Finance Minister AMA Muhith considers the defeat of Awami League (AL)-backed candidates in the four city corporation polls was an ominous sign for the AL since it was a negative vote against the party and observed that the AL should weigh them for correcting the mistakes ahead of the general elections.
“Election is not a simple equation in politics. There are a number of issues involved for winning a poll,” noting that they had lack of coordination during campaigns and failed to draw voters attention highlighting the success of the government, he added about the slump in city polls on Saturday.
The finance minister’s remarks came when he was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion on the proposed budget for the fiscal 2013-14, organised by Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city on Sunday.
Chaired by ERF President Khawza Main Uddin, the discussion was addressed, among others, by former adviser to the caretaker government Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam and former ERF president Monwar Hossain.
Muhith said the AL should have to identify the reasons for defeat in the city corporations and rectify them ahead of the next general election.
“It was a negative vote against the AL, so we have to review the situation,” he added.
About the proposed budget, the finance minister said every year the size of the budget increases, even this year also. So, in this context, the proposed budget is not a ambitious one as it has increased only 16 per cent compared to the current fiscal, he said.
However, he termed it’s an election budget as they set to fulfil their electoral commitment through the proposed budget like earlier four budgets. He laid emphasis on scaling up budget to increase the growth and achieve the targets set in the budget.
Muhith admitted that every year they face problem to implement the budget but it has improved than earlier.
“The utilisation of the foreign aid is also higher than earlier, but it cannot be achieved everything,” he added.
Besides, the finance minister said he is not worried about the agricultural budget despite reduced compared to ongoing fiscal.
-With The Independent input
