Muhith seeks mandate for AL in budget speech

Terming development pursuit a continuous process, finance minister AMA Muhith on Thursday spelled out the ruling party’s ambition for returning to power in his budget speech.

He has used euphemism while narrating achievements and initiatives of two successive governments of the Awami League in the past years and wholeheartedly praised of prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.

In the proposed budget, the last one of the AL government ahead of the next general elections, Muhith unveiled some of what are widely populist measures to satisfy the political constituencies.

He even went on to say “the cherished dream still remains elusive” despite the “remarkable success” the country has achieved during the past one decade.

“This is a continuous and enduring long-term process. Following Vision 2021, we are presenting an outline of that long and enduring process in Vision 2041. I am confident, the people will stand by us by offering another mandate for implementing Vision 2041, as they did while taking forward the agenda of Vision-2021,” he added.

In his budgetary statement titled “Bangladesh on a Pathway to Prosperity”, Muhith highlighted the initiatives following the AL’s “assumption of power in a free and fair election in 2009”, but refrained from mentioning the 2014 election boycotted by all major opposition parties including the BNP.

The next general election is scheduled to be held in December.

The finance minister looked too focussed on the election that his budget speech virtually turned into a reportcard of positive attainments of the AL government in the 10 years.

He, however, apparently carefully refrained from touching on the failures and scams during his tenure as the finance minister.

For highlighting his success, Muhith referred to former World Bank economist Kaushik Basu’s appreciation for the country’s success, in an article titled ‘Why is Bangladesh Booming?’

“The continuation of this unstoppable journey and ensuring the overall self-determination of the people call for competent leadership and the continuity of development planning,” said the finance minister.

“We are fortunate to have been blessed with such leadership. I am sure Jananetri Sheikh Hasina will continue to lend her leadership going forward,” he insisted.

In at least one instance, the finance minister tried to control damage when he said, “To ensure confidentiality in making question papers, we are trying to make a ‘Question Bank’ through integrated efforts of all education boards”. The country’s education has been plagued by repeated leaks of question papers.

Still, Muhith tried to air optimism about the country’s 20 million prospective youths in its labour market, as he 36 said, No one can stall the progress of a country where digital infrastructure has been expanded to remote villages and inaccessible hilly areas; where there is boundless unexplored marine resources; where new prospects are being unlocked every moment; and where the country's main driver of the economy is its 160 million people.

About the budgetary measures like allocation of Tk 180 billion for repairing of schools and madrasas, economist Hussain Zillur Rahman said, “It’s an electoral bribe. Since the members of parliament will deal with these projects, we can well imagine what would happen to them.”