Salehuddin begins budget speech

NN Online :
Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed has unveiled a proposed national budget of Tk 7.9 trillion for the fiscal year 2025-26. He began delivering the budget speech at 3 PM on Monday.

With no active parliament in session, the interim finance minister’s address is being aired live on state-run BTV, Bangladesh Betar, and several private television channels.

Salehuddin described the proposed budget as reform-oriented, aiming to establish a sustainable economic framework. “Our goal is to ensure that the benefits of development reach all citizens, not just a privileged few,” he said.

This marks the first time since 2008 that a national budget is being presented outside of a functioning parliament. On June 9 of that year—also a Monday—then Finance Advisor AB Mirza Md Azizul Islam, under a military-backed caretaker government, introduced a budget worth Tk 999.62 billion for FY2008-09.