Desk News: Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the main philosophy of the upcoming national budget is to democratize the economy and bring the poor and marginalized people into the mainstream of economic activities.
He said, “Low-income people have been deprived the most in Bangladesh’s budget. Therefore, we have given priority to the poor, low-income people and housewives first in the budget.”
The Finance Minister made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on ‘Budget 2026-27: Expectations and Reality’ organized by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) in the capital on Tuesday.
The Finance Minister said that formulating a budget in a short time is a tough challenge for the current government. The government is working to fulfill the expectations of the people despite the fragile economic situation left by the previous two governments.
He said that under the Family Card program, money will be transferred directly to the accounts of the beneficiaries and there will be no political influence or middlemen in this process.
He also said that by introducing the ‘Farmers Card’ for farmers, initiatives have been taken to ensure food security as well as improve their living standards.
Regarding the health sector, Amir Khasru said that the people of the country are spending extra on healthcare from their own pockets. For this reason, the government is giving importance to expanding universal and primary healthcare. In this regard, along with government institutions, the private sector and NGOs will also be involved.
The Finance Minister said that the ‘Creative Economy’ program has been taken to involve blacksmiths, potters, weavers, small artisans, theater workers and cultural workers in economic activities. They will be provided with skill development, loans, design assistance, branding and marketing assistance.
He said, ‘GDP does not come only from industries and factories. The creative sector, including culture, sports, and crafts, can also make an important contribution to the economy.
Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that the government’s goal is ‘democratization of economy’ so that all people in the country get the opportunity to participate in economic activities and enjoy the benefits of development.
Stressing the need to reduce regulation and bureaucratic complexity in business and trade, he said that various approvals should be given within the stipulated time frame. Initiatives are being taken to reduce unnecessary regulation in investment and business and build a ‘deregulation-free economy’.
Regarding budget implementation, he said that a dashboard system will be introduced to monitor the development projects of various ministries. Through this, it will be possible to quickly identify delays in project implementation or responsible persons.
Regarding the capital market, he said that the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) is being restructured and a new commission will be formed soon with professional and experienced people. This will increase the confidence of domestic and foreign investors and companies will be able to raise funds easily through the capital market.
He expressed hope that the country’s economy will gradually move towards stability and prosperity through various reform initiatives of the government.
The event, chaired by ERF President Daulat Akhtar Mala, was attended by Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Azam J. Chowdhury, Chairman of the East Coast Group, and Shawkat Aziz Russell, President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).
The event was moderated by ERF General Secretary Abul Kashem.
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