'More load shedding in Gulshan, Baridhara instead of villages to remind them electricity didn't come from sky': PM
"A 2,000MW load shedding should remind them that the electricity for their lavish lives did not just come from the sky, rather it was possible because of us," the PM said at a session on the proposed budget in the parliament today (29 June).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (29 June) said there should be more load shedding in wealthy areas of Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara instead of villages.
"There should be more load shedding in rich areas of Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara instead of villages. A 2,000MW load shedding should remind them [the rich] that the electricity for their lavish lives did not just come from the sky, rather it was possible because of us," the premier said at a session on the proposed budget in the parliament.
Speaking about the electricity situation,the PM also said when the people of the country were poorer so the demand for electricity was lower.
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"As we improved the lives of the people, the demand for electricity also increased," she added.
She further highlighted electricity deals made with Bhutan and Nepal, and one in the offing with India.
On the national budget for the fiscal year 2025, Hasina said it was not over-ambitious as it was a development budget aimed at continuing the trend of improving people's quality of life.
Mentioning that the growth target of Bangladesh was set at 6.75%, she said the country's growth was positive while other countries, including those in the west, were experiencing negative growth.
She also mentioned that the allocation for the Annual Development Plan (ADP) was Tk2.65 lakh crore.
Highlighting the various improvements in the agriculture sector, the PM claimed that people are getting the benefits of the policies taken by the government.
"We were able to set our sea border despite disputes from India and Myanmar. We are now tapping into the blue economy."
'New budget to take Bangladesh one step forward'
During the budget discussion, the prime minister vowed to take Bangladesh one step forward through implementation of the new budget, BSS reports.
"I don't consider the budget as an ambitious one … we will take Bangladesh one step ahead through implementation of the budget," she said.
She also stated that this is the largest ever budget in size of Tk7.97 lakh crore in the history of Bangladesh with Tk2.65 lakh crore annual development programme (ADP) and 6.75% growth rate.
Mentioning that some people have called the budget as an ambitious one while some others dubbed it as a deficit one, Sheikh Hasina said her government has the capability to take the challenge of implementing the budget.
"Taking challenge is our job. We want to move on by taking challenge and we have been marching ahead by accepting the challenge," she added.
Earlier on 6 June, Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali placed a Tk7,97,000 crore proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the parliament.
On 7 June, Sheikh Hasina had said the national budget for fiscal year 2024-25 was given keeping the current global situation in mind as the government wants to move ahead in a conservative way and fulfill the fundamental rights of people.
"We have to proceed with the plan, keeping the world situation in mind . . . we want to move ahead in a conservative way, and meet the fundamental rights of people," she said.
