DU Correspondent

A discussion meeting titled 'Budget 2024-25: Expectations and Receipts' was held on Tuesday in the virtual classroom of Professor Abdul Matin Chowdhury of the University, under the initiative of Dhaka University Center on Budget and Policy. University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal was the chief guest and former Planning Minister MA. Mannan, MP was present as the guest of honour.

Professor Rasheda Irshad Nasir, Acting Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, President of Dhaka University Teachers Association Prof. Dr. Md. Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, Member of the National Board of Revenue M. M. Fazlul Haque, Chairman of Research and Policy Integration for Development. MA Razzak and Professor of Development Studies. Taibur Rahman spoke. The main article was presented by the director of the Center on Budget and Policy. M. Abu Yusuf. The program was conducted by the professor of IBA of the university. Melita Mehzabin.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal emphasized on taking into account the challenges of dealing with the ongoing crisis in the world in terms of allocation in the national budget and said that there is no alternative to education, research and innovation for the overall development of the country. For this reason, the innovation and research fund should be increased by increasing the allocation in the education sector budget.

With the aim of economic development and prosperity of the country by creating employment in the international market, the young generation should be made as skilled human resources through training. The Vice-Chancellor appealed to the teachers, researchers and students to prevent wastage and appropriate use of the money allocated in the education and research sector in the national budget to further the development of the country through new research and innovation.

Planning Minister M.A. Mannan emphasized on prevention of wastage and appropriate use of money allocated in the national budget and said that under the admirable leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has achieved extraordinary success in poverty alleviation. The young generation should be made skilled in knowledge, science and technology to advance this trend of country's development. He also said that civil society, teachers, researchers and policy makers should work together to provide recommendations and suggestions in the allocation of the budget with the aim of supporting and overall development for all sections of the population of the country.

Professor Dr. in the main article. Md. Abu Yusuf said that there is no alternative to increasing the allocation in the national budget for the higher education sector. Training of teachers and students, establishment of smart classrooms and labs, establishment of modern libraries, improved accommodation, adequate salary allowances, quality research on various important and contemporary issues and quality enhancement require both budget allocation and proper planning. He pointed out that the financial year 2024-25 is strategically the most important year in implementing the framework Bangladesh has formulated for achieving sustainable development and achieving all the goals it has set.