Budgetary allocations for the forthcoming national parliamentary elections would not be austere, according to Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.
He made the comments in answer to inquiries on election-related spending during a press conference held on Tuesday, July 1, following a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase.
“We will not be thrifty in any manner about the budgetary allocation established for the election,” the adviser responded when questioned about the funding for the next general election.
Concerning the resolutions made during the meeting, he stated, “A decision has been reached regarding container management at the Chattogram Port. Approval has been granted for the procurement of TSP and urea fertiliser. Additionally, a decision has been made regarding LNG imports. Once the LNG is received, we will be able to improve the fertiliser supply for farmers.”
“Furthermore, approval has been given for the renovation of 30 schools in Rangpur,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, addressing reporters’ questions about the gazette that designates the NBR (National Board of Revenue) as an essential service, remarked, “The gazette you have seen is final. There was no prior gazette, nor will there be another. I issue gazettes — I am not the one making decisions. They made the decision, and I issued the gazette.”
When inquired about the status of discussions with the protesting NBR officials, he replied, “Before we could even discuss whether a conversation was necessary, they had already retracted their protest. Once we ascertain if they still have any demands, we will consider meeting.”
Regarding port congestion, he said, “The port’s operations were not completely stopped. Now, the products that arrived at the port will be shipped. Although the exact amount of the loss has not yet been assessed, it is not expected that there will be significant damage.
“Work does not end simply because someone is missing — not in Bangladesh, nor anywhere else in the world,” the Labour Adviser said, referring to the officials who were protesting. He retorted with a rhetorical query, “Many individuals are absent, but has the work ever stopped?”
A meeting of the Ministries of Shipping and Labor’s adviser, Brigadier (Retd.) Sakhawat Hossain, will choose who will be allowed to oversee Chattogram Port.
