Every year, the government makes big promises during the national budget announcement, but everyday people are left to suffer when these plans fail. This warning came from a Member of Parliament during a recent debate on the country’s finances.
Speaking in parliament on Monday afternoon, lawmaker Rumeen Farhana strongly criticised the government’s spending plans. She pointed out that the proposed budget plans to spend 9.38 trillion taka but only expects to bring in 6.95 trillion taka. This leaves a massive cash shortage of 2.43 trillion taka. She explained that the real gap is usually even worse because the government rarely collects as much tax money as it hopes to. Because of this, the country is forced to rely heavily on loans from both local and foreign sources just to keep running.
Rumeen Farhana also asked direct questions about the Prime Minister’s recent trip to China. She urged the government to be clear about whether Bangladesh secured any new loans or business deals during the visit. She noted that when journalists asked the Foreign Minister about this, he avoided giving a direct answer, simply stating that the team did not go to beg. While agreeing that the country should not be begging, she stressed that the government must face the harsh reality of the current economy.
Beyond the budget shortage, Rumeen Farhana highlighted several deep problems that have troubled Bangladesh over the past four years. She pointed to everyday struggles that affect regular people, such as the rising cost of living, slow business growth, and a lack of new private businesses opening up.
Adding to these worries are poor tax collection, rising numbers of unpaid bank loans, and a shortage of ready cash in the banking system. Importantly, she also warned about the ongoing limits to the national energy supply. She stated that all these issues combined create a huge challenge for the country’s financial survival and stability.
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