Andaleeve Rahman, a lawmaker from the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), on Saturday praised the proposed national budget for FY2026-27, saying it reflected a welfare-oriented mindset focused on justice and humanity, while urging the government to promote Islamic banking, institutionalising zakat management and accelerating infrastructure development in Bhola.
Participating in the budget discussion in Parliament, the Bhola-1 MP said the proposed budget demonstrated that the government was committed to serving people rather than exercising authoritarian rule.
"I see a message in this budget—that we care and it matters. This is the difference between an autocratic state and a government that works for the welfare of its people," he said.
Referring to the early Islamic state in Madinah, Andaleeve said justice and humanity were its two fundamental pillars, arguing that similar values should underpin Bangladesh's development.
He welcomed provisions in the budget for family cards, support for physically challenged people, export promotion, startups, healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry, saying they reflected the government's intention to improve public welfare.
The BJP lawmaker also proposed creating a national database of zakat recipients to make the distribution of zakat more efficient and transparent.
He suggested developing a digital platform and mobile application to connect donors, including expatriate Bangladeshis, with eligible recipients.
"Many people want to pay zakat but do not know where to give it. If we create a proper database and digital platform, it will become much easier for both local and overseas Bangladeshis to contribute," he said.
Andaleeve also proposed launching a dedicated television channel to promote awareness about zakat and facilitate charitable giving.
Highlighting the growing global acceptance of Islamic finance, he called on the government to strengthen Islamic banking.
"The world is moving towards Islamic banking. We should also promote it because we believe it brings divine blessings alongside economic development," he said.
While acknowledging that Bangladesh could not switch overnight from the conventional banking system, he said the country should gradually expand Islamic financial services.
The MP also defended the government's revenue targets, arguing that previous failures in tax collection were largely due to institutionalised corruption under the former Awami League government.
He claimed that large-scale bank scandals had become less frequent under the current administration and urged all political parties to support the budget as a national issue rather than engage in partisan politics.
Turning to regional development, Andaleeve pressed for greater investment in Bhola, saying the district possessed around 1.3 trillion cubic metres of natural gas reserves but lacked adequate infrastructure.
He reiterated demands for an airport, a university, improved healthcare facilities and the long-awaited Bhola-Barishal bridge, saying these projects were essential to attract investment and unlock the district's economic potential.
"Bhola is full of gas resources. We should treat it as the heart of Bangladesh's future economy and invest accordingly," he said.
He also urged the Prime Minister to establish a special Bhola Development Committee to coordinate the district's development priorities and ensure faster implementation of key infrastructure projects.
Concluding his speech, Andaleeve congratulated the government on the proposed budget and expressed hope that all political parties would work together to ensure its successful implementation for the country's benefit.