CPB terms FY27 budget 'hollow' and anti-people
CPB says inflation control measures are missing or inadequate
The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) has expressed its inability to support the proposed national budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year, describing it as anti-people in character and "hollow" in implementation.
In a reaction to the proposed budget announced today (11 June), CPB leaders said the large-size budget lacks any credible direction for reducing living costs and creating new employment opportunities, and instead is likely to deepen inequality.
In a statement sent to the media, CPB President Kazi Sajjad Zahir Chandan and General Secretary Abdulla Kafi Ratan said that although the proposed budget is of a large size, it appears "ineffective and hollow" in terms of implementation.
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They argued that the budget does not offer any realistic hope of reducing the cost of living or generating new jobs, adding that it will further widen income and social disparities.
The leaders noted that out of the proposed Tk9.38 trillion budget, Tk127,000 crore has been allocated for interest payments on debt. At the same time, the government plans to borrow nearly Tk250,000 crore to finance the budget deficit, which they said reflects growing dependency on debt.
CPB leaders also said the budget fails to provide a clear roadmap for controlling inflation, which remains high in the country. They expressed scepticism over the government's targets for growth and inflation reduction, saying there is little confidence in their achievement.
They further alleged that presenting a large budget size is being used to divert public attention from the country's underlying economic challenges, including high inflation and economic distress.
Compared with past budgets, they said that in FY2010–11, the budget size was Tk113,815 crore, accounting for 16.9% of GDP. In contrast, the FY2026–27 budget, proposed at Tk9.38 lakh crore, represents only about 13.6% of GDP.
According to CPB, although the budget size has increased nearly eightfold over 15 years, the state's financial capacity has not grown proportionately and has, in relative terms, declined.
The party also criticised the Finance Minister's budget presentation, saying it gives the impression that the government is attempting to hide the severity of inflation and other economic weaknesses from the public.
