“The budget should be reviewed following gas price hike and black money whitening scheme. The government did not take any stern steps against money launderers here. This budget will assist unscrupulous businesses instead of poor people of the country,” UNAP president Pankaj Bhattacharya said this after joining a human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club.
Pankaj said that farmers were setting fire to their paddy fields for want of a fair price, yet the budget fails to address farmers’ distress. Poor or marginalized sections of the population, in particular farmers, day-labourers, minorities and even small-and-middle business owners were neglected in the budget, to the benefit of the rich and well-heeled.
“The government took no steps against gas theft, or its misuse and wastage but went for another price hike. At the same time our neighbours (India) decreased the gas price. However, 99 percent people will be affected for this price hike. A severe demonstration will spread across the country if the gas is not decreased,” he also warned.
He further said that the number of rape cases, both against women and children, had shot up alarmingly in 2019 due to a break down in “good governance” and the rampant culture of impunity in the country.
UNAP advocate Asadullah Tarek, its presidium members SMA Sobur, Abdul Munayem Neheru, Alija Hasan and Rongit Kumar Shaha, Joint general secretary Harunur Rashid Bhuyan, Municipality president AKM Hedayetul Islam and general secretary Eng. Shahabuddin Ahmed were present there.