Date : 5/13/2009

The private think-tank also said the limit of such tax-free income should be Tk 200,000 from its existing Tk 180,000 for senior citizens and the disabled.

The CPD made the proposals to Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Monday.

The CPD also recommended withdrawal of Tk 500,000 in annual renewal fees for captive power generators and introduction of zero tariffs on the import of capital machinery.

The CPD also asked the government to impose 15 percent duty on import of rice in view of higher domestic production and a comfortable supply situation.

The budget proposals include a recommendation for forming an export stabilisation fund to provide low-interest rate loans to the affected sectors, returnee migrants and retrenched workers.

According to another proposal by the CPD, the government should revise tariff on finished goods upward, particularly on luxury goods and put in place an appropriate law to facilitate investment in the private sector under public-private partnership in the budget.

The CPD also asked the government to widen the coverage of the social safety net under different programmes and to enhance coverage and resources under the equity and entrepreneurship fund in the next budget.

The government should undertake special projects to promote Boro crop in the southern region and non-rice crops in Barind areas, increasing agricultural production to reduce regional disparity, according to a CPD proposal.

The CPD asked the government to allocate an adequate fund to establish Coal Bangla to address the issue of energy deficit and raise the primary teachers' salary scale from grade 15 to grade 12, an election pledge of the government.

The think-tank also urged the government to increase the retirement age of government employees from 57 to 60 years, establishing a permanent commission on agricultural cost prices and making necessary provisions in the budget for speedy implementation of the recommendations of the National Pay Commission Report.