Proposed budget fails to meet expectations: Debapriya

Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has expressed disappointment over the proposed national budget for 2025-26, calling it a “budget of despair.”

Speaking at a dialogue titled “National Budget 2025-26: What Have the Neglected Received?” organized by the Citizen Platform for SDGs at Lakeshore Hotel, Gulshan on Wednesday, Dr Bhattacharya said the budget lacked the innovation and responsiveness needed to address current challenges.

“There were many expectations, but the budget proposals are conventional and have failed to reflect the government’s potential. The demands of marginalized communities remain unaddressed,” he said.

CPD Special Fellow Dr. Mustafizur Rahman highlighted a reduction in social security support, noting that the old-age allowance increase—from 600 to 650 taka—is insufficient given inflation has pushed prices to 900 taka. “This effectively shrinks the social safety net and undermines future budget integrity,” he said.

Accountant Zia Hasan criticized the budget for not reflecting the inflation-driven decline in sales among large institutions, while ICMA Bangladesh President Mahathab Uddin Ahmed warned that the capital market is on the brink of collapse due to government neglect.

Third-gender activist Sanjibani Sudha pointed out that budget allocations for their community exist but are rarely implemented, leading to little improvement in quality of life or employment opportunities. She shared her personal experience of job loss due to discrimination and called for more government and institutional support.

The event’s keynote paper was presented by CPD Senior Research Fellow Toufiqul Islam Khan.