvent Freedom Fighters.

Besides raising allocation for the present safety net programmes, two new programmes were proposed in the budget.
Under these programmes 1 lakh 4 thousand fully retarded people will get a monthly allowance of Taka 200 from July 1 of the next fiscal year.

The budget also proposed to allocate Taka 4,832 crore for the Communication Ministry. The Finance Minister said that as the government of Kuwait agreed to provide Taka 315 crore for the construction of the Third Karnafuli Bridge, the construction work in this regard would be started in the beginning of the next year.

The minister also announced that the readymade garments and textile sector would enjoy 5 per cent cash subsidy against their exports, though earlier it was decided to terminate the facility from the next fiscal.

The Finance Minister proposed the budget in a House where the main opposition Awami League was not present. Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and top ministers of the ruling party were present in Parliament during the Finance Minister’s budget speech. Earlier, the budget was approved in the cabinet and was also authenticated by President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed.

BDNEWS adds: The enhanced resources, planned for generation through reforming tax administration, curbing tax evasions and widening mostly the direct tax net, were intended for financing a significantly high development spending plan ahead of the next general elections.

The proposed budget outlay includes a Tk 35,523 crore revenue budget and a Tk 24,500 crore annual development programme (ADP). It also includes Tk 2,559 crore for non-development capital expenditure and Tk 158 crore for food account operation.

The total development expenditure, however, stands at Tk 26,554 crore taking into account Tk 790 crore planned for spending in development programmes from non-development budget, Tk 491 crore for non-ADP employment generation programmes and Tk 773 crore for non-ADP food for work programme.

Total revenue earning target was set at Tk 45,722 crore, which includes Tk 37,312 crore in tax and Tk 8,410 in non-tax revenue. The resultant deficit of Tk 18,661 crore was planned for financing with foreign grants worth Tk 3,305 crore, foreign borrowing worth Tk 7,015 and domestic borrowing worth Tk 8,341 crore.

"I have to mention that we as a nation are extremely reluctant to pay taxes ... We have to shun this culture of non-payment of taxes," Saifur said in his budget speech prior to announcing his fiscal plans.

Main opposition Awami League, which boycotted Thursday's session of the parliament, rejected the budget as "anti-people and deceptive."