Jamaat, NCP Criticise FY27 Budget Proposal

Logo of NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

Political parties reacted sharply to the proposed national budget for FY2026–27 on Thursday, with both Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) criticising the fiscal plan and questioning its economic viability.

At a protest rally in the capital shortly after the budget was presented, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders described the proposed budget as “anti-people” and alleged that it would place additional tax burdens on ordinary citizens.

Speaking at the rally, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad claimed the proposed Tk9.38 lakh crore budget failed to reflect public expectations and instead followed what he described as a conventional approach centred on taxation and borrowing.

He alleged that the budget would increase pressure on citizens while expanding debt liabilities and criticised what he called an overreliance on loans and taxes.

Azad also argued that the proposed fiscal plan favoured affluent groups rather than addressing the concerns of lower-income citizens.

Following the rally at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, party supporters brought out a protest procession through Paltan and Vijaynagar, demanding revisions to what they termed an unfavourable budget.

Meanwhile, the National Citizen Party (NCP) also criticised the proposed budget, describing it as overly ambitious and disconnected from current economic realities.

NCP Joint Convener and chief of its shadow budget committee, Atik Mujahid, questioned the feasibility of the government’s revenue target and warned that the actual budget deficit could be significantly higher than officially projected.

He argued that the proposed revenue target of Tk6.95 lakh crore may prove difficult to achieve under prevailing economic conditions and warned of a substantial shortfall.

While acknowledging that the proposed outlay is the largest in the country’s history, the NCP leader cautioned that it could also become one of the largest deficit budgets if revenue projections fall short.