SANGSAD BHABAN, June 22, 2026 (BSS) - Treasury bench lawmakers today defended the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026-27, describing it as a comprehensive roadmap for economic recovery, while criticizing opposition members for dismissing it as an "unrealistic dream".

Participating in the general discussion on the budget in the Jatiya Sangsad, BNP lawmakers said the government had formulated the budget to rebuild a fragile economy and lay the foundation for long-term growth.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury unveiled a Tk 9.38 trillion budget on June 11, setting a GDP growth target of 6.5 percent, up from the provisional 4.14 percent growth recorded in the outgoing fiscal year.

BNP lawmaker Ekramul Bari Tipu of Naogaon-4 said the budget outlines a five-year plan for economic reconstruction, but opposition parties are criticizing it without considering its broader vision.

He said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's development agenda is reflected in the proposed budget and claimed that the public had responded positively, noting that prices of essential commodities did not increase following its announcement.

Urging opposition members to assess the budget beyond numerical targets, Tipu said its long-term planning and policy direction should also be taken into account.

BNP lawmakers M Mazibar Rahman Sarwar of Barishal-5 and Lutfur Rahman of Cox's Bazar-3 expressed confidence that the budget would be successfully implemented, describing it as ambitious yet achievable.

M Quamruzzaman of Munshiganj-3 said transformative economies such as South Korea and Singapore had progressed through bold and challenging budgets, arguing that Bangladesh should pursue a similar path.

Helen Jerin Khan, a BNP lawmaker from a reserved women's seat, said the budget had generated hope among citizens aspiring to build a new Bangladesh. BNP MP M Amirul Islam of Sirajganj-5 expressed confidence that the government would achieve success through effective implementation of the budget.

Jashim Uddin of Cumilla-5 said the budget was designed not only to address current challenges but also to create opportunities for future generations through investment and economic expansion.

Opposition members, however, questioned several aspects of the proposed budget.

Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Mahbubur Rahman Belal of Rangpur-3 argued that the revenue target of Tk 695,000 crore was unrealistic. He noted that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) had collected Tk 326,000 crore against the revised target for the current fiscal year and faces a projected shortfall of Tk 88,000 crore.

According to the NBR, total revenue collection may reach Tk 415,000 crore by the end of June against a revised target of Tk 503,000 crore.

National Democratic Party lawmaker Tasmia Prodhan said no allocation had been earmarked for implementation of the proposed Teesta Master Plan despite government commitments.

Treasury bench lawmaker Jahrat Adib Chowdhury said the budget had increased allocations for education and social safety net programmes to harness the country's demographic dividend.

Opposition lawmaker Keramat Ali of Chapainawabganj-1 called for higher allocations for madrasa and vocational education, noting that Tk 18,457 crore had been earmarked for madrasa education out of the total Tk 122,000 crore education budget.

National Citizens Party (NCP) lawmaker Nusrat Tabassum Joty urged the government to increase funding for the Forest Department to strengthen protection of the Sundarbans and other major forests.

Several lawmakers participated in the session.