Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the interim government has made its best efforts to present a people-oriented and business-friendly budget, with the primary goal of delivering a practical, pragmatic, and implementable budget.
“Despite having many adversities, we want to move ahead with cooperation from all. We want to improve the living standards of people and thus move forward the country so that Bangladesh becomes an example in the international arena,” he said.
The Finance Adviser flanked by other advisers and senior officials of the government was addressing a post-budget press conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital this afternoon.
Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud, Home and Agriculture Adviser Lt Gen. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Power, Energy, Mineral Resources, Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur, Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder, and NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan spoke, among others, at the press conference.
Earlier on Monday, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed unveiled a Taka 7,90,000 crore national budget for the FY26 through a pre-recorded televised speech since the Jatiya Sangsad is not in place.
Mentioning that the proposed budget for the next fiscal year has been a bit smaller from the previous fiscal year (FY25) for the first time in the country’s history amid the challenges in inflation, energy sector, banking sector and revenue sector, he said, “You’ve heard about the narratives of growth over the years, but its benefits didn’t reach to the common people equally.”
Coming out of this growth perception, he said that growth is needed, but the most important things are to improve the living standards of people, raising their purchasing power, restoring fully the law and order situation and thus ensuring a congenial atmosphere for boosting the trade and commerce operations.
“The path ahead of us is not smooth rather rough … we’ve garnered both local and foreign resources. We’ve reorganized the revenue board and the tax system. We’re bringing more support from abroad through negotiations and we’re also working on our debt sustainability,” he added.
Citing that the proposed budget for FY26 is not ‘as usual’, Dr Salehuddin said that there has been a clear continuity of policy measures in the budget. At the same time, it was not possible to deviate entirely from the existing trend.
“It’s not possible to deliver a revolutionary budget overnight, rather there are some courageous steps like concessions in tax, restoring fiscal discipline, policy continuity,” he said, adding that the available suggestions and opinions would be considered before finalizing the budget at the end of this month.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk/BSS
