News Flash
DHAKA, June 16, 2026 (BSS) - Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman today said his party would play the role of a “reasonable and logical opposition” in parliament, focusing on public welfare, accountability and national reforms rather than confrontation or blind support for the government.
Addressing a view-change meeting with the Jatiya Sangsad bit journalists at the LD Hall of Jatiya Sangsad, he said the opposition would raise people’s issues both inside and outside parliament while maintaining constructive parliamentary conduct.
“We will neither be a submissive opposition nor a disruptive one. We will be reasonable and logical,” he said, adding that his party’s politics in parliament would be guided by the interests of the country and its people.
Dr Shafiqur said the opposition had already raised a number of public-interest issues in parliament, including implementation of reform proposals endorsed by voters, challenges in the banking sector, problems faced by expatriate Bangladeshis and border-related concerns.
He said his party would also place specific recommendations during the ongoing budget session, including measures to improve fiscal discipline and public expenditure management.
Criticising the practice of rushing development spending at the end of the fiscal year, he proposed changing Bangladesh’s fiscal year from the current July-June cycle to a January-December calendar-year system in line with the practice of many countries of the world.
He argued that aligning the fiscal year with the calendar year would allow development projects to be implemented during the dry season, improve planning and oversight, and reduce wasteful year-end spending.
“A large portion of government expenditure is concentrated in the final weeks of the fiscal year. This often compromises quality, accountability and value for money,” he said.
The opposition leader also questioned the timing of supplementary budget approvals and called for greater transparency and accountability in public spending.
On constitutional reform, Dr Shafiqur reiterated his party’s position that parliament should focus on meaningful constitutional reforms reflecting the public mandate rather than routine amendments.
He said parliament should remain the centre of democratic accountability and public debate, stressing that lawmakers were elected to represent citizens rather than engage in personal attacks or partisan theatrics.
“We have come here to speak for the people. The country and its people are our priority,” he said.
Dr Shafiqur, however, warned that if legitimate public demands were ignored, his party would continue to pursue those issues through democratic political movements outside parliament as well.
He expressed hope that constructive engagement among lawmakers, journalists and citizens would help strengthen parliamentary democracy and improve governance in the country.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, ATM Azharul Islam, MP, Saiful Alam Khan Milon, MP, Shahjahan Chowdhury, MP, Barrister Nazibur Rahman, MP, Rafiqul Islam Khan, MP, Gazi Nazrul Islam, MP, Barrister Mahbubul Alam Salehi, MP, and Barrister Tasmia Prodhan, MP, among others, were present on the occasion.
