Muhith for continuity in leadership for prosperity

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has emphasised continuity in political leadership to open up a door of opportunity for development and prosperity.

While presenting the national budget for the next fiscal year in parliament on Thursday, Muhith also blamed violent politics for failure to attain budgetary goals including higher growth.

"The interests, enthusiasm and initiatives of the masses are the key determinants of a country's progress and prosperity. Adoption and implementation of appropriate policy strategies, and continuity in political leadership can reinforce them," said the finance minister.

He went on saying, "Our people have chosen to repose their unflinching trust on us for two consecutive terms. Continuity in governance and leadership has opened up a door of great opportunity for development and prosperity."

Muhith, who presented 7th budget in a row, underscored the need for ensuring political stability to ensure steady economic growth.

He hoped the "patriotic political parties" would refrain from violence and subversive activities and offer to cooperate in our progress towards prosperity.

He attributed the stagnation of GDP growth rate at 6 per cent to the sluggish global economy, political impasse and violence, and an investment deficit in the private sector.
Muhith described the politics of the BNP-led alliance as evil and regretted that the progress towards a 7 percent growth was ‘exceeded expectation’ in the first half of the outgoing fiscal year.

“It suffered a setback when the BNP-led alliance, with an unconstitutional demand, started a country-wide rampage of violence from January this year,” the finance minister said.

He added, "Our ultimate target is to break free of the 6 per cent growth trajectory and move onto a higher growth path to transform our country into a developed nation by 2041, and political stability is the sine qua non for achieving this goal."

"Mutual tolerance and responsible behaviour from all will promote a democratic culture and ensure greater welfare of the people, who are toiling hard to put our economy on a firm footing."

Muhith claimed the last Awami League government made significant strides in materializing the "Vision 2021."

"This term," he added, "we plan to cover a lot more ground. In continuation of  "Vision 2021" in this tenure, we will present our "Vision 2041," to the nation, which will transform Bangladesh into a land of peace, happiness, and prosperity by 2041. Good governance and people's empowerment will be the key drivers in realizing this vision."

He expressed hope that good sense among the political parties for the greater interest of the people would ensure political stability. "This will encourage domestic and foreign investors to come forward with new investment proposals."

He further said, "Bangladesh is marching ahead, trampling the barriers of overwhelming adversities amidst a kind of mindless enmity towards the country."

The minister called on all to come together and bury all our differences, shun the path of all kinds of harmful and anti-people activities, and imbued with the spirit of the liberation war, to build a prosperous and democratic Bangladesh which is non-communal and, development-aspiring.

The AL-led government is currently serving a straight second term after reelection in the 5 January 2014 general elections which was boycotted by the country's major political parties, including the immediate-past main opposition in parliament, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.