Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman described the current Parliament as a “gathering of the oppressed” and urged the Speaker to act as a strong commander in leading the House. Speaking during the concluding session of the national budget debate on Wednesday, he said a well-functioning Parliament would restore public confidence and inspire collective nation-building. He also expressed concern over Dhaka’s poor condition and waterlogging, proposing a coordinated master plan and special budget allocation to address the crisis.

Dr. Rahman criticized the unequal distribution of budget funds, alleging that opposition constituencies were deprived of fair allocations. He called for merit-based inclusion of educational institutions in the MPO list and urged the government to end the practice of political favoritism. He welcomed increased allocations for education and health but emphasized focusing on citizens’ real needs. He also condemned the wasteful culture of installing nameplates on public projects and called for ending such practices.

The opposition leader demanded a nationwide anti-corruption initiative, stressing that corruption must be rooted out through collective political will. He thanked the prime minister for prioritizing financial discipline and urged strict action against corrupt individuals regardless of political affiliation.