Home
+
Published : 25 Jun 2026, 07:55 PM
East West University (EWU) has hosted a seminar on the national budget, bringing together three of the country's top economists to assess its impact on citizens, businesses, and the broader economy.
The event, titled "National Budget 2026-27: Priorities and Perspectives", was held on Jun 25, 2026 at the university's Aftabnagar campus in Dhaka.
Prof Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), acknowledged positive steps in the budget -- including tariff reductions to ease export and business operations.
But he cautioned that the government's target of 18 percent additional revenue collection was "nearly impossible" given current shortfalls.
He warned that mounting debt servicing costs could push Bangladesh into a long-term debt trap once principal repayments on mega projects fall due.
Prof AK Enamul Haque, director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), stated that corruption remained the biggest barrier to the budget delivering for ordinary people. He urged the government to introduce a cashless transaction system nationwide.
Prof Mohammed Farashuddin, former governor of Bangladesh Bank and chairperson of EWU's Board of Trustees, welcomed the budget's first-ever provisions for the elderly.
However, he said it failed to address growing inequality and suggested the government consider extracting coal in Dinajpur to ease the country's energy crisis.
All three speakers stressed that proper implementation would be critical to meeting targets on education, employment, inflation, LDC graduation, and sustainable growth.
Faculty, university officials, and a large number of students attended the seminar, with many raising questions during an active question and answer session.
