Dhaka: Disclosing his plan to roll out the national budget for 2013-14 in the Jatiya Sangsad on June 6, Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Tuesday said the government has no plan to cut corporate tax in the next budget.

"The rate of corporate tax would no way be changed . . . the budget will have some specific guidelines to collect corporate tax," said the finance minister at a pre-budget meeting with the members of Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) at his secretariat office here.

ERF President Khawaza Mainuddin and General Secretary Abdur Rahim Harmachi, among others, addressed the meeting.

Reaffirming his plan to start the construction work of Padma Bridge soon, the finance minister said international bids for the construction of the Padma Bridge will be called within June.

"Separate tenders will be floated for appointment of consultant, river training and construction of the main bridge," he said, adding that the construction work of the 6.15km long rail-road bridge over the Padma River will end in the fiscal year 2016-17."

"We've a plan to float the tenders within next month...if delayed, the tenders will be invited by the first week of June," he added.

"We've decided to allocate Tk 6,800 crore in the coming budget for the project, Tk 7,800 crore in the fiscal year 2014-15," Muhith said, adding that Tk 2,300 crore will be spent in the current fiscal year.

The government has already approved tenders for constructing the connecting bridge at Jajira Point and process is underway to appoint a contractor for the Mawa Point soon, Muhith added.

"Dialogue will be held and that's most important," he said while replying to a question about the existing political situation.

He said after the end of the tenure of the present government, there will be an interim government instead of a caretaker government.

Ends/AMA/09/04/13