The proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year is not people-friendly and places additional burdens on the poor, Sirajganj-4 MP Rafiqul Islam Khan told parliament on Saturday.
Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed budget, the Jamaat MP for Sirajganj-4 said the budget reflects a deep crisis in the government’s economic management, citing rising essential commodity prices, VAT expansion, unrealistic growth and inflation targets, slow ADP implementation, mounting loan defaults, deteriorating law and order, and money laundering.
“Prices of essential commodities have consistently risen. The cost of living for lower and middle-income people has become unbearable due to price hikes in rice, eggs, chicken, onions, and other food items,” he said.
He added that VAT on grocery items has placed additional pressure on the poor, noting that even beggars are paying VAT when buying goods from the market.
The MP said that Finance Minister Amir Khosru himself admitted the economy would take until the fourth year to recover, indicating the budget cannot revive the economy immediately and people will have to endure hardship for the next three years.
“The GDP growth target of 6.5 per cent and the inflation target of 7.5 per cent are unrealistic, as inflation has already exceeded 9 percent,” he said.
Only 48 per cent of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) has been implemented in 11 months, he added, warning that spending the remaining funds in one month would increase the risk of irregularities and corruption.
Quoting central bank data, the MP said defaulted loans have reached Tk5,88,704 crore, or about 32 per cent of total loans. “In 2009, defaulted loans were only Tk22,481 crore,” he said.
He also warned of a Tk4 lakh crore foreign debt repayment burden in the coming years.
Rafiqul Islam Khan alleged that hundreds of murders and abductions have occurred in the past 100 days, including the killing of a mother and her three daughters in Lakshmipur. “Law enforcement agencies are failing to protect lives, property, and dignity,” he said.
He also expressed concern over 83 lakh drug users in the country and called for effective measures to stop drug inflows through borders. He also alleged that over Tk12,000 crore has been laundered to Swiss banks in the past year and called for special initiatives to recover laundered money.
The MP demanded a separate budget allocation for 12-14 lakh Qawmi madrasa students, adequate honorariums for imams and muezzins, rehabilitation for victims of political violence over the past 16 years, and stronger action against corruption and administrative politicisation.
He also called for bringing back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other accused from abroad for trial, strengthening the Anti-Corruption Commission and Human Rights Commission, and taking strict action against those involved in bank looting and illegal appointments.
