Bangladesh’s stock market and the banking sector will be strengthened to solve mismanagement issues, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said Thursday.

‘Capital market is important for the country’s economy. So, it should be strengthened. And the distress of the banking sector will also be removed,’ he told a pre-budget discussion with NGO, civil society and the media in the capital, reports the UNB.

Kamal said that people who do not pay income taxes will be brought under the tax net. But he assured the people that the tax rate will not be raised.

Minister Kamal said the high bank loan interest rates will be brought down to reduce loan defaults. He mentioned that the next budget will prioritise technology-based education.

‘Rich-poor disparity, human capital index, social safety net, education, health, employment and rural area infrastructure development should be stressed in the next budget,’ he added.

Shushashoner Janno Nagorik General Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar emphasised ensuring good governance, saying that it is a must for the country.

Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman urged the government to reduce corporate tax for the media industry.

Md Ajhar Ali Talukder, chairman of Development Organization of the Rural Poor, urged to pay more attention to the poor and their water and sanitation.