The FY07 budget that will be implemented from July 1, 2006 outlines Tk 88,732 crore of gross expenditure, including revenue and development, and Tk 69,740 crore of net expenditure.

In the budget for FY07, the education ministry has received a maximum allocation of Tk 6,182 crore in both development and non-development sectors.

The LGRD ministry received the second highest allocation of Tk 6,125 crore as the ministry has to meet the election-based expenditures.

This budget happens to be the last budget of the BNP-led four-party alliance government before its expiry in October and will be executed by three governments including the present one.

The AL that was absent in last year's budget sessions participated in different budget sessions this year. Main opposition leader and AL President Sheikh Hasina made a concluding speech in the House on Wednesday. Other AL lawmakers also took part in discussions on demands for allocation yesterday morning.

In the afternoon, the AL lawmakers requested the Speaker for extra half an hour to discuss the allocation for the Liberation War ministry. The Speaker first agreed on the proposal but withdrew later as there was a strong objection from the Treasury Bench, especially from BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.

As the Speaker refused to provide any extra time, the AL members started walking out of the House around 4:10pm.

BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan at this time requested the Speaker to provide the opposition lawmakers with the extra time. Upon his request, the Speaker agreed but the AL had already left the House.

The budget was passed in the absence of the AL members before Asr prayers.

The budget for FY07, termed the biggest budget in recent years, has received fewer criticisms and proposals for amendments from different sectors. There has been only one change in the tax proposal in this year's proposed budget.

The defence ministry has been allocated Tk 5,872 crore, communications Tk 5,440 crore, health Tk 4,796 crore, primary and mass education Tk 4,722 crore, and the food ministry Tk 4,608 crore.

The budget has kept Tk 22,940 crore under the Finance Division for spending for investment and capital expenditure purposes.