National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary and Rangpur-4 MP Akhtar Hossain told parliament that Bangladesh’s government debt has increased by over one trillion taka within four months of the current administration taking office. He said the total debt rose from about 23 trillion to 24 trillion taka. Hossain made the remarks during Thursday’s budget session chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.

He questioned the government’s commitment to implementing the referendum mandate, including forming a constitutional reform council and ensuring judicial independence. Hossain cited the finance minister’s statement acknowledging economic disruption and the need for political reform. He also claimed that the International Monetary Fund withheld loans due to the absence of economic reforms and criticized the government for not addressing banking sector irregularities.

Hossain further alleged that the economy has become fragile, with high inflation and rising defaulted loans. He criticized the government for increasing electricity and fuel prices twice in three months before announcing the budget, arguing that price hikes began even before the budget was presented.