Staff Reporter :
The proposed national budget for FY2025-26 has drawn sharp criticism from economists and civil society representatives, who described it as a missed opportunity that fails to meet the needs of marginalised communities amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
Speaking at a dialogue titled “National Budget 2025-26: What Did the Marginalised Get?” held in Dhaka on Wednesday, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), expressed disappointment over the budget. “Expectations were high following a significant political transition, but the budget has turned out to be a disappointment,” he said. Bhattacharya also noted that the interim government bypassed the formal process of seeking cabinet approval before placing the budget.
Dr Selim Raihan, Executive Director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM), echoed similar sentiments. “This is a budget of missed opportunities.
The gap between expectation and delivery is stark. While new initiatives are being proposed, they are confined within an outdated fiscal framework,” he observed, stressing that the budget fails to address global economic uncertainties. “There have been some adjustments in the social safety net, but no major structural reforms,” he added.
CPD Special Fellow Dr Mustafizur Rahman criticised the reduction in the scope of social protection, warning that it undermines current priorities and may compromise future fiscal frameworks. He pointed to the meagre increase in the old-age allowance-from Tk600 to Tk650-despite the rising cost of living. “In real terms, the social safety net has weakened. This erodes public trust and the legitimacy of future governments to reclaim or expand such benefits,” he said.
Chartered accountant Zia Hasan highlighted that many large businesses have suffered sales declines due to inflation-an issue the budget does not adequately acknowledge. Similarly, Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, President of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB), said the budget has neglected the capital market. “The sector has been left in disarray, with virtually no supportive measures in the budget,” he remarked.
The dialogue also featured voices from underrepresented communities. Sanjibani Sudha, a representative of the transgender community, expressed frustration over the chronic gap between budgetary promises and implementation.
“Funds may be allocated on paper, but they never reach us. Our living standards remain unchanged, and we continue to be excluded from employment opportunities,” she said. Sharing her personal experience, Sudha recounted being dismissed from a bank job due to her gender identity, highlighting continued discrimination. “There is little support from either the government or private institutions in helping us integrate into society,” she added.
The event’s keynote presentation was delivered by Towfiqul Islam Khan, Senior Research Fellow at CPD. The programme was organised by the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs.
