Economist and Distinguished Fellow Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya has cautioned that Bangladesh’s newly proposed debt-dependent budget could pose challenges to fiscal discipline. Speaking to reporters on June 11 after leaving the national parliament’s budget session, he said the budget relies heavily on foreign loans and includes large lump-sum allocations across several sectors. According to him, the success of the budget will depend on its effective implementation.

Dr. Bhattacharya noted that the budget emphasizes liberalization, building a humane economy, and promoting digital inclusion. It also mentions allocations for youth and marginalized groups. However, he argued that the financial framework designed to implement these policy goals remains weak, with significant dependence on external borrowing. This, he warned, could undermine fiscal stability in the future.

He added that the government’s ability to maintain reform continuity and efficiently execute the budget will be the key test in the coming days.