Dr Selim Jahan is a renowned economist in New York who has presented several papers on different economic aspects. He is the Director in the Bureau of Development Policy of UNDP. In this exclusive interview with VOA Bangla Service, Dr Selim Jahan reviews the proposed Annual Budget for Bangladesh. He says that the Budget has many positive aspects.
Dr Jahan says, firstly, the budget is geared towards people's welfare which has been promised in the Election manifesto of Awami League, the incumbent party in Bangladesh. Secondly, the Budget has taken into consideration the harsh financial realities of the global recession and its impact on the Bangladeshi economy. Thirdly, he thinks that the budget is a part of a long term plan aimed at achieving economic success over a number of years.
Dr Selim Jahan dismisses the contradictory criticisms on the budget and says that the budget is ambitious to only such an extent that it wants to fulfil the promises on which Awami League won the election. But to say that the budget is conservative in setting its goal of achieving higher percentage of GDP is unrealistic.
