Noting that not everyone reads the book prepared on the budget, Mohammad Najibur Rahman, Member of Parliament of Pabna-1 Constituency (Jamaate-e-Islami), said, ‘We do not read this document, we do not feel the need to read it. Because, we do not formulate this budget, our role is only to pass the budget, to rubber stamp it.’
Najibur Rahman said these things in the general discussion on the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 in the Jatiya Sangsad on Wednesday. At that time, he also said, ‘If we really want to establish a parliamentary democracy, then we have to change this culture. Members of Parliament should be involved in budget formulation. By law, the permanent committees related to the ministry should be arranged to review this budget.
Najibur Rahman said, ‘We parliamentarians are debating about the budget, how much is our participation in the actual budget formulation? In parliamentary democracies like ours, parliamentarians have more involvement in budget formulation.’ He said, ‘In the United Kingdom, the Finance Bill was brought to the floor after scrutiny by the Standing Committee of the Parliament. In many other countries, the budget is sent to various ministry-related standing committees after general discussion. After a detailed review there, it comes back to Parliament. But in our country the budget is formulated by the bureaucrats. The role of our parliamentarians is limited to a few minutes of rants.’
Najibur Rahman said, ‘Government party members are calling this budget a breakthrough. What really? Analyzing the budgets of the last decade, it will be seen that there has been no major structural change except for some numerical and linguistic changes. I am sad to say that this budget is the same as previous years, evasion of good luck, anti-people and plans for next year’s looting. He said, ‘This budget cannot be called the biggest budget if inflation is calculated. It is rather the biggest budget, the most loan-dependent budget.’
Najibur Rahman said, ‘There are 2 types of taxes, direct and indirect taxes. Only 2.4 million people pay direct taxes in a country of 18 crore people. A lot of trickery has also been done in the field of direct taxes. The middle class is burdened with additional taxes. Everyone in the country regardless of rich or poor pays indirect tax. You have increased the scope of VAT, VAT has increased on 20 products including gas cylinders. This VAT is the same amount that a beggar pays to buy rice, pulses, salt and oil, and a millionaire pays the same amount. Is this a budget for the poor? The government is giving many cards, it would be better if they gave a VAT exemption card for poor people.’
This member of parliament of Jamaat said, ‘We have to take effective steps to save the nation from the curse of interest. Allah Ta’ala said, if we are in need, then we should gradually come out of usury. We take action, God will help inshallah. In this case, Zakat can play a big role in alleviating our poverty.’ He said, ‘The way looting is happening in the country now, the people will not trust the government with zakat. The government gave its hands to an Islamic bank, and the people withdrew 4 thousand crore rupees in seven days. Let that be another matter. For this, my proposal is that under the supervision of the leading ulama of the country, Zakat should be given more importance and an effective poverty alleviation program should be taken.
Najibur Rahman said, ‘The demand of stopping politics in mosques has been raised in this Parliament. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has also been demanded to be banned. I want to say, we have seen such fascist demands made by the leaders and workers of a party before. Today people have banned them.’
