The call came at the roundtable titled 'Budget for the Marginalised,' co-organised by Samunnoy, an NGO, Manusher Jonno, a human rights and good governance promoting organisation, and the Daily Sangbad.

Speaking at the meeting, economist Atiur Rahman said economic disparity has increased in the country where income of the richest 5 percent of the population was 46 times higher than that of the bottom 5 percent in 2000. "It was 27 times higher in 1995.”

Rahman, also head of Samunnoy, said trade liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation have widened the disparity between the rich and the poor and made the poor more vulnerable.

"This has made the ultra-poor women, homeless children, handicapped, elderly and minorities more marginalised, more insecure," he observed.

Rahman said the report he presented focused on the needs of the marginalised and was prepared after extensive consultations with members of the marginalised groups, NGOs, local government, and members of the civil society.

Women rights activist Ayesha Khanam said the policymakers need a philosophical and holistic turn in perspective to address women's issues in the budget.

Economist Anisur Rahman however doubted the chances in the next budget to address the needs of the marginalised through a "top-down approach to good governance."

Binayak Sen, an economist of the Bangladesh Institute of Develo-pment Studies, said increased taxation from the rich needs to be ensured for an effective redistribution of the wealth in the country.

Sanjib Drong represented the minorities and Mosharraf Hossain represented human rights groups at the discussion held at Cirdap auditorium.

Shahin Anam, team leader of Manusher Jonno, and Bazlur Rahman, editor of the Daily Sangbad, delivered welcome speeches on behalf of the organisers.