Opposition not following budget despite price reduction of essential commodities: PM

To boost the country’s rural economy and make women self-reliant, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that 8 to 10 thousand ‘farmer cards’ and ‘family cards’ will be distributed to mothers in every upazila of the country within the next one year. At the same time, to advance women’s education, he has announced that from now on, girls’ education up to graduation (degree) will be completely free.
He said these things while addressing a road meeting organized as the chief guest on the occasion of the inauguration of the canal digging program in Cox’s Bazar today (June 13). Reminding about the election promise, the Prime Minister said, we have started implementing our promise before the vote stains dry. We have started the work of digging canals and also started the process of distributing farmer cards and family cards.
Tarique Rahman said, half of our country’s population is women. National leader Khaleda Zia gave girls the opportunity to study up to intermediate for free. The country will not be able to move forward if girls are not educated and self-reliant. That is why the current government has decided to make education for girls up to graduation or degree completely free. Not only that, stipends have also been included in the budget for those who perform well.
She also said that 70 to 80 percent of the people of Bangladesh live in villages. To make these rural families self-reliant, mothers will be given ‘family cards’. Regarding making medical services accessible to the people of the country, the Prime Minister said that we have paid special attention to ensuring that people get treatment at low cost. Earlier, it used to cost about 1.5 lakh taka to get a heart ring. We have removed tax and VAT on heart ring and kidney dialysis-related medicines. This cost will be less than half from next July.
Regarding the new proposed budget, the Prime Minister said that usually the prices of daily necessities increase after the budget. But by the grace of God, the prices of no goods have increased this time. Because, the current government has withdrawn customs duties on 60 daily necessities including rice, pulses, oil and salt.
Regarding the increase in duty on foreign goods to protect domestic industries, she said, “Although we are an agricultural country, we need to strengthen our industrial and trade sectors. We need to create employment opportunities for our youth. Therefore, we have increased duty on foreign goods similar to domestically produced goods, so that domestic industries can stay ahead of the competition. In addition, duty has also been increased on alcohol and cigarettes, which are harmful to people.”
Responding to the opposition’s criticism of the budget, the Prime Minister said, “We have reduced duty on essential goods, reduced duty on heart rings; but the opposition says they will not accept this budget. We have increased duty on alcohol and cigarettes, increased duty on foreign goods; the opposition will not accept that either. So what do they really want? Their only goal is to confuse the people by creating instability and unrest in the country. They are not friends of the people.”
Expressing confidence in the power of the people, he said, “This country is not a political party or a family, but of 200 million people. The support of the people is our biggest strength. As long as there is life, we will continue to work for this country and its people.” At the end of the speech, the Prime Minister raised the slogan ‘Bangladesh First’ and called for working together for the overall development of the country. Central and local leaders were present at the roadshow.