DHAKA, June 15, 2026 (BSS) – The Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh today emphasized that effective implementation, transparency and accountability will be crucial to ensuring that the benefits of the proposed national budget for FY2026-27 reach disadvantaged citizens.

Presenting a keynote analysis titled "National Budget 2026-27: What is There for the Disadvantaged Citizens?" at a media briefing in the capital, the platform's convener, distinguished economist Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, said the budget reflects a notable shift toward social welfare and support for vulnerable groups, but its success will ultimately depend on execution.

While the government has allocated a significant share of additional spending to social sectors, including education, health, social security and welfare, the persistent weaknesses in implementation could undermine the intended impact on low-income and marginalized populations, he said. 

According to the analysis, Bangladesh's disadvantaged citizens continue to face mounting pressures from high inflation, weak employment generation and declining household savings. 

In this context, Dr. Bhattacharya stressed that social protection programmes must be implemented efficiently and targeted accurately to protect those most affected by economic hardship.

The study welcomed the increase in social protection allocations and ongoing efforts to expand digital payment systems, improve beneficiary selection through a Dynamic Social Registry and strengthen grievance redress mechanisms.

 However, it cautioned that institutional capacity and monitoring systems must be strengthened to ensure that benefits reach intended recipients.

Dr. Bhattacharya observed that despite the government's commitment to building a welfare-oriented state, the significant gaps remain in coverage for informal-sector workers and vulnerable urban populations.

 Addressing these shortcomings, he said, requires stronger coordination among government agencies and evidence-based policymaking.

The presentation also expressed concern over the budget's reliance on indirect taxation, particularly Value Added Tax (VAT), and stressed the importance of balancing revenue mobilization with the protection of low-income consumers.

To improve implementation outcomes, Dr. Bhattacharya recommended ensuring the availability of credible real-time data, introducing quarterly parliamentary reviews of budget execution and maintaining continuous monitoring of reform initiatives.

He also called for greater transparency in public expenditure management and stronger accountability mechanisms to track progress and assess whether allocated resources are delivering tangible benefits to disadvantaged citizens.

The media briefing, chaired by Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), brought together economists, researchers, development practitioners, governance experts and civil society representatives.

Participants underscored that the effectiveness of the FY2026-27 budget will depend not only on the size of allocations but also on the government's ability to implement programmes efficiently, reduce leakages and ensure equitable access to public services.

The Citizen’s Platform said sustained oversight and monitoring will be essential to keeping disadvantaged citizens at the centre of fiscal policy and advancing inclusive and equitable development in Bangladesh.