targets for revenue, private investment

, inflation and GDP growth in the current context. The tax structure has not undergone the necessary reforms to increase employment and investment. The allocations for health and education sectors, like

The speakers made these remarks at a post-budget discussion organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday.

Dr. M. Masrur Riaz, chairman of the non-governmental research organization Policy Exchange Bangladesh, presented the keynote address at the meeting chaired by AmCham President Syed Ershad Ahmed.

The chief guest at the event was Dr.

Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of CPD, and Zahid Hossain, former Chief Economist of the World Bank's Dhaka office, participated in the discussion on the main article.

Dr. Masrur Riaz said, the estimates of revenue, private investment, inflation and GDP growth in the budget are very ambitious. Due to political instability and election-related uncertainties, it is almost impossible to achieve the private investment target. If investment does not increase employment, it will be difficult to achieve the revenue target. He said, expensive allowances have been given to government officials. The initiative deserves appreciation. However, this initiative is not the right time.

Masrur Riaz said that the steps taken in the

budget to increase investment and employment are less than necessary. Stronger steps should have been taken in this regard. No steps have been taken to employ rural women.v