The BNP has alleged that the proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, announced by the interim government, lacks any reflection of new thinking.
The party’s Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, said this at a press conference on Wednesday while delivering BNP’s official reaction to the proposed budget.
He said: “We had expected that the interim government would engage in discussions with political parties to formulate the budget based on a minimum level of national consensus. That would have made the budget a symbol of an integrated economic vision, reflecting the voices of different sections of the country. But that opportunity was not utilized.
"The budget preparation has been one-sided and conventional. There is no trace of new thinking here.”
On Monday, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed presented the proposed budget of Tk7,90,000 crore for FY2025–26 in a national broadcast.
In response, the BNP held a press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.
Alongside critiquing the proposed budget, Amir Khasru also shared a roadmap of what kind of budget the BNP would introduce if it came to power and which sectors it would prioritize.
Khasru said: “The primary focus of the budget should have been on outlining a roadmap to boost private investment. It was essential to prioritize the recovery of the economy through industrial development, job creation, and investment in education, health, and agriculture. Urgent support for small, cottage, and medium enterprises was needed to nurture new entrepreneurs.
"Excessively high interest rates, combined with increased taxes and duties, will put severe pressure on industries.”
He also criticized several aspects of the proposed budget, including plans to bring private universities, medical colleges, and schools under the tax net, increase duties on online businesses, provide no incentives for general investors in the capital market, and failure to scrap unnecessary, corrupt, and inefficient development projects.
He added that the BNP would fully exempt educational institutions from taxes if it assumes power.
“Inflation is currently in double digits,” said Khasru. “Bringing it down to 6.5% as projected seems unrealistic. The rising poverty rate could have been checked. According to the World Bank, over 2.7 million people have fallen into deeper poverty under the interim government’s tenure.”
Citing Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data, he added: “GDP growth was 3.97% in FY2024–25. This year’s budget projects it at 5.6%, which, like the previous government’s figures, is unrealistic and only looks good on paper.”