No scope for revolutionary budget overnight: Finance Adviser

Dr. Saleuddin Ahmed, Adviser for Finance

Dhaka, June 3 - Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday said it is not feasible to suddenly shift from the traditional macroeconomic framework and formulate a revolutionary budget overnight.

“Many people thought we would propose a dramatic revolutionary budget, we would bring heavy revenue…this is not possible, but it is also not true that we are just following the footprints of the previous government,” he said.

The Adviser made the statement while speaking at a post-budget press conference held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

He said the interim government aims to make the budget realistic, implementable and pragmatic, despite facing challenges such as inflation, energy concerns, issues in the banking sector and revenue shortfalls.

Talking about the move to get rid of the narrative of growth during the previous Awami League regime, he questioned who the beneficiaries of this growth were.

“It was not transferred to everyone properly, it is fine to have growth, but we want to improve the livelihood of the common people, make it easy, increase their purchasing power, ensure peace and discipline in the country, and improve the atmosphere for the business. We have decorated the budget like that,” he said.

Salehuddin mentioned that it was possible for the government to overcome all challenges. “The path is Bumpy and tough in the future,” he added.

About addressing all public demands, the Adviser said the government respects those but it would not be possible to meet all of them. “Overall the budget is a pro-people and pro-business one,” he claimed.

The Finance Adviser also called upon the people of the country and the media personnel to come up with a collaborative approach and make positive criticism to implement the budget and thus take the country ahead.

“Historically, the performance of Bangladesh is good. Our pace was a bit sloth before we assumed responsibility, but we’re trying to move forward…our goal is to make the livelihood of the common people, putting due attention to safety nets. Every country of the world alongside the development partners poses a very positive impression about Bangladesh,” he added.

Citing the immense potentials of the country, he urged all to seize such potentials keeping pace with time.

Mentioning that reforms are going on in different sectors, he said this government would carry out reform initiatives as much as it can and thus leave a footprint before the successive government to pursue those.

Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud, Home and Agriculture Adviser Lt Gen. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Power, Energy, Mineral Resources, Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur, Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder and NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan, among others, spoke at the press conference.

Earlier, on Monday, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed unveiled a Tk 7,90,000 crore national budget for the FY26 through a pre-recorded televised speech since the Jatiya Sangsad is not in place. - UNB