SANGSAD BHABAN, June 24, (V7N) — Lawmakers today said the budget for fiscal year 2026-27 has been announced to implement Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s welfare plans, aiming to develop the nation.

The remarks came during the general discussion on the FY27 national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury unveiled a Taka 9.38 trillion national 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.

“The proposed budget has earmarked significant allocations for education and health sectors, aiming to get significant output through developing the nation in line with the plan designed by the Prime Minister,” said BNP lawmaker Mohamed Koysor Ahmed from Sunamganj-3.

He noted that education and health allocations in FY26 were Taka 95,644 crore and Taka 41,908 crore, or 1.53 percent and 0.67 percent of GDP, respectively. For FY27, education has been allocated Taka 1,36,606 crore and health and family welfare Taka 69,409 crore, representing 2 percent and 1.02 percent of GDP.

“The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has got double allocation compared to previous revised budget allocation. This historic 1% of GDP threshold is aimed at expanding healthcare services, with promising duty cuts on medical equipment and raw pharmaceutical materials,” he added.

BNP lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiyan from Narayanganj-1 said the government has prioritized education and health to develop human resources and face global challenges.

Citing a recent World Bank report, opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Marzia Begum (Women seat-38) said around 44 percent of families face crisis due to excessive expenditure, while 20-30 percent of the health sector allocation remains unused each year. She added that weak management and lack of physicians and equipment in government hospitals are hampering quality health services.

Opposition lawmaker Quamrul Hasan from Mymensingh-6 said the government should ensure proper implementation of the health budget, noting that 5-8 lakh people go abroad for treatment annually at a cost of Taka 55,000 crore, roughly equal to the health sector allocation.

BNP lawmaker Kazi Rafiqul Islam from Bogura-1 said implementation of the budget will help realize all government pledges.

On budget formulation, opposition lawmaker Muhammad Nazibur Rahman from Pabna-1 said lawmakers have no participation in the process, unlike in the United Kingdom where MPs are closely involved. He stressed increasing accountability, reducing corruption, strengthening parliament’s role, and taking steps to curb discrimination between rich and poor to make the budget truly people-oriented.

Opposition lawmaker Izzatullah from Satkhira-1 said foreign debt now stands at Taka 30,00,000 crore and the government will have to pay Taka 1,27,000 crore in interest on foreign loans.

Other lawmakers who took part in the discussion included treasury bench members Dewan Mohammad Salahuddin (Dhaka-19), Abdus Salam (Thakurgaon-2), M Mahmudul Haque Rubel (Sherpur-3), Abu Wahab Akanda Wahid (Mymensingh-4), Alamgir Mohammed Mahfuz Ullah Farid (Cox’s Bazar-2), Musammat Shammi Akther (women seat-22), KM Babor (Gopalganj-2), Atiqul Alam (Cumilla-7), Sultana Ahmed (women seat-17), Sadique Reaz (Dinajpur-2), Rabiul Awal (Tangail-6), Shah Md Wares Ali Mamun (Jamalpur-5), Mazharul Islam (Kishorganj-1), Shahjahan Chowdhury (Cox’s Bazar-4), Rokon Uddin Babul (Lalmonirhat-2), Saching Prue (Bandarban), and opposition lawmakers Shaikh Manzurul Haque Rahad (Bagerhat-2), Abdul Alim (Bagerhat-4), Nurun Nesa Siddiqua (women seat-37), Subikunnahar (women seat-39), and Masum Mostafa (Netrokona-5).

END/AJ/RH