This budget is for all classes of people: Finance Minister

A day after presenting the national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury addressed a post-budget press conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Friday afternoon, June 12, accompanied by relevant ministers. In his opening remarks, he said this budget is for all classes and professions of people, and that during the autocratic era, people's aspirations were not reflected in the budget.

The minister said the aspirations of the people were not reflected in the budgets presented over the past decade and a half. He added that efforts are being made to run the country based on moral foundations, and projects are being taken up keeping in mind that there is no wastage of money.

Speaking about the government's policy and philosophy in formulating the proposed budget, he said special importance has been given to 'Bangladesh for all', economic democracy, and running the state based on moral foundations.

The government wants to move away from a wasteful economy and establish accountable and effective expenditure management, he said. Four key criteria have been set for approving future projects and expenditures: value for money, return on investment, employment creation, and environmental considerations. Development projects will be implemented based on these standards.

Power and Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmood, Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, Planning State Minister Jonaed Abdur Rahim Saki, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan, and Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaque Rahman were also present.

Yesterday, the finance minister proposed a national budget of Tk 9.38 lakh crore for 2026-27 in parliament, the largest in the country's history. The budget was formulated with the goals of controlling inflation, increasing investment and employment, expanding social safety net programmes, and making the economy more productive and decentralised.

The proposed budget, themed 'Economic Democratisation and Decentralisation: Bangladesh's Path to a Trillion-Dollar Economy', is 13.7 per cent of GDP.