Minister of State for Finance Wasika Ayesha Khan said that the number of beneficiaries under the social security program will increase in the upcoming budget. She said that inflation control is getting the highest priority in the budget this time.
A special meeting on budget was held at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday (May 13). At the end of the meeting, the State Minister said that the number of beneficiaries under the social security program is being increased to provide relief to low-income people. Besides, we are giving utmost importance to inflation control.
Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali will present a budget of about Tk. 8 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2024-25 on June 6.
Referring to the Prime Minister's directives in preparing the upcoming budget, the State Minister said that the Prime Minister has given utmost importance to inflation control. She also directed that the implementation of this year's election manifesto of Awami League should be given the highest importance in the budget. She said that education, health and rural infrastructure sectors will have maximum allocation in this year's budget.
Regarding the removal of tax holiday benefits in the budget, the Minister of State for Finance said that the issue of removing tax exemption benefits in those sectors which have been receiving tax holiday benefits for a long time is being specifically looked into. Some sectors have been getting tax holiday benefits for the past 20 to 25 years. Due to this advantage now they have gained enough capacity and have captured the market of the country. In such a situation they are supposed to focus on exports but they are not doing it.
She thinks that if the additional benefit of tax holiday is removed, the entrepreneurs of these sectors will focus on exports. The State Minister said, if the tax holiday benefits are removed, these sectors will lose additional benefits, but they can compensate through exports. She commented that we need to go in that direction for the sake of sustainable economy.