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SANGSAD BHABAN, June 27, 2026 (BSS) - Ruling party lawmaker Zainul Abdin Farroque today strongly urged the finance minister to increase the allowance for freedom fighters, saying the nation must further strengthen its recognition of those who made the supreme sacrifice for Bangladesh's
independence.
"If the allowance for freedom fighters is increased, your name will be written in golden letters in the history of Bangladesh," he said while
participating in the general discussion on the proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS).
At the outset of his speech, Farroque thanked Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman for presenting "a
beautiful budget".
With Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir-Bikram, in the chair, he said the proposed budget had taken important initiatives in the health, industry,
employment and women's development sectors, which would help revive the country's economy.
Paying tribute to the martyrs and those injured during the mass uprising in 2024, the treasury bench member said while the country's recent sacrifices
must be remembered, the history of the Liberation War should never be forgotten.
Praising the health sector allocation, he said the decision to upgrade 50-bed hospitals to 100-bed facilities would play a significant role in expanding
healthcare services for the people.
Farroque also thanked the finance minister for allocating Taka 20,000 crore to reopen industries that had remained closed for a long time due to
electricity and gas shortages. The initiative would boost industrial production and create new employment opportunities, he added.
He also appreciated the budgetary measures aimed at women's empowerment and reducing youth unemployment.
The lawmaker stressed the need for all political parties in parliament to work together to ensure the independence of the judiciary.
Referring to the opposition's response to the budget, Farroque said that unlike many previous budgets, the slogan of "We reject it, we will not accept
it" was absent this time.
"The opposition will certainly criticise the government, but that criticism must be constructive. You criticise, we will respond, but the criticism must be constructive," he said.
He also underscored the importance of presenting the true history of the Liberation War, the killing of intellectuals, and the country's struggle for independence to the younger generation.
In the concluding part of his speech, Farroque recalled the contribution of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to establishing multi-party democracy.
Calling for national unity by learning from past political divisions and conflicts, he urged all to work together to build the country.
"Bangladesh comes first," he said, calling on everyone to move forward with that spirit.
