Faculty of Business & Entrepreneurship of Daffodil International University (DIU) organized a discussion program on ‘Reflection of National Budget’ today on 14 June 2020 through Facebook page of the university and Campus TV Facebook page. Professor Dr. Atiur Rahman, Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank was present at the program as the chief guest. Mr. Md. Nurul Amin, Immediate Past Secretary of Planning Division, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Mr. Shams Mahmud, President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industries (DCCI) was present at the program as the special guests. The event was Presided over by Professor Dr. Mohammad Masum Iqbal, Dean, Faculty of Business & Entrepreneurship of DIU,  conducted by Syed Mizanur Rahman, Director of Student Affairs, DIU.

While addressing as the chief guest Professor Dr. Atiur Rahman said that no country in the world has given a budget before in such an uncertain environment. The crisis we are going through now is not the crisis of our alone, its a crisis of all over the world. At this pandemic time we should also have a budget for survival. But, that reflection has been a little bit seen in the budget.

Dr. Atiur Rahman suggested that the highest priority should be given to the health and agriculture sector in this budget. People must be saved first. If people live, the economy will live. Therefore, the allocation in the health sector should be further increased and at the same time the allocation in the agriculture sector should be increased to survive the rural economy, he added.

Addressing as the special guest Mr. Md. Nurul Amin said, in this budget, the health sector should be given the most attention and this is what the finance minister has done. Allocations to the health sector have been increased and a lump sum of TK 10,000 crore has been set aside to address the corona crisis. Apart from this, the allocation in the agriculture sector has also been increased in this budget as compared to the previous budget. He said that the implementation of the proposed budget requires the cooperation of all. 

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mr. Shams Mahmud said that this year is actually the year of survival. Survival should be everyone’s goal, not profit. He opined that the wheel of the economy should be kept moving for this purpose. Shams Mahmud further said that the target of 51% revenue collection has been set in this budget. But the private sector has not yet been fully opened. He is skeptical about whether it would be possible to achieve the revenue collection target in this situation.

Caption: Professor Dr. Atiur Rahman, Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Mr. Md. Nurul Amin, Immediate Past Secretary of Planning Division, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Mr. Shams Mahmud, President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industries (DCCI) and Professor Dr. Mohammad Masum Iqbal, Dean, Faculty of Business & Entrepreneurship of DIU at the at the discussion program on ‘Reflection of National Budget’ organized by Faculty of Business & Entrepreneurship of Daffodil International University (DIU).