Govt to widen social safety net programme: Kamal

The government will widen its social safety net programmes in the upcoming national budget to continue support to the country's marginalised population, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said yesterday.

Besides, the upcoming budget will prioritise on how the country can strengthen its economy amid the present global economic "uncertainty", he said.

The minister spoke while addressing reporters virtually after a meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase.

"We are coming back to normalcy. The priority of the upcoming budget will be an effort to hold on to it. Besides, there will be aspects in the national budget to make the economy even more dynamic."

He said the government will continue to support the countrymen amid an economically challenging time.

"We will not impose something on them [countrymen] that will not be justifiable," he added.

Responding to a query on whether the government will take measures like Pakistan to ease pressure on low-income groups amid price hike, the finance minister said the demand situation in Bangladesh is not like that of Pakistan.

He said Bangladesh will take measures based on its own necessity.

Stressing the need for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, the minister said Bangladesh can be benefited in terms of importing different goods, including edible oil and fuel, from those countries.

He said amid an economically challenging time across the globe the way Bangladesh is handling its economy is "the best management of a financial system".

The minister said Bangladesh is facing economic challenges amid Russia-Ukraine war at a time when the country was heading towards post-Covid recovery.

The challenging time is tough but it also creates various opportunities, he said, stressing the need for utilising such opportunities.