OCTOBER 21, 2012  | MORE NEWS

The national budget is the comprehensive document which outlines the government’s interventions and services as well as political commitments. However, the national budget is beyond the reach and understanding of its primary beneficiaries – the people in most countries of South Asia including Bangladesh. According to the International Budget Partnership’s (IBP) Open Budget survey 2010 on a 100 point scale, average score for South Asia is 48 indicating that the budget process in most cases is either not transparent or accessible to people.  Advancing public participation in budget process, from formulation to execution, is crucial for reflecting people’s aspiration and enhancing accountability. The issues have been stressed in a discussion on Review of Institutionalization of Civil Engagement in Development and Implementation of Budget organized by Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS) on 21 October at Bengal Silpalaya, Dhaka.