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Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Md. Nurul Islam has said that the current government’s proposed Tk 9.38 trillion national budget is an unprecedented document aimed at improving the living standards of ordinary people and transforming their lives.
He said that since Bangladesh’s independence, no budget has been passed that is as people-oriented and focused on public welfare.
Instead of pursuing popular mega infrastructure projects, the government under the current Prime Minister has prioritized life-oriented initiatives such as the Padma Barrage and Teesta Barrage projects.
The Chief Whip made the remarks at a press conference held at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday.
Whip Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu was also present.
Nurul Islam said the budget had been formulated with the objective of ensuring public welfare while safeguarding the country’s sovereignty.
“The Prime Minister has described it as a people’s budget—a pro-people budget focused on public welfare and ensuring people’s livelihoods,” he said.
He added that the government inherited a fragile economy, recalling that the US dollar had surged by Tk 7 in a single day, several banks had fallen into severe financial distress, and Bangladesh Bank had been forced to provide thousands of crores of taka in support.
“The effects of past financial irregularities, economic mismanagement, and corruption carried out in the name of mega projects are still weighing on the economy,” he said.
Because of this, the government is placing greater emphasis on long-term public welfare projects rather than simply constructing infrastructure, he said.
According to the Chief Whip, the primary objective of the Padma Barrage and Teesta Barrage projects is to ensure irrigation water during the dry season and improve the country’s overall water management system.
“These are not showcase projects; they are projects designed to meet people’s real needs,” he said.
He also highlighted several initiatives included in the budget, including the plantation of 250 million trees, re-excavation of 20,000 kilometres of canals, farmer cards, family cards, special cards for women, improved services for expatriates, and various health-sector programmes.
