BNP chairperson and opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia came under sharp attacks and bitter criticism by the treasury bench members, as the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) yesterday opened general debate over the national budget for fiscal 2009-10 amidst continued abstention by the opposition members.

They said that ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia and her finance minister Saifur Rahman had washed their black money white by paying penalty which was a shame to the nation.

The ruling alliance MPs praised Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith for preparing what they called a pro-people and pro-development budget.

They said that it was really a very difficult task to prepare a national budget in a country where the prime minister and the finance minister do not pay income tax. Nonetheless, in fear of being caught by the revenue department they pay penalty under darkness for making black money white.

Some members, however, spoke against the scope for whitening of black money and fiscal measures proposed against certain essential items.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith laid the Tk 113,819-crore maiden budget of the new government in parliament on June 11. The budget is expected to be passed on June 30, the last day of the current fiscal year.

Awami League members Prof M Ali Ashraf, BM Mozammel Huq, Mohd Moslemuddin, Shahriar Alam, Golam Kibria Tipu, Nurul Islam BSC, Eng Mosharraf Hossain, ABM Abul Kashem, Mazharul Huq Pradhan, Shaheen Monwara Huq and Abdul Jabbar took part in discussion on the first day.

Most members hardly concentrated on the proposed budgetary measures and put forward their suggestions. Rather, they spent allocated time praising the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and criticizing the "misrule" of the previous BNP-Jamaat alliance government for running the country's economy "under a reign of corruption and plunder".

The members also pointed out dilapidated condition of infrastructures in their constituencies and pressed for construction of roads, culverts and educational institutions and supply of electricity.

Mazharul Huq Pradhan said, "Awami League did not want to legalize the black money and even the Prime Minister did not want it in her election manifesto."

He said the proposed provision of 10 percent tax should be increased to 20-25 percent to legalize the black money and hoped that this should be the last chance for the black money holders as it is a "matter of shame for the nation".

Hafiz Ahmed Majumdar said allocation of Tk 30,500 crore for Annual Development Program (ADP) could be implemented during the next fiscal year if bureaucrats are sincere. He requested the Prime Minister to issue a circular cautioning that action would be taken against bureaucrats concerned if the ADP is not implemented.

On black money, Majumdar said, "Everyone across the world hates black money but there is a difference between black money and undisclosed money."

Giving a definition of the two types of money, he said black money is accumulated through loot and theft while undisclosed money is earned legally. Police hunt for black money holders while income-tax officials go to undisclosed money holders.

Majumdar suggested that the proposed 10 percent tax for legalizing the black money should be withdrawn allowing all undisclosed money in investment for generating employment. He requested the Finance Minister to invite all undisclosed money for investment.

Nurul Islam BSC said television and refrigerator are no longer luxury things and opposed the proposed supplementary duties on these items. He advised the government to take action against the persons responsible for the leakage of the budget to the media before announcement. Otherwise, the same thing will recur in the future too.

Eng Mosharraf Hossain said the present power crisis could be resolved through import of liquid natural gas and coal for power generation.

The two-year rule of the caretaker government led by Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed also came under sharp attacks and bitter criticism during the general discussion on the proposed budget.

The controversial anti-corruption drives, violation of constitutional provisions and attempting to undermine country's politicians and national politics also came under sharp criticism in the House.

- The New Nation