Government wants to loot billions out of economy through FY 2017-18 budget, says Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has described the FY2018 budget as “one to pillage the economy,” around an hour after it was presented in parliament.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith unveiled a Tk 4 trillion budget on Thursday.

Of the total expenditure, Tk 2.88 trillion is expected to come from the revenue earnings.

But the budget, which Muhith claimed to be his best among the 11, will have a deficit of Tk 1.12 trillion, which is 5 percent of the GDP.

“This budget, which the finance minister has prepared on the instructions of Hasina (prime minister), has paved the way for the ruling Awami League to loot the economy,” she said.

“You will see that the costs of different projects mentioned in this budget will keep on increasing in future,” said the BNP chief.

The former prime minister came down hard on the government for increasing gas price. The revised rate came into effect the same day.

“In this way, they are exploiting people. Rice has become so costly that poor people are almost starving,” she said while addressing an iftar gathering arranged by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, a platform of pro-BNP lawyers.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described the budget as “anti people”.

“We believe it is impossible to implement this budget. This (budget) has no connection with the people. You are trying to exploit the people by imposing taxes,” he said at the event.