Opposition rejects budget despite tax cuts on essentials, wants to create unrest, mislead citizens: PM
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is also expected to visit the grave of Md Wasim Akram, one of the martyrs of the July Uprising, in Pekua and meet members of his family.
Highlights:
- PM Tarique Rahman defended the 2026–27 budget, saying it reduces taxes, lowers essential goods prices, and eases public financial pressure.
- He criticised opposition claims, saying their rejection of the budget is inconsistent and politically motivated.
- The budget introduces a "farmer's card" system and supports local industries through policy changes like import duties.
- Healthcare reforms include withdrawal of taxes on medical services, with major cost reductions for treatments like heart stenting and dialysis.
- He also launched a 25-crore tree plantation programme and attended several official events in Cox's Bazar.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has defended the proposed National Budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, saying it contains wide-ranging measures aimed at reducing taxes, lowering the cost of essential goods, and improving access to healthcare, while questioning the opposition's rejection of it.
Speaking at the inauguration of the re-excavation of Patli Canal at PM Khali union in Cox's Bazar Sadar today (13 June), he said the proposed budget has been designed to ease financial pressure on citizens and support public welfare.
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Criticising the opposition's stance, he said their rejection of the budget was inconsistent with its stated benefits.
"When taxes are reduced in a budget, the opposition does not accept it. When taxes on alcohol and cigarettes are increased, they still oppose it. Then what is their actual objective?" he asked the people.
Tarique Rahman alleged that the opposition party's position was aimed at creating instability and confusion among the public.
He said the budget includes special support for farmers through the introduction of a "farmer's card" system, which will be implemented in phases from this July and is expected to reach 8,000 to 10,000 farmers in every upazila within a year.
He also highlighted healthcare-related reforms, claiming that VAT and taxes on medical services and medicines introduced by previous governments had been withdrawn, which would reduce treatment costs.
He said the cost of heart stenting, previously around Tk1.25 lakh, would be nearly halved from July, while dialysis expenses would also fall due to lower costs of related medicines.
He added that taxes had been removed from around 60 essential commodities, including rice, pulses, oil, and salt, to help stabilise prices and control inflation following the budget announcement.
At the same time, he defended higher taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, describing them as harmful products, and said the policy was intended to discourage consumption while easing the burden on essentials.
He also said import duties had been increased on goods that are also locally produced to protect domestic industries and encourage job creation, adding that strengthening both agriculture and industry was necessary for balanced economic growth.
Rejecting claims made by the Jamaat-e-Islami-led opposition bloc, that the budget was "anti-people," the prime minister said the government's aim was to improve living standards and reduce financial pressure on citizens.
Earlier on 12 June, Jamaat called for a revision of the proposed national budget, saying it would encourage "looting and corruption" and was not implementable due to a large deficit, debt dependency, and unrealistic revenue targets.
The prime minister also visited Dulahazara Safari Park in Cox's Bazar during his daylong tour of the district.
He arrived at the safari park at around 2pm after inaugurating the re-excavation of the historic Patali Canal in Pmkhali Union. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, accompanied him during the visit.
He formally inaugurated a nationwide programme to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years, aiming to strengthen environmental protection and address the impacts of climate change.
The Prime Minister inaugurated the programme by planting a sapling of Garjan tree at Malumghat Reserved Forest in Dulahazara under Pmkhali Union of Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila at around 2:55pm.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and other ministers and lawmakers also planted saplings of 11 different species during the event.
The prime minister will later visit the grave of July Uprising martyr Md Wasim in Pekua and meet his family members.
He is also scheduled to take part in the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the newly formed Matamuhuri upazila and attend a prayer programme at 1:30pm.
Another foundation stone-laying ceremony for Pekua municipality is also on his itinerary.
After offering Zuhr prayers and having lunch in Pekua, he will leave for Chakaria, where he is scheduled to address a public rally at 4pm.
The prime minister will later visit Marine Drive and the sea beach before attending an exchange meeting with local dignitaries at a hotel in Cox's Bazar, concluding his visit.
