Budget is people-friendly, business-friendly: Financial Adviser

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed described the budget as both people-friendly and business-friendly.

He said it’s challenging to fully satisfy business interests. 

"Reducing taxes on one hand often requires increasing them elsewhere, and a sudden revenue surge isn’t feasible. This budget prioritises transparency and easing people’s lives over aggressive growth targets," he said.

Speaking at a post-budget press conference on Tuesday at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed was joined by Education and Planning Advisor Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud, Power, Energy, Roads, Bridges, and Railways Adviser Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, Home Affairs and Agriculture Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Commerce, Aviation, Textiles, and Jute Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin, Cabinet Secretary Ahsan H. Mansur, and NBR Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan, among others.

Finance Adviser stressed a shift in focus: "For too long, we’ve chased growth, but it hasn’t reached all levels of society. This budget aims to improve lives realistically, addressing challenges in inflation, banking, capital markets, and energy." 

He highlighted the government’s efforts to stabilise the financial sector, which was "on the brink of collapse" when they took office, likening the economy’s state to being in the ICU. 

Through collective efforts, inflation has been reduced, and the budget size has been cut for the first time, he added.

Rejecting claims that this year’s budget is merely a continuation of past ones, Dr. Ahmed stressed its forward-looking approach with a three-year plan to navigate economic challenges and enhance transparency and quality of life. 

He added, "We’re engaging with other countries and international organisations, and they view Bangladesh positively. While criticism in local media is expected, constant criticism requires us to provide explanations."