Opinions on FY 26 budget till Jun 19

The government will receive public opinion and suggestions on the proposed FY26 budget until June 19.

After incorporating the acceptable opinions and suggestions, the cabinet will approve the budget on June 22, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters Wednesday after a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) at Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital.

He said people, including newsmen, have already started giving opinions on the budget.

Replying to a query, he said there is definitely good news for poor people in the budget. "Please check the changes brought in the proposed budget."

Answering another question, the adviser said there will be no impact on the economy due to the long Eid holidays that begin on Thursday (today).

"Businessmen will do their business… the central bank has already said which banks will remain open during the holidays," said Mr Ahmed

He said there are many countries that observe long holidays on various occasions, which even last 20 to 25 days.

"In Nepal, people enjoy a one-month holiday during Durga Puja," he said.

Referring to decisions made at the ACCGP meeting, he said liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports will continue without any interval so that fuel supply remains uninterrupted.

He also said the meeting had approved a proposal for procuring a number of vehicles for police.

A housing project for police would be taken for which, the home ministry has been asked to submit a proposal, he said. "Then we will give approval."

According to the documents provided by the Cabinet Division, the meeting approved a proposal for importing refined fuel oil for the period of July to December at a total cost of Tk 91.39 billion.

Under the approval, PetroChina International (Singapore) Pte Ltd will supply oil in package A, Vitol Asia Pte Ltd Singapore in B and C, and Sinochem International Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd in D.

Based on another approval, the UAE-based GENTRADE (FZE) will supply 30,000 tonnes of rock phosphate to Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation for TSP Complex Ltd at a total price of Tk 895 million.

Each tonne of rock phosphate will cost $232.90 in this procurement.

Also, the meeting approved the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) to buy 40,000 tonnes of Muriate of Potash (MOP) from Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) at a total price of Tk 1.65 billion, where each tonne will cost $339.63.

The BADC was also given the go-ahead to import 30,000 tonnes of MOP from the JSC Foreign Economic Corporation (Prodintorg) of Russia by spending Tk 1.24 billion, with each tonne costing $339.63.

Moreover, the meeting approved the procurement of 200 double-cabin pickups for Bangladesh Police from Pragoti Industries Ltd at a total price of Tk 1.72 billion under the direct purchase method.

syful-islam@outlook.com