Photo: Video Screenshot

SANGSAD BHABAN, June 27, 2026 (BSS)- State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam today said the government is fully confident on successful implementation of the proposed budget for FY2026-27, describing it as a “people’s budget” designed to improve the living standards of grassroots people.

Participating in the general discussion on the proposed national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad, he said the budget has been formulated with the objectives of improving people’s quality of life, containing inflation, creating employments and accelerating economic growth.

“There is no concern regarding the implementation of the budget. It will be successfully executed by preventing corruption and curbing money laundering,” he said.

The state minister said this is the 17th budget of the BNP government. Five budgets were implemented during the tenure of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and 11 during the rule of Begum Khaleda Zia, while the proposed budget is the first under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership.

Calling it a “budget for people’s lives,” he said taxes on 61 essential commodities have been significantly reduced, ensuring that no unusual price hike occurred following the budget announcement. “Tax concessions on food items, agricultural products, fish, meat, edible oil, sugar, spices, vegetables and milk helped reduce the cost of living,” he added.

Highlighting healthcare initiatives, Mir Shahe Alam said customs duties on cardiac stents, dialysis equipment and 17 raw materials used by the pharmaceutical industry have been reduced to lower treatment costs and make healthcare more affordable.

Responding to opposition criticism, he said the country’s economy had suffered due to massive capital flight in the past, but the present government has taken effective measures to prevent corruption and money laundering. These initiatives will help save public resources and ensure successful implementation of the large budget, he said.

The state minister said the budget has allocated Taka 10.62 billion for the Farmers’ Card programme and Taka 123.73 billion to bring around 4.1 million families under the Family Card programme as part of the government’s election pledges, enabling direct delivery of state support to grassroots beneficiaries.

Regarding his ministry, he said Taka 402.45 billion has been allocated for the Local Government Division. Under the allocation, the government plans to construct 5,000 kms of new paved roads, repair 9,000 kms of roads, build 23,000 metres of bridges and culverts, construct 35 upazila parishad buildings, upgrade 55 cyclone centres and modernise 110 rural markets during the next fiscal year.

The allocation also given for construction of 1,000 kilometres of urban roads and footpaths, 392 kilometres of drains, installation of 120,000 tube wells nationwide, construction of 260 kilometres of water pipelines in municipal areas, 80,000 sanitary latrines and 250 public toilets. Taka 32.09 billion has been earmarked for strengthening local government institutions.

On local government polls, Mir Shahe Alam said the proposed budget includes the necessary allocation to hold local government elections within one year in line with the government’s commitment.

Rejecting opposition allegations that Bogura received preferential development allocations, he said LGED’s highest allocations over the past few months had gone to Cumilla, Narsingdi and Bagerhat, while Bogura ranked 16th.
“The allegation that Bogura has received special treatment was not based on facts,” he said, adding that the district had long been deprived of development and now deserves projects to bridge that gap.

The state minister said the government is working to meet people’s expectations and sustain the country’s economic progress, and sought cooperation from all quarters for successful implementation of the proposed budget.