Speaker of the National Parliament, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad inaugurated the “Budget Help Desk 2026” on Wednesday. He said the national budget is more than just a ledger of income and expenditure. He added that it reflects public aspirations, development priorities, and future economic direction.
The inaugural ceremony was held in the Oath Room of the National Parliament Secretariat. Speaker as the chief guest said, the help desk would assist Members of Parliament (MPs) by providing research-based information and data, enabling them to play a more significant role in parliamentary proceedings.
He reminded the audience that parliamentary activities are conducted to fulfil the hopes of the people. He urged all MPs to prioritise national and public interests through people-oriented initiatives.
During his address, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad also highlighted the 1991 introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) by the late BNP Finance Minister Saifur Rahman as a “landmark step.”
He noted that the Budget Help Desk would continue its efforts to improve the quality of parliamentary activities. It will be supervised by the Parliament’s Budget Analysis and Monitoring Unit, with financial assistance from the European Union and technical support from the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
Leader of the Opposition, Md Shafiqur Rahman, described the help desk as a vital tool for meeting the nation’s future expectations. He remarked that the ownership of budget funds- sourced from public taxes, domestic and foreign loans, and foreign grants belongs to the people.
Shafiqur said, “The size of the budget is not what matters most; the major challenge in implementation is the lack of transparency.” Care must be taken to ensure budget allocations are spent on public welfare rather than individual development, he added.
Chief Whip of the National Parliament, Nurul Islam Moni said, the budget represents a country’s development philosophy and state priorities. He argued that a nation’s international status and capacity depend largely on its economic strength. It can be achieved through efficient economic management, good governance, and transparency.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat Md Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan. Special guests included The European Union Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Bangladesh Michael Miller, and Finance Division Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder. The ceremony was also attended by cabinet members, whips, and other Members of Parliament.
The Speaker concluded the session by declaring the ‘Budget Help Desk 2026’ open, wishing for the continued peace, happiness, and prosperity of the nation.
