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'200 wealthy families now replace 20'
***Following Is rrmtlnlnj part of Sunday's Jatlya Sangsad proceedings
Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury cautioned that if this kind of practice continued. there would be no accountability of the government Speaking about imposition of taxes, he said while the budget proposed reduction of taxes on air conditioners, it raised taxes on edible oils.
He said the popularity of the present government would
depend on how it acts on varl ous issues.
Chowdhury expressed the hope that the democratic government would follow mixed and competitive economy and reduce losses in the public sector enterprises so that the people were exempted from the burden of additional taxes.
Asaduzzaman
As soon as Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury concluded his speech on the Finance Bill. Asaduzzaman (AL Magura) rose on a point of order and drew the attention of the chair to Rule 26 of the Rules of Procedure to say that the formation of the parliamentary committee as put on the order of the day ahead of the legislative business, has been bypassed.
He said as there was no announcement from the chair tn this regard, the transaction of business in the House might have been a violation of the rule.
The Speaker told the member that the discussion on the formation of the parliamentary committee was kept pending after he received a letter from the Leader of the House in this respect. So. the Speaker said, it is not a violation of the rule.
Hadi uzzaman
Participating in the discussion on the Finance Bill. Shah Hadluzzaman (AL-Jessore) said a tax phobia, particularly the proposal of introducing Value Added Tax (VAT), has already gripped the country, he said the small traders are passing their days in fear.
He said although the Finance Minister has proposed taxes on several Items he has not given any guideline for organising our manpower to utilise It properly
Tabibur Rahman
Speaking next. Tabibur Rahman Sardar (AL Jessore) .4ald tax proposals on ball point pen. cotton yarn and soyabean oil have already made adverse effects on their prices.
He said the prices of lungls. and sarees have also gone up as a result of the tax proposal on ^n. He said the price of one soyabean has shot to taka 40.
Abdur Razzak
Abdur Razzak (BAKSAL Shariatpur) said the tax pro posal on gas soyabean and ball point pen and the reduction of taxes on white cement and air conditioners were in no way social justice
He said the Finance Minister spoke of self reliance tn his budget speech but had not given any direction for achieving It He said contrary to the expectation of the peo pie. he price of diesel has not yet been reduced He called for reduction of the price of diesel
tn the greater Interests of the poor peasants and Increasing farm production
He pleaded for sending the Finance Bill to elicit public opinion before adopting IL
Motia Chowdhury
When the House re-assembled after Aar prayer with Deputy Speaker Sheikh Razzak All In the chair. Begum Motia Chowdhury (AL Sberpur) ns given the floor to speak on the Money Bill
She said the Finance Minister had proposed taiposition of taxes on gas fertii tier electricity and other essential items on the reeom-mendatlon of the World Bank She charged the Finance Minister with favouring the
richer section of people by reducing duties on luxury goods such as air cooler and fruits and decreasing travel tax.
Begum Motia Chowdhury expressed her apprehension that the condition of farmers would further deteriorate following increase in electricity and gas tariff. She said the BNP government promised to launch market economy In the country, but this type of economy would not succeed if bank loans worth Taka thousands of crore remained unrealised. She called upon the government to take effective steps for the realisation of outstanding loan to the tune of Taka 10 thousand crore from defaulters. The government must try to ensure the recovery of at least 25 per cent of the de-_ faulted loan, she added.
Salahuddin Yusuf
Salahuddin Yusuf (AL-Khulna) questioned the wisdom of the Finance Minister in building a self-reliant economy by borrowing huge funds from abroad and depending heavily on foreign aid. By this only an economy dependent on foreign aid would be built he added.
He said time has now come to think seriously on how to build rural based economy in our country where 80 per cent of the people are farmers. He criticised the Finance Minister for raising the exemption limit of wealth tax for a house from Taka 25 lakh to Taka 50 lakh on the one hand and proposing Increase in taxes on gas, fertilizer and agricultural products on the other he strongly pleaded for giving subsidy on agricultural Inputs including fertilizer for building agriculture based economy.
Yusuf regretted that East Bengal (now Bangladesh) was surplus in food and West Bengal deficit tn this commodity in 1947 but the situation has now changed the other way round. Provision of adequate irrigation facilities, installation of a large number of tubewells, both shallow and deep, and supply of adequate inputs have made West Bengal in India self sufficient in food he said and demanded similar facilities for the farmers of our country.
He expressed his grave concern at the influx of landless people Into urban areas of the country tn search of job for their survival and called for effective measures to check the growth of landless people. In this connection, he laid emphasis on family planning programme to contain population explosion.
The Awami League member from Khulna demanded of the government for the repatriation of huge funds which ex-President Ershad had accumulated through corrupt means and transferred them to foreign countries. Steps should also be taken for the recovery of defaulted loans wo;-»h Taka 10 thousand crore. If even Taka one thousand crore of the outstanding loans could be realised. there would be no need for Imposing taxes on the people. he added
Nurul Islam Moni
Nurul Islam Moni (Ind Barguna) criticised the tax proposals in the budget and demanded withdrawal of the proposed taxes on agricultural products and additional tax on VCR.
He demanded withdrawal of the proposed wealth tax on those who were renting their houses built with loan money
Referring to the proposed compulsion for Investing 25 per cent of the industrial prof Its in buying government bonds, he said this would limit expansion of the industries, referring to the tax proposals on dividend of the companies, be said this would encourage the traders and investors to give false declaration
ShudhangNhu Shekhar
Shudhangshu Shekhar Hal der (AL Plrojpur) crltlciaed he proposal for VAT and said it was not clear on what basis this taxation was being made
Making comments on the Finance Bill he said there was no mention of the Pay Commission in this bill
Matiur Rahman Nizami
Jamaat group leader Matiur had to be taken so that in vestments were not made in unproductive sectors which
might give rise to the plundering of national wealth.
Nizami observed that the previous government had raised taxes on different articles but It did not take steps for internal resource mobilisation. He urged the government to see that the taxes benefit the government in raising the resources.
Nizami referred to the increase in municipal taxes and said this did not enhance the municipality's income as people started evading axes, he said the Dhaka Municipal Corporation was reported to be incurring a loss to the tune of Taka 1.50 crore.
Matiur Rahman Nizami said during Pakistan period there were some 22 wealthy families this number went upto about 200 in Bangladesh alone when this country came into being. Now the figure stands at several hundred, he said.
He called for taking a correct wealth assessment report from those families. He said we have to keep watch on the corrupt officials and also to take appropriate measures to check smuggling of national wealth.
Nizami criticised the enhancement of electricity rate and said as a result the Bangladeshi products would not be able to complete with foreign products. This would also hinder industrialisation In the country, he added.
He was also critical of raising the price of natural gas and said it would affect agricultural production as the price of fertilizer would go up.
Nizami called for abolishing interest and alcohol.
K M Jahangir
KM Jahangir (AL-Patuakhali) said there should be some difference in the functioning of an autocratic and a democratically elected government. He said the democratic government should not Impose taxes as was done by the previous regime.
Criticising the imposition of taxes. Hossain said while the government was talking about the welfare of the rural people, it was at the same time imposing fresh taxes on them. He said the farmers would be worst hit by the high price of natural gas
Participating in the debate M Shamsudduha (CPB Nll-phamari) said the VAT system should be Introduced on some items on an experimental basis to serve the public interest. He said VAT was a modem system but the people of our country were not aware of it.
He demanded withdrawal ol new tax proposals on diesel and kerosene.
Referring to the reported censorship of letters of
political leaders In Rangpur, he demanded an early solution of this issue.
M Asaduzzaman (AL-Magura) referred to the commitments of the Treasury Bench leader to make the country corruption free, and said President Ershad had also came to power declaring jehad against corruption.
He said if President Ershad could be tried for visiting Atroshl 100 times at the cost of the state, then why the Peer of Atroshl would not be tried for amassing wealth through corruption and smuggling. He demanded confiscation of his wealth.
Criticising taxation proposal on gas. power and fertilizer, he demanded withdrawal of the proposals and said this budget would make the poor poorer. He said the tax proposals would affect the small industries and encourage smuggling.
He said the country has now turned into a market of a particular country from where all kinds of agricultural products including meat is imported. He also criticised the VAT system.
Asaduzzaman demanded Introduction of the constitution amendment bill In the House immediately.
Abu Lais Mubin
Speaking next on the Finance Bill, Abu Lals Mubin Chowdhury (JP-Habiganj), said that the budget was full of tall talks but regretted that no provision was made to give relief to the farmers who are the backbone of our survival.
He said it was unbelievable that the rate of Interest on loans for the farmers was the highest in the country whereas this rate for many other sectors. including the loan for multi-storled buildings, was much less.
Chowdhury referred to the exemption of interest on agricultural loans up to Taka 5000 and wanted to know the source from which this gap would be met. The Finance Minister made no mention of this in the Finance Bill and as such this remains a big question. he said.
The Jatlya Party member said the previous government of H M Ershad took several steps for the welfare of the farmers but the present budget lacked any reliefs to this community.
Mohammad Nasim
Chief Whip of the Opposition Mohammad Nasim was next to take the floor.
He quoted from some newspapers and said the bud get presented by the Finance Minister was a document prepared by a chartered accoun-
tant who took care to make the budget only a good balance- sheet
Nasim also quoted some: economists who described the budget as not "pro-people" and highly dependent on foreign aid and observed that the bud-
get came as no boon for the struggling class who thought a democratic government would give relief to the common man.
Mohammad Nasim said with no control over the market, the budget had already contributed to the Increases in the prices of essential commodities.
It is unfortunate that a government that came through a bloody mass upsurge against an autocratic rule increased taxes on items like baby food, ball pen, soyabean oil, etc.
The Opposition Chief Whip urged the government to withdraw these taxes even at this stage, otherwise the Opposition would have to go to the streets to force the gov eminent withdraw them.
Mohammad Nasim said the VAT system, which the Finance Minister described as realistic, proved unsuccessful in Indonesia. It was not applied to items like baby food in England, he said.
The Opposition Chief WTtip referred to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's comment during the morning sitting that this government was accomplishing many a historic tas'K and said tasks achieved by the BNP government were, in fact, mismanaging the relief operations after the catastrophic cyclones In Chittagong and some other coastal districts.
Mohammad Nasim supported the demand of, the government employees for publication of the Pay Commission report and said the government employees had played an important role in the last antiautocrat movement.
Moudud Ahmed
As the Opposition Chief Whip completed his speech, the Acting Leader of the Jatlya Party Parliamentary Party Moudud Ahmed drew the attention of the chair to the fact
that he was not being called upon to speak although his name was included in the list of speakers.
But Deputy Speaker Sheikh Razzak Alt said he was going by the list provided by the Oppo-aition Chief Whip and Moudud Ahmed's name did not figure in that list.
Displaying a paper, Moudud Ahmed said, "Here is the list and my name Is very much there."
The chair remarked: "But .your name Is not In the list given by the Opposition Chief Whip — I am going by that as per your desire."
Chief Whip Mohammad Nasim intervened to say that Moudud's name was there in the list.
The Deputy Speaker checked the list again and said that Moudud Ahmed's name was not there.
The Chief Whip then regretted that Moudud’s name was not marked incidentally.
This led Moudud to make a caustic remark against Nasim: "He is the Chief Whip of Awaml League and not of the Jatlya Party — otherwise he would have given my name."
The chair then gave the floor to Moudud and requested him to make his speech brief.
Moudud Ahmed said the Finance Bill is an inseparable part of the budget and hence any discussion on it is important since it would have a bearing on the budgetary provisions.
He said the reality of a budget in a developing country like ours was that the Finance Ministers had to struggle hard to present a balanced budget and so he appreciated the problems faced by the Finance Minister.
The Jatlya Party parliamentary leader quoted a newspa per issue of last year when the Jatlya Party government was In power.
Moudud said the budget lacked any philosophy and was full of self-contradictions.
He said the Taka 700 crore shown as revenue earnings would come as a blow to the
common people since they would have to bear the brunt of these taxes.
Moudud Ahmed said the budget made no mention of meeting the industrial and other problems which were important for giving a financial direction.
He said his party members would stage a walkout from the house protesting against the budgetary provisions on three counts. First, the budget failed to reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people, secondly, it contributed to spiralling prices and finally, the budget made no effort to streamline the tax administration and wipe out corruption.
Moudud Ahmed and his party members then staged a walkout from the house.
Shawkat Ali
Speaking next. Col (Retd) Shawkat Ali (AL-Shariatpur) said instead of realising the existing taxes properly, the government looked keen on imposing new taxes. He said much of our problems would have been greatly reduced if adequate care was taken to ensure realisation of existing taxes after curbing corruption.
Participating In the discussion on the Finance BUI the Leader of the Opposition In the Jatlya Sangsad, Sheikh Hasina Sunday said the tax proposals In the budget would hard hit the poorer section of the society and widen the rich-poor gap, putting the hard-earned democracy at stake.
She said if the poor people of the country could not be saved and an ideal situation for their survival could not be created all our efforts would go astray.
She said the tax proposals on items like soyabean oU. gas, papers and agricultural Implements would serve as a death-knell to the poor. She said the reduction of taxes on some items including white cement, air-conditioners, fur niture and cars for individual use would be like carrying coal to newcastle and push the poor into a world of darkness.
She said ft seemed that the budget of the previous government was being placed in this house with the application of language which Is not easily detectable. But, a careful examination would reveal the jugglery of words. She said the general masses have been able to detect that .
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina said the burden of proposals for the reduction of taxes to the tune of Taka 78 crore on the items used by the well-to-do people has been passed on the items used by poor.
She said the budget presented by the then Awami League government tn the war-ravaged country in 1972 did not contain any tax proposals She said everything was in tatters then, there was no farm production and the quantum of foreign loan received was only Taka 86 crore.
She said it seemed that the Finance Minister had placed the budget to pave the way for corruption. She said the government wanted the development of education only in speeches. She said the development of education would never be possible by imposing taxes on papers and ball point pen.
Sheikh Hasina said our dependence on foreign assistance would further increase if we fail to raise production tn fields.
She said the proposal for tax reduction to the tune of 78 crore Taka from the luxury items should be withdrawn.
She said the nation must be guided towards a new hope to keep the democratic process set In motion tn the country uninterrupted .
She called for the withdrawal of the taxes on items like gas. soyabean oil, ball point pen. papers and agrlcul tural implements. She also said the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) should also be withdrawn.
She said the tax proposals have already influenced the market adversely
The Leader of the Opposi tion said the budget would encourage corruption and stand as an impediment towards becoming the self reliant.
Saifur Rahman
Winding up the debate. Fl nance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman announced withdrawal of proposed 10 per cent excise duty on domestic gas. reduction of duty on ball point pen ink to 60 per cent from 75 per cent and on alu minium ingot from 20 per cent to 10 per cent.
He also announced reduction of tariff value on chilly to Taka 20 thousand per ton from Taka 25 thousand. He further said that the proposed com puisory Investment of 20 per cent <>f the exempt incoMe In the purchase of government bond or security by an Indus trial company has been reduced to 10 per cent.
He said duty on petrol driven jeeps above 2000 cc has been raised from 60 per cent to 75 per cent to make up the revenue losses because of withdrawal and reduction of duties.
The Finance Minister pointed out that he took these measures in deference to the wishes of the Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition. members of Parliament and the members of the public.
After the speech of the Finance Minister, the House rejected by voice vote the proposals for eliciting public opinion on the bill.
The house adopted the bill for discussion.
Nine members from the Opposition participated in the discussion on the amendment of the bill.
Abdul Matin
Opening the discussion Abdul Matin (AL-Comilla) said the Finance Minister had given tax relief to those who could pay and imposed on those who could not.
Mizanur Rahman
M Mizanur Rahman Manu (AL-Dlnajpur) said the government should reconsider the proposal for increasing the celling of wealth tax up to Taka 50 lakh.
Hashed Khan
Rashed Khan Menon (WP Bakerganj) said the budget gave tax relief to the richer section while It did not consider the shelterless. Even the professionals were not exempted from taxation, he said.
SuranjitSen
Suranjit Sen Gupta (Gantan tree Party-Sunamganj) expressed doubt about the realisation of tax money through VAT. He said VAT ordinance was promulgated on June 1 even before the sitting of the Parliament only to sat isfy the World Bank.
M Asaduzzaman
M Asaduzzaman(AL-Magura) said smuggled goods flooded the market and sugar, oil, chilly, salt and ginger were imported from outside.
Redwan Ahmed
M Redwan Ahmed (Ind-Comilla) said VAT was also proposed on imported goods which would be used for manufacturing exportable products. He said this would affect export.
Azizur Rahman
M Azizur Rahman Mla(AL -Naogaon) demanded withdrawal of tax on imported goods, brought as luggage by wage earners. ' '
Shamsudduha
M Shamsudduha (CB-NI1-phamari) reiterated his demand for introduction of VAT on some specific Items only.
Awal Mia
M Abdul Awal Mia (AL-Kush tla) said tax on newsprint should be reduced to make newspapers available at a fair price.
Azizul Huq
Azlzul Huq (BNP Bogra) moved an amendment on the bill.
The chair then wanted to know from the Finance Minis ter if he wanted to speak something after the discus sions on the amendments.
Several Opposition members uttered "VAT VAT" sig nailing to the Finance Minister that they would like to hear something about the withdrawal of the VAT proposal.
The Finance Minister said introduction of the VAT was a new thing and It must be allowed to be experimented.
He said the government had regulatory powers and could consider withdrawal of VAT from any Item If any practical problem arose.
The entire Opposition then left the House.
The Deputy Speaker put the amendments to vote and all the amendments except the two were rejected by voice votes.
The chair then requested the Finance Minister to propose the passage of the bill by the House
The Minister proposed the passage of the bill.
The House passed Finance Bill 1991 tn an amended form by voice vote.
The chair then adjourned the house at 10.38 pm till 4 pm Monday