United News of Bangladesh

BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday said the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 would not be very easy to implement as its size is disproportionately large -- much like the traditional budgets of the previous regime—and lacks link with revenue collection. “The budget should be based on revenue income. The size of the budget should have been smaller. There is no qualitative change in the budget this time, only a slight change in the numbers. So, it will not be very easy for the government to implement this budget,” he said. Khosru, a BNP Standing Committee member, made the remarks while giving his initial reaction to the proposed budget at a city hotel. In response to a question on whether the proposed budget is traditional, he said, “I don’t want to use that word. But it has not been able to deviate much from the continuity of the previous government…I think there are fundamental flaws.” The BNP leader said the budget should focus on increasing revenue to ensure sufficient money flow for the private sector, enhance investment, and reduce both foreign debt and internal borrowing, along with interest rates. No immediate power price hike, assures Finance Adviser He said their expectations from the 2025-26 budget are limited since it has been placed by an interim government. “The interim government has various limitations as it is not an elected one.” Khosru criticised the previous Awami League government for expanding the budget without a corresponding increase in revenue. “The way the previous government increased the size of the budget had no correlation with revenue collection,” he said. He said when the entire revenue is spent on operating expenses, the government must borrow—either domestically or internationally—to implement development projects. “The problem is that excessive borrowing, both domestically and externally, increases the debt burden. The people are the ones who have to repay it year after year. Development efforts are hampered due to rising interest obligations,” the BNP leader said. He also observed that heavy domestic borrowing impacts the entire financial system, pushing up bank interest rates and crowding out private borrowers. “It also raises the level of internal debt. When the government borrows heavily from within the country, loans for individuals and businesses shrink. As a result, investment is hampered, employment is not generated, and people’s income does not increase. Since the private sector cannot access credit, they are unable to expand existing investments,” Khosru said. Considering these issues, the size of the budget should have been linked to revenue income. I believe that was not done. The entire revenue will be spent on operating expenses. If we continue to borrow from both domestic and foreign sources, it will inevitably impact the economy. This is crucial—this is the main point,” he said. Referring to the budgets presented by the previous Awami League government, the BNP leader noted that only minor changes have been made. “There has been a slight variation in the numbers, as has been the case in previous budgets. The core principle remains the same—we are continuing along the same path.” Khosru said their party will come up with a formal reaction to the budget through a press conference at 11am on Wednesday at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. Earlier in the day, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed unveiled a Tk 790,000 crore national budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year, which begins in July. Govt moves to cut prices of cancer, other medicines This is the first time Salehuddin, a former central bank governor, has presented the national budget, as well as the first budget presented by the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus.

BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Friday alleged that fuel prices have been raised to benefit the “looters of the ruling party”. “They (govt) have raised the prices of diesel and kerosene which’ll push up the fares of bus and trucks, and the prices of everything, including all commodities,” he said. Read:BNP extends support to transport strike Speaking at a human-chain programme, the BNP leader voiced concern that the farmers will be hit hard as their production costs will go up due to the diesel price hike. "They (AL leaders) are indulging in plundering by hiking commodity prices, diesel prices and electricity tariffs repeatedly. Those involved directly in looting will benefit from increased fuel prices,” he alleged. Jatiyatabadi Textile Engineers’ Association of Bangladesh arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the growing price hike of daily essentials. Khorsu, a BNP standing committee member, said the diesel price has been increased by Tk 15 per litre and this money will be taken from the pockets of ordinary people. He alleged that the government has been hiking the prices of all commodities and the tariffs of utility services one after another as it has no accountability to people. “They (AL leaders) are making money through plundering and siphoning it off abroad.” Khosru, a former commerce minister, said those who are responsible for controlling commodity prices are now looting public money. He said the government has repeatedly increased the power tariffs to make the pockets of ruling party men heavier who run the quick rental power plants. "These power plants are getting money even without producing electricity as per a deal with the government. Not only that, the government has made such a law that no case can be filed in this connection.” Read:AL-backed syndicates behind price hike, alleges BNP The BNP leader said there is no alternative to waging a united movement to free the country from the grasp of Awami League. On Wednesday, the government raised the prices of diesel and kerosene at the retail level. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) said the petroleum prices have been readjusted against the backdrop of the price hike of petroleum on the international market. Meanwhile, the price of private operators' liquified petroleum gas (LPG) was also increased to Tk 1,313 per 12-kg container from Tk 1259 with effect from Thursday (Nov 4) at the retail level.