Parliament Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam on Thursday described the government’s Tk9.38 lakh crore national budget as the most pro-people budget since Bangladesh’s independence, saying it was designed to improve living standards and transform the lives of ordinary people.
Speaking at a press conference at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad, he said the budget was a “unique document” that prioritised public welfare and long-term national development over costly showcase projects.
The chief whip said the government had shifted its focus towards what he termed “life-oriented” projects, including the Padma Barrage and Teesta Barrage projects, aimed at ensuring water security for agriculture during the dry season and improving water management across the country.
He said the government had inherited a fragile economy, pointing to a sharp rise in the US dollar exchange rate, a severe banking sector crisis and the continuing impact of financial irregularities, corruption and mismanagement linked to previous mega-projects.
According to him, the current budget therefore places greater emphasis on sustainable public welfare than on large-scale infrastructure development.
Highlighting the budget’s key initiatives, Nurul Islam said the government planned to plant 250 million trees and re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals. It also proposed introducing Farmer Cards, Family Cards and special cards for women and expatriates to strengthen self-reliance and ensure food security.
He said tax rates had been kept unchanged for 63 essential food items to help contain living costs, while the social safety net programme would be expanded through the distribution of five million Family Cards to enhance financial security for mothers.
The chief whip also praised what he described as unprecedented opposition participation in the budget process. He said the opposition had been involved from the early stages of budget formulation for the first time in the country’s history.
According to him, the government increased the opposition’s share of parliamentary debate time from 26 per cent to 31 per cent to facilitate broader discussion.
He cited the withdrawal of a proposed tax on bicycles at the request of the Leader of the Opposition as an example of constructive cooperation between the government and the opposition.
During the briefing, Nurul Islam paid tribute to the young people involved in the July movement, honouring those who lost their lives and expressing sympathy for those injured.
He also stressed the need for constitutional reform, saying there was “no alternative” to amending the Constitution if meaningful reforms were to be achieved. He expressed hope that political consensus would enable the necessary amendments while preserving democratic continuity and national development.
Parliament Whip Ruhul Kuddus Talukdar Dulu was present at the press conference.
