Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday described the proposed budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year as a 'budget of plundering', saying it will create further scopes for Awami league leaders and activists to misappropriate public money.

"It's a budget of looting which has created scopes for Awami League (men) to steal public money... the Finance Minister himself can't formulate the budget as it has been prepared as per Hasina's (PM's) directives. So, the budget is nothing, but the reflection Hasina's desires," she said.

Speaking at an iftar party-cum-discussion programme, the BNP chief made the remarks giving her initial reaction to the national budget for fiscal 2017-2018.

Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum arranged the party at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium, marking BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's 36th death anniversary.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister AMA Muhith unveiled a Tk 4,00,226 crore ambitious budget for the next fiscal year (2017-18) with a growth target of 7.4 percent, expecting to open up a new horizon for Bangladesh through some initiatives ahead of the next general election.

This was Muhith's 11th budget and the ninth in a row in the House, which he began unveiling around 1:45pm in almost full attendance of the parliament members, including Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

About the budget, Khaleda Zia said the government will later increase the proposed allocations for different sectors and projects to embezzle public money. "This budget will be changed later. They'll turn a Tk 10,000 crore project into Tk 30,000 crore one."

About the gas price hike put in force today, she said the government has taken the move to loot public money. "You've raised gas tariffs. Rice prices have already gone beyond people's buying capacity. So, shelve your (govt's) plan to hike gas prices. Give attention to public sufferings shunning plundering of public money."

Khaleda Zia alleged that the government did not stand by people with sufficient relief materials in cyclone Mora affected areas in Cox's Bazar.

"It's now clear to the country's people that Awami League is a liar, corrupt, oppressor and killer government. Neither the country nor people's lives and properly is safe in its hands.

Accusing the government of controlling the judiciary, the BNP chief said, "We can understand the bad shape of the judiciary from the Chief Justice's (recent) remarks. The judges want to ensure justice, but the lower court is totally under the government's control. The judges there have to work and deliver verdicts as per the government's directives."

She said the government is trying to keep every institution under its control to perpetuate its power.

Khaleda Zia said the country now lacks democracy, the rule of law and justice. "People here now can't enjoy equal rights while people of no religion are safe. I call upon all to get united to get rid of the situation."

She said the next general election must be held under a non-party administration ensuring a level-playing field.

The BNP chief also alleged that the ruling party is conspiring to hold another election January-5, 2014 like election.

She warned that the country's people and the political parties will foil the government's move to hold another lopsided election.

Speaking the programme, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said people have no relation with the budget announced by an 'ethical' government. "You're cutting public pockets and imposing extra load of tax on them through the budget."

"We think the proposed budget is impossible to implement. We oppose the budget as it's anti-people one. Public welfare can not be ensured through it," Fakhrul added.