Senior Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders call for transparency, accountability and greater public participation as Bangladesh prepares to unveil a record-sized national budget
By Mir Lutful Kabir Saadi
Dhaka: As Bangladesh prepares to unveil what is expected to be its largest-ever national budget, a senior opposition leader has warned that public spending must not become a vehicle for corruption and elite enrichment, arguing that decades of expanding budgets have failed to deliver commensurate improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.
Speaking at a policy dialogue titled “National Budget Perspectives” in Dhaka on May 24, Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former MP said that successive governments had presided over dramatic increases in state expenditure since independence, yet many citizens continued to struggle with economic insecurity and limited opportunities.
“Bangladesh’s first national budget amounted to only Tk 7.86 billion,” Parwar said. “The proposed budget for the coming fiscal year is expected to reach approximately Tk 9.38 trillion. However, despite this enormous expansion over the past 55 years, the aspirations of the people have not been adequately reflected, nor has there been a proportionate improvement in their quality of life.”
The event, organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and attended by economists, policy experts, journalists and political leaders, was held at the auditorium of the Economics Reporters’ Forum in the capital’s Paltan district. The meeting was chaired by Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, Assistant Secretary General of the organisation, and moderated by Advocate Matiur Rahman Akand, a member of the Central Executive Council.
The keynote paper was presented by Professor Dr. A.K.M. Waresul Karim, Dean of the School of Business and Economics at North South University. Among those who addressed the gathering were Md. Nurul Islam Bulbul, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka Metropolitan South; Nurunnisa Siddika, Central Secretary of the Women’s Department of Jamaat-e-Islami and Member of Parliament for a reserved women’s seat; Advocate Sabikun Nahar Munni, Secretary of the Law and Human Resources Division and Member of Parliament; Kh. M. Kabirul Islam, former Senior Secretary.
Masumur Rahman Khalili, Executive Editor of Daily Naya Diganta; Mir Lutful Kabir Saadi, Chief Editor of OutlookBangla.com and Dhaka Bureau Chief of Radiance News; Rakayet Ullah Mridha of The Daily Star; Sadrul Hasan, Acting Editor of Dhaka Post; Towhidul Islam Khan, Director (Additional Research) at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); and Salahuddin Bablu, News Editor of SA TV, among others spoke on the occasion.
Concerns Over Governance and Accountability
Parwar argued that Bangladesh’s budgetary process should be evaluated not merely by the size of public expenditure but by its effectiveness in improving citizens’ welfare and strengthening economic governance.
He cautioned that, at times, national budgets had become “instruments of plunder,” enabling corruption, rent-seeking, and misuse of public resources. He urged policymakers to ensure that the upcoming budget is guided by transparency, accountability, and the broader national interest.
“We call upon the government to provide clear policy direction so that the budget does not become a tool for corruption and looting,” he said.
The remarks come at a time when Bangladesh faces mounting economic pressures, including inflation, foreign exchange challenges, rising debt-servicing obligations and concerns about governance standards. Public debate over fiscal priorities has intensified as the country seeks to sustain economic growth while addressing social inequality and unemployment.
Opposition Seeks Greater Role in Economic Policymaking
Parwar emphasised that political opposition parties should play a constructive role in shaping national economic policy rather than remaining confined to criticism.
“An opposition party’s responsibility does not end with speaking in parliament,” he said. “Government and opposition alike must contribute to national development.” He added that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which describes itself as an ideologically driven political organisation, remains prepared to contribute policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the economy and addressing national challenges.
According to Parwar, effective economic management requires broad-based participation and a commitment to long-term national interests rather than short-term political considerations.
Call for a More Inclusive Budget Process
Also addressing the gathering, Nurul Islam Bulbul, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka South Metropolitan unit, criticised what he described as a disconnect between budget planners and the realities faced by citizens and productive sectors of the economy. He argued that the traditional budget-making process often lacks sufficient political participation and stakeholder engagement.
“In many cases, those responsible for preparing the budget fail to fully appreciate conditions on the ground,” Bulbul said. “Bangladesh needs to move beyond conventional budget preparation methods and adopt a more participatory and inclusive approach.”
According to him, the primary objectives of fiscal policy should be improving living standards, reducing poverty and promoting sustainable economic development.
Agriculture and Domestic Resources Highlighted
Bulbul identified agricultural development as a critical component of Bangladesh’s long-term economic strategy, arguing that the country cannot achieve developed-nation status without significant improvements in agricultural productivity. He also warned that rising public expenditure, if not accompanied by stronger anti-corruption measures, could simply result in largescale misuse of resources.
“If corruption is not addressed, an increase in the size of the budget will inevitably be accompanied by an increase in the scale of corruption,” he said. The opposition leader further questioned excessive dependence on foreign borrowing as a development strategy.
He argued that sustainable economic growth requires greater emphasis on domestic resource mobilisation, exploration of natural resources and investment in mineral extraction and energy development. “An economy cannot gain momentum if budgetary planning is built primarily around external debt,” Bulbul stated. “There must be clear policy direction regarding the exploration and utilisation of domestic and mineral resources.”
A Broader Debate over Bangladesh’s Economic Future
The comments reflect a broader national debate over the direction of Bangladesh’s economy as policymakers seek to balance ambitious development goals with fiscal discipline and social equity. While the government has highlighted infrastructure expansion, economic growth, and poverty reduction as major achievements over recent decades, critics argue that governance deficits, corruption, inequality and limited institutional accountability continue to constrain the full benefits of development.
As the country prepares to announce another record-sized budget, questions surrounding transparency, public spending efficiency, debt sustainability and inclusive growth are expected to remain at the centre of political and economic discussions.
For both supporters and critics of the government, the challenge remains the same: ensuring that a larger budget translates into tangible improvements in the lives of Bangladesh’s citizens rather than merely expanding the scale of state expenditure.
