Ruling Awami League lawmaker Abul Hasnat Abdullah on Thursday sought tax free vehicle for the lawmakers.

"The government has proposed 25 percent tax on the vehicles for the lawmakers in the proposed budget which is not acceptable...so, I propose to withdraw the tax on the vehicles imported for the lawmakers", said the lawmaker of Barishal-1 while participating in the discussion on the proposed budget for FY2024-25 at the Jatiya Sangsad here with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

The lawmaker also urged the government to supply gas in Barishal through pipeline from Bhola in line with the commitment made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a rally in Barishal. He has demanded setting up of an economic zone in Gauronadi in Barishal.

Participating in a discussion, the senior ruling party lawmaker also urged the government to upgrade Gauronadi as a full-fledged district.

Even the lawmaker also called for setting up a medical university in Barishal. A four-lane highway in Barishal from Bhanga to Barishal also has been demanded in the budget discussion.

He also called for establishing railway connectivity in Barishal starting from Bhanga to Payra port via Agailjara immediately.

Terming the proposed budget as a time-befitting, the senior treasury bench lawmaker said, "I am not an economist to go through the budget but as political activist the budget should be helpful for poverty alleviation and curbing the inflation."
Along with the poverty alleviation, the proposed budget also has preferred employment generation and ensured adequate allocation for agriculture, education, health management and social security, said the veteran lawmaker in his budget discussion speech. 

Talking about the revenue collection, Abdullah said National Revenue Board (NBR) usually collects 87 percent of our total revenue and the proposed budget has fixed a target to earn Taka 5,45,000 crore revenue where 4,80,000 crore by the NBR and Taka 61,000 crore from other sources is realistic. 

On June 6, Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali unveiled a Taka 7,97,000 crore national budget for 2024-25 fiscal setting the GDP growth target at 6.8 percent amid an economic meltdown across the world due to ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and Hamas-Israel-Palestine conflict.

"The proposed 53rd budget titled "March towards Smart Bangladesh Following the Path of Sustainable Development" which is only 4.6 percent bigger than that of the current fiscal year.

Earlier, the lawmaker paid tributes to the memory of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders, martyred Freedom Fighters and also those who made their utmost sacrifices during the War of Liberation and all subsequent democratic movements in the country.