Budget FY22: Tk587 crore allocated for cultural affairs

UNB

Published at 05:17 pm June 3rd, 2021

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presents the proposed national budget for 2021-22 fiscal year in parliament on Thursday, June 3, 2021 Focus Bangla

Cultural activists express unhappiness

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday proposed allocating Tk587 crore for the Cultural Affairs Ministry, as part of his announcement of the national budget for fiscal year 2021-22.

The allocation is Tk8 crore more than what was proposed in the budget for FY2020-21.

The amount is 0.098% of the proposed national budget of Tk603,681 crore for FY2021-22.

However, cultural activists expressed disappointment over the total allocation, saying that the amount needs to be at least 1% of the total budget.

"More than 500 theatre organizations under our Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation believe that more money should have been allocated to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs as we, the cultural activists, have constantly been fighting against all odds, upholding the spirit of our glorious Liberation War," Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation said in a press statement.

"We urge the government not to push the nation backwards by demotivating the cultural sector with this allocation, rather it should increase the percentage of the total allocation in the proposed budget,” they added.