The Parliament has proposed Tk 153.14 billion for the Ministry of Food and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, which is 2.7 per cent of the total budget outlay of Tk 5.68 trillion.
The proposed amount for the Fiscal Year 2020-21 (FY21) for the two ministries, directly involved in social protection, is also Tk 3.0 billion less than the revised budget for the outgoing the fiscal which is Tk 156.14 billion or 3.11 per cent of the total budget.
Experts expressed dissatisfaction over such curtail as other countries are prioritising food security and social protection during this pandemic.
Prof Dr Abdul Hamid, chairman of Agrarian Research Foundation, Bangladesh (ARF), told the FE that health, agriculture, food safety through income generation should get top priority during this challenging time.
He said that the food ministry should make a 10 million tonnes of grain food bank through both internal and external procurement.
Proper distribution of food for marginal poor should be ensured for the next six months, he added.
