Speakers, including economists, emphasised the importance of allocating a dedicated budget to support marginalised populations, such as rural women and ethnic minorities, during a discussion on Tuesday.
They also advocated for fair budget allocation, aimed at improving the living standards of marginalised communities at the event.
The event, titled 鈥楶articipation of Marginalised People in Budget Process and Development and Fair Allocation for them in Budget,鈥� was organised by the Association for Land Reform and Development in collaboration with the Human Development Research Centre at CIRDAP in Dhaka.
Professor Abul Barkat, chief advisor of HDRC, delivered the keynote address. He noted that within the current neoliberal political and economic framework, inadequate and unjust budget allocations for marginalised populations were common.
Barkat highlighted that 35.1 per cent of the total population were rural women, with approximately 70 per cent directly or indirectly engaged in agriculture. However, their contributions were not formally recognised.
Referring to the FY2023-24 budget, which allocated Tk10,814 per capita for rural women, the economist proposed doubling this allotment in the FY2024-25 budget. He emphasized the necessity of a separate budget allocation dedicated to rural women.
Barkat also advocated for doubling per capita allocations for ethnic minorities and stressed the need for a census to ascertain the precise count of ethnic populations in the country.
ALRD executive director Shamsul Huda highlighted the importance of allocating specific funds to ensure the effectiveness of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council and CHT Land Commission.
The speakers also proposed a tenfold increase in the budget for agriculture, land, and marsh reform, with an emphasis on prioritising youth and the urban poor.
Bangladesh Economic Association vice-president Jamaluddin Ahmed stated that a political solution was required for land reform, alleging that political leaders, security forces, police, and bureaucrats were occupying the land in the name of land reformation.
Other speakers at the event included Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra president Nasimun Ara Haq Minu, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal assistant general secretary Razekuzzaman Ratan, and Kapaeeng Foundation executive director Pallab Chakma.