Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) lawmaker Andaleeve Rahman on Saturday urged the government to place Bhola’s vast natural gas reserves at the centre of the country’s long-term energy and economic strategy, arguing that the district could become the engine of Bangladesh’s future growth if backed by major infrastructure investment.
Speaking during the FY2026-27 budget debate in Parliament, the Bhola-1 MP said the district possesses around 1.3 trillion cubic metres of natural gas reserves yet continues to suffer from inadequate infrastructure that limits investment and economic development.
“Bhola is full of gas resources. We should treat it as the heart of Bangladesh’s future economy and invest accordingly,” he said.
He urged the government to accelerate several long-pending projects, including the Bhola-Barishal bridge, an airport, a university and improved healthcare facilities, saying better transport and public infrastructure were essential to unlock the district’s energy potential and attract industries.
The lawmaker also called on the Prime Minister to establish a Bhola Development Committee to coordinate development priorities and speed up the implementation of strategic infrastructure projects.
Alongside his proposals on energy, Andaleeve praised the proposed FY2026-27 national budget, saying it reflected a welfare-oriented approach rooted in justice and humanity rather than authoritarian governance.
“I see a message in this budget—that we care and it matters. This is the difference between an autocratic state and a government that works for the welfare of its people,” he said.
Referring to the early Islamic state in Madinah, he said justice and humanity should remain the guiding principles of Bangladesh’s development.
He welcomed budget allocations for family cards, support for people with disabilities, export promotion, start-ups, healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry, describing them as measures aimed at improving public welfare.
The BJP MP also called for greater promotion of Islamic banking, arguing that the sector was gaining global acceptance and could contribute to economic development.
“The world is moving towards Islamic banking. We should also promote it because we believe it brings divine blessings alongside economic development,” he said.
While acknowledging that Bangladesh could not immediately replace the conventional banking system, he said Islamic financial services should be expanded gradually.
He further proposed creating a national database of zakat recipients and a digital platform linking donors, including expatriate Bangladeshis, with eligible beneficiaries to improve transparency and efficiency.
“Many people want to pay zakat but do not know where to give it. If we create a proper database and digital platform, it will become much easier for both local and overseas Bangladeshis to contribute,” he said.
Andaleeve also suggested launching a dedicated television channel to raise awareness about zakat and encourage charitable giving.
Defending the government’s revenue targets, he argued that previous shortcomings in tax collection stemmed largely from institutionalised corruption under the former Awami League government. He added that large banking scandals had become less frequent under the current administration and urged all political parties to support the budget as a national priority rather than a partisan issue.
He concluded by congratulating the government on the proposed budget and expressing hope that all political parties would work together to ensure its successful implementation.
