Photo: BSS

DHAKA, June 4, 2025 (BSS) - The interim government has announced budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 without the opinions of political parties and people, claimed BNP. 

"BNP is cooperating with this government in every field. We expected that the interim government would formulate the budget after holding talks with political parties and establishing a minimum national consensus," BNP standing committee Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said.
He said while addressing a press conference organized to give BNP's official reaction on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26 at party chairperson’s Gulshan political office here today.

Khasru said opinions of people from different classes and professions of the society could have been taken, experts, civil society, businessmen, and youth representatives could have also participated in talks.
 
“Then the budget would have been a symbol of a comprehensive economic vision. This budget could have become a reflection of the different voices of the country. But that opportunity was not utilized. Budget formulation should not be one-sided, non-participatory and traditional, it should have reflected new thinking,” he said.

On Monday, Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed placed the proposed national budget of Tk 790,000 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26. 
Khasru said the main goal of the budget should have been to present a roadmap for increasing private investment. 

“It was necessary to establish industries, create employment, give priority to education, health and agriculture for economic recovery. It was necessary to create more new entrepreneurs by supporting small and medium cottage industries. Additional taxes and duties along with huge interest rates will create big pressure on the industries,” he said.

Particularly, the productive sectors will be affected, many institutions may close, and employment may also decrease, he said adding if the financial pressure on the middle and lower classes increases, economic instability may increase. He mentioned that the progress of poverty alleviation may also come to a halt.

Khasru criticized the budget proposals in various sectors, including bringing private universities, medical colleges and schools under the tax, increasing taxes on online businesses, doing nothing for general investors in the capital market, and not stopping unnecessary, corrupt and inefficient development projects.

He also said that if BNP comes to power in the future, educational institutions will be brought under the umbrella of full tax exemption.

BNP Standing Committee Members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Selima Rahman, Chairperson’s Advisory Council Member Ismail Zabihullah and Economic Affairs Secretary Khaled Hossain Mahbub Shyamal were present, among others.