Political party leaders sharply criticised the proposed national budget for the financial year 2025–26, terming it routine, unimaginative and structurally flawed.
Reacting to the budget proposed by finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday, they voiced concerns that the interim government’s budget lacked reformist intent, failed to prioritise public welfare and continued reliance on outdated, debt-heavy frameworks.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury termed the proposed budget a continuation of failed policies, adding that it lacked any qualitative change.
‘There is a fundamental disconnect between revenue generation and expenditure. The structural imbalance will only deepen, placing a burden on future governments,’ he warned.
Amir, also a former commerce minister, criticised the government’s heavy dependence on domestic and foreign borrowing.
‘It increases the debt load, drains resources through interest payments and crowds out private investment,’ he said.
He questioned the rationale for an interim government presenting such a large budget, saying it lacked electoral legitimacy to make long-term financial commitments.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh echoed similar concerns, saying that the budget would slow economic momentum.
In a press release issued jointly by CPB president Mohammad Shah Alam and general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, the party described the proposed budget as traditional and lacking bold economic vision.
‘This is the first budget by an unelected interim government after the fall of Awami League, so we didn’t expect structural changes. But some courageous steps for economic welfare could have been taken,’ they said.
They predicted that the government’s 6 per cent growth target would fall to around 3 per cent, due to insufficient focus on employment generation.
The Bangladesh National Awami Party, led by Jabel Rahman Ghaani and Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, also labelled the budget ‘traditional’.
They criticised the reduction in volume and the absence of people-centric policies, urging the interim government to prioritise mass welfare and sustained growth.
Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal-JSD general secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmod Shapon said that the budget included several positive steps but more effective measures were needed to address the ongoing economic crisis and ensure social security.
Amar Bangladesh Party president Mojibur Rahman Monju said that the budget lacked a new vision. ‘Despite its reduced size of Tk 7.90 lakh crore, the proposed budget follows the same old budget framework. Long-standing issues like deficit financing and institutional inefficiency remain unaddressed,’ he said.
Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said that targeted spending on teachers’ training, research, library and science laboratory was necessary. ‘Special attention should be given to ensure that efforts are made to reduce disparities between disadvantaged rural populations and privileged groups.’
Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh general secretary Saiful Huq said that the proposed budget was a disappointing narrative of a dreamless journey.
‘There is no visible initiative in the budget to eliminate inhumane inequalities. The budget proposal also lacks credible measures for investment and employment generation,’ he said.
Gano Adhikar Parishad general secretary Rashed Khan called the proposed budget ‘a continuation of past sessions.’
National Citizen Party joint convener Anik Roy criticised it as a continuation of the ones previously presented by Awami League.
‘The health and education sectors have once again received allocations far below what is actually needed. We hoped for something better this time, but that hope was not fulfilled,’ Anik said.
