Photo : TDM
Barishal City Corporation (BCC) has unveiled a budget of approximately Tk442 crore for the 2023-24 fiscal year, with no tax rate increases or new taxes. Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah presented this budget, marking his fifth and final budget as mayor and the 21st budget for BCC. The announcement took place at the Barishal Club in the city.
In this proposed budget, the development sector's expenses are estimated at Tk349 crore 56 lakh 76 thousand 796. Of the total proposed budget for development work, which amounts to Tk389.56 crore, Tk67 crore comes from the corporation's own income, Tk36 crore from government special allocation, and Tk246 crore from government and foreign aid programs.
The major sources of revenue for the budget include Tk125 crore from the corporation's own sources, Tk36.5 crore from government grants for the development sector, Tk11.45 crore from government grants for the revenue sector, and Tk246 crore from government and foreign aid projects.
The proposed budget allocates funds for various purposes, including Tk119 crore for the construction and maintenance of infrastructure such as roads, drains, bridges, and more, Tk53.13 crore for staff salaries and allowances, Tk97.39 crore for environmental development and sanitation, Tk8.29 crore for social security, Tk28 crore for the preservation of canals and ponds, and Tk73 crore for waste management.
Notably, a significant portion of the budget, Tk246 crore, is designated for government and foreign aid projects. Within this allocation, Tk11 crore is earmarked for drains and culverts, Tk10 crore for beautifying TB ponds, Tk10 crore for constructing ward-based amusement parks and a cultural center, Tk30 crore for completing the Bangabandhu Auditorium, Tk50 crore for the reconstruction of Rupatali and Belatla surface water treatment plants, Tk60 crore for drainage and waste development projects, and another Tk60 crore for a canal-bank conservation project.
The budget presentation event was attended by various officials, including Barishal City Corporation newly joined Secretary Masuma Akhter, Chief Executive Officer Syed Farooq Ahmed, Panel Mayor Gazi Naimul Hossain Litu, Advocate Rafiqul Islam Khokon, Zilla Parishad Chairman Advocate AK Jahangir, Councilor Brind, and representatives of Sushil Samaj, along with journalists.
TDM/SD
