Road Transport, Bridges, Shipping and Railways Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has downplayed opposition criticism of the proposed national budget, saying he does not take their remarks seriously. Speaking on June 28, 2026, he compared Bangladesh’s deficit budget approach with that of the United States and China, arguing that concerns about revenue shortfalls are misplaced. He suggested that opposition members would better understand how to critique budgets after spending more time in opposition.

The minister stated that he had not heard significant criticism in parliament, only some concerns about possible revenue deficits. He assured that revenue collection would improve through the use of e-invoicing and reduced tax exemptions. He added that tax evasion would be addressed through identification measures and a revised VAT structure. According to him, the government aims to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio closer to 13–14 percent, similar to Nepal and Bhutan.

Sheikh Robiul Alam further noted that bank borrowing had decreased from 1.18 trillion taka in fiscal year 2025–26 to 1.12 trillion taka in the new budget, expressing confidence that revenue targets would be met.