SANGSAD BHABAN, June 28, 2026 (BSS) - BNP lawmakers on Sunday described the proposed national budget for FY2026-27 as "time-befitting," saying it would bring significant changes in human resource development, public welfare and economic reforms.

The remarks came during the general discussion on the proposed budget in Parliament.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury unveiled the Tk 9.38 trillion budget on June 11, setting a GDP growth target of 6.5 percent, aiming to recover from the provisional 4.14 percent growth recorded in the outgoing fiscal year.

Congratulating the finance minister, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the budget prioritizes human resource development, investment, employment generation and economic reforms.

"The government plans designed in the proposed budget are not visible immediately but will be visible within the next six months," he said.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the budget had been announced at a critical time.

"We believe that we will overcome the situation under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman," he said.

Fakhrul, also the BNP Secretary General, added that the party had always accepted challenges and knew how to face difficult situations.

"The Finance Minister has taken the challenge and we hope that he will successfully implement the budget and be able to reach the goal," he said.

Opposition Chief Whip and NCP Convener Nahid Islam questioned the government's commitment to reforms, saying the BNP government had not implemented reforms in line with the July National Charter despite being a signatory.

He expressed doubts over whether the opposition could rely on the government's budget pledges but urged it to curb corruption, implement the July Charter and bring those involved in money laundering to justice to ensure the budget's successful implementation.

Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said the government was giving priority to securing Bangladesh's fair share of water from the Farakka Barrage.

"The present government is working to ensure Bangladesh's fair share from the Farakka water and implementing two other major projects like Padma and Teesta Barrage," he said.

A special technical committee led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working on the Farakka issue, he added.

Anee said the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had already approved the Padma Barrage project. In its first phase, 120 upazilas in 19 districts will benefit, while the completed project is expected to serve nearly 37 percent of the country's population across 163 upazilas in 26 districts.

He also said the Teesta Barrage project would be implemented within this year, bringing positive changes to agriculture, irrigation and water management in at least five northern districts.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Md Sakhawat Husain welcomed the proposed budget, saying it would help reduce healthcare costs through significant duty reductions and waivers on 77 categories of drug raw materials.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said the budget had allocated Tk 17,345 crore to make the energy sector self-reliant, with a target of generating 10,000 megawatts of electricity from renewable sources.

Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said education spending had been increased to around 2 percent of GDP, up from 1.69 percent in FY2024-25.

Industries, Commerce, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir expressed confidence that the finance minister would achieve the budget's objectives within the stipulated timeframe.

Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and Minister of Labour and Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury said proper implementation of the budget would improve people's livelihoods.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu said the current Parliament had set an exemplary precedent through mutual respect between treasury and opposition benches.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said the finance minister had restructured public expenditure effectively, allocating 30 percent for social infrastructure, 18 percent for physical infrastructure and 26 percent for general services.

He also noted that operational expenditure had been reduced to 66.3 percent from 72.7 percent in FY2025-26, while development expenditure had increased to 33.7 percent from 27.3 percent, reflecting efforts to reduce wasteful public spending.

State Minister for Road Transport and Highways Habibur Rashid said Tk 36,917 crore had been allocated for the road transport and highways sector, including Tk 30,741 crore for development.

He said the government is currently implementing 106 projects across the country and plans to construct 3,000 kilometres of expressways, alongside monorail projects linked with metro rail development.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam described the budget as women-friendly, saying it emphasizes women's empowerment and "will never fail."

State Minister for Social Welfare Barrister Farjana Sharmin said substantial allocations had been made for social welfare programmes and stressed the need to ensure that benefits reached grassroots people.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit said the budget outlines integrated healthcare services and increases health sector allocations to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses. He noted that people in Bangladesh currently bear around 80 percent of treatment costs, compared with 10 percent in Thailand and 18 percent in the Maldives.

State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki said the budget aims to revive the fragile economy while sustaining development and progress.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat said the budget would help build a self-reliant and prosperous country.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj said the budget would transform the primary education sector.

State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Hoque welcomed the government's focus on 10 priority sectors, including education, health, employment, food security and energy security.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom said the proposed budget had instilled hope among the people.

Whip ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan said the spirit of July must be protected, adding, "No evil forces would be able to destroy us if we are united on national interests."

Treasury bench lawmakers also congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on his successful visits to Malaysia and China.

Among others who participated in the discussion were Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof. Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Dr Khondoker Mosharraf Hossen (Cumilla-1), State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, Amanullah Aman (Dhaka-2), Mahbub Uddin (Noakhali-1), Whips Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, Rakibul Islam and Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers Mujibur Rahman (Rajshahi-2) and ATM Azharul Islam (Rangpur-2).