Budget focuses on inclusive growth, youth and creative economy development
Despite crises in many areas, the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27) has given importance to all sectors of the economy that indicates the needs of people of all classes of the society have got a balanced significance.
Talking to BSS about their observation about the national budget, some members of the young generation said if the announced budget is fully implemented, the country's economy will move further towards stability.
They said Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in his budget speech has focused on various important issues, such as controlling inflation, increasing revenue collection, reforming the financial sector, developing domestic industries and attracting foreign investment.
Ariful Islam, entertainment secretary of Dhaka University Chhatra Dalm, said, “For the large segment of young society, alongside jobs, the creative economy such as freelancing, digital content, game development, animation and software exports can create new employment opportunities. With this goal, initiatives like tax exemptions for the creative sector, startup funds, creative hubs, skill development programmes and incentives for digital exports have been taken in the budget.”
“These steps will encourage young people to become entrepreneurs and prove that the government sees the youth not just as job seekers, but as future innovators, entrepreneurs and driving forces of economic growth,” said Ariful.
Abujar Gifary Efat, a student of the Sociology Department at Dhaka University, said, "A budget sets the direction of a country. So, I want to see alignment between the budget announcement and its implementation."
Expressing confidence considering the BNP government's various activities over the past few months, he said, “Positive signs from the government are already being noticed. Unlike before, there hasn't been a rush of price hikes for various products or services immediately after or before the budget. I quite like the ‘Three R’ strategy (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) of the budget. It provides a clear guideline for all sectors.”
Another student from the Bengali Department Atik Shahriar Hamim told BSS, “This budget can be defined in many ways. This budget is the voice of farmers, workers, students and the middle and lower classes of society. Despite the ongoing crisis, seeing this timely budget model, it feels like I'm looking at the budget of a European country.”
Monsur Rafi, member Secretary of Dhaka University’s Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall Chhatra Dal, said, “Given the reality of the current nearly devastated economic situation, the demand of the time was to create a small and medium business-friendly budget without leaning towards ambition.”
“If the creative economy mentioned in the national budget for the FY27 can be implemented, it has the potential to bring revolutionary change to the country's economy. Overall, I believe the entire nation, especially the youth and middle class, are seeing new rays of hope around this budget," he added.
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury presented the national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad titled 'Economic Democratization and Deregulation: Development for All' on Monday with a total outlay of Tk 9.38 lakh crore. Compared to the original budget of the current fiscal year (FY26), the size of the proposed budget is increasing by Tk 1.48 lakkh crore. The original budget size for the current fiscal year 2025-26 was Tk 7.90 lakh crore.
