Muhith criticized in parliament for not focusing on job creation

A number of opposition and 14-party alliance lawmakers on Wednesday criticized Finance Minister AMA Muhith for what they said was not focusing enough on creating jobs in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2018-19.

Participating in general discussions in parliament on the proposed budget, the lawmakers were also critical of the octogenarian for not having a proper budgetary allocation for the education sector.

Workers Party MP Fazle Hossain Badsha (Rajshahi 2) said: “There’s no direction in the proposed budget for increasing employment opportunities.”

Citing research which indicated that over two million young people join the job market every year, Fazle Hossain urged the finance minister to set a specific target for increasing employment opportunities.

Besides, he said the budgetary allocation should be increased for the education sector to build skilled manpower and to create more jobs and thus ensure further development of the country.

He also urged Muhith to take steps to stop the siphoning of money and to restore discipline in the banking sector and financial institutions. “The government’s goal to turn Bangladesh into a developed one won’t be attained if we can’t stop money laundering and restore discipline in all sectors.”

Jatiya Party MP Mohammad Abdul Munim Chowdhury (Habiganj 1) said he believed the government would not be able to implement the mega budget.

“If we go through the entire budget speech of the finance minister, we find that he silently surrendered to the rich and to bank looters,” he observed.

In the budget speech, the opposition lawmaker alleged that Muhith did not talk about his failure to stop the plundering of banks, restoring the confidence of investors in the share market, and the non-implementation of a district budget.

Abdul Munim said people have no interest in the proposed budget as there is nothing new in it.

He also said the entire nation and youth are utterly frustrated as there is no guideline in the budget for increasing employment.

The Jatiya Party MP also criticized Muhith for not increasing the budgetary allocation for the education sector. 

“It has frustrated teachers, common people, and the nation.”

Shirin Akhter, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal’s MP from Feni 1, urged the finance minister to take steps to stop the plundering of banks as it is putting the government’s many achievements into question.

She said the government should show ‘zero tolerance’ for those indulging in plundering the banking sector. “We don’t want the entire banking sector to be put in danger by the looting of a few people.”

Shirin also urged the finance minister to increase budgetary allocations for education, sports, and cultural sectors to reduce inequality and for GDP growth.

Jatiya Party MP Yahya Chowdhury (Sylhet 2) said Muhith has utterly failed to run the sectors and institutions under his ministry, including banking and the share market. “The Finance Minister couldn’t ensure accountability, good governance, and discipline in the banking sector.”

He also said Muhith showed his helplessness in taking action against those involved in plundering and siphoning off money.