Proposed budget 'traditional', lacking major reform approaches: Seminar

Terming the proposed national budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year a traditional one, speakers at a seminar on Sunday said it offers little to be different from previous budgets, with no bold reforms or innovative approaches to address the country's economic challenges.

"If you say it generously, then the budget is traditional, if you are not generous, then it is prudent, and if you see it realistically, then it is not impactful," said Executive Chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman.

He said this while speaking at the 'CPD Budget Dialogue 2025: An analysis of the National Budget for FY26' at a city hotel, with CPD Distinguished Fellow Professor Mustafizur Rahman in the chair.

Terming the budget a plain one formulated by the non-partisan interim government, Co-secretary of international affairs for BNP and a former member of parliament, Barrister Rumeen Farhana, said if there was a political government in power, it would have been different.

"During a political government, there is planning, a clear roadmap and a defined tenure. Without these, trade, business and the economy cannot expect any good news," she said.

Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) secretary general Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad mentioned that the interim government did not bother to have any consultation with the political parties while formulating the budget.

"There are four economists in this small cabinet, this is unprecedented in the history of our political governments that they have presented such a badly drafted budget," he said.

Former MP and Jatiya Party (Ershad) leader Shamim Haider Patwari also said this budget is a very traditional one. "This budget is not promising at all," he added.

Policy Exchange Bangladesh Chairman Dr Mashrur Riaz said there was no fundamental change in the budget. "Philosophically it is muted, structurally it is boring, while not smart at all in its approach," he said.

Economist MM Akash termed the budget a very ordinary one. "Downsizing the budget, to me, is an advance march towards famine," he said.

Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Showkat Aziz criticised the interim government for presenting tempered information and data.
He said factories are frequently laying off workers, but the government is paying no attention to it.

He urged the government's advisers to come out of their air-conditioned rooms and face the ground reality.

CPD Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun delivered the keynote speech at the programme.