Jatiya Party (a faction) Chairman and former foreign minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud on Saturday described the proposed national budget for the 2026"27 fiscal year as a budget built on deficit financing and debt dependence, while also calling it a “beacon of hope” that faces a difficult test of implementation.
Speaking at a press conference on the budget at his Gulshan residence, Anisul said the government had prepared the budget at a time when the country was facing significant economic challenges.
“In reality, we are going through a difficult time. It seems that the budget has had to be formulated with the aim of dealing with this difficult time,” he said.
He noted that the government had made extensive commitments aimed at public welfare and national development but warned that the country's revenue base remained weak.
According to Anisul, the proposed budget reflects competing realities. On one hand, he said, it is an ambitious budget focused on investment, education, health, social security and renewable energy. On the other, it faces challenges stemming from uncertainty over revenue collection, a large budget deficit, debt-based financing and the lack of a clear implementation roadmap.
"The success of the budget will depend on efficiency, transparency and the ability to implement promises," he said.
In a written statement, Anisul also commented on the political response to the budget, expressing disappointment that opposition parties had reverted to traditional forms of political opposition.
He said the reactions had not reflected expectations of a new political culture following the mass uprising of 5 August 2024.
"They have chosen the path of protests, processions and direct opposition as before," he said, stressing the need for rational and constructive discussions that rise above partisan positions to advance democratic transformation.
Anisul further identified implementation as the greatest challenge facing the proposed budget. He pointed to inflationary pressures, weaknesses in the banking sector, subsidy obligations, sluggish investment and foreign debt constraints as major risks.
"If revenue collection is not possible according to the set target, the financial pressure will increase further and the implementability of the entire budget will be questioned," he warned.
Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, in his opening remarks, said successful implementation of the budget would require good governance, the rule of law, human rights and political rights.
Without these elements, he said, confidence in the government's ability to implement the budget would be undermined.
Howlader also raised political issues, alleging that false cases had been filed against party leaders during the interim government's tenure. He demanded the withdrawal of those cases and the removal of travel restrictions imposed on party members.
He further criticised what he described as governance failures in other sectors, claiming that more than 650 children had died from measles and calling the situation unacceptable.
