Members of Parliament on Monday voiced concerns over drug trafficking, border crime, political reforms, public spending and social issues while participating in the general discussion on the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026-27 in the Jatiya Sangsad.
National Citizen Party (NCP) MP Abdullah Al Amin questioned whether Bangladesh was facing a form of “drug war” imposed by a neighbouring country, alleging that narcotics were being used to undermine the country’s younger generation and capture its market.
He said drug abuse had become a nationwide problem and reminded the House that the Home Minister had announced a joint anti-drug drive after Eid during a previous session.
“If we fail to tackle drugs and engage our young people productively, many of our development plans will fail and the country will not be able to move forward,” he said.
BNP MP Reza Ahmed urged the government to take stern action against armed groups operating in char areas along the Padma River across parts of Kushtia, Natore and Rajshahi districts.
He said disputes over government-owned land and sand extraction had already led to several killings in the region.
Referring to public perceptions, he noted that some people were blaming BNP for the recent rise in violence and called on the Home Minister to stop illegal sand extraction regardless of political affiliations.
Reza also highlighted the growing flow of narcotics across the border in his constituency, which has a 42-kilometre frontier, and requested additional police vehicles to strengthen law enforcement.
Laxmipur-2 MP Shahadat Hossain Selim called for a clear policy framework for the management of private terminals at ports and urged the government to prioritise national interests in foreign investment decisions.
He also criticised extravagant spending on weddings and pre-wedding celebrations, saying such practices contradicted religious values and contributed to inflation. He suggested enforcing the Guest Control Act to curb excessive expenditure.
NCP MP Nusrat Tabassum said the spirit of the July mass uprising remained unfulfilled, alleging that forces associated with the previous regime continued to wield influence despite being removed from power.
She urged the protection and promotion of indigenous culture, claiming that “cultural fascists” had helped sustain the former authoritarian system.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish MP Syed Uddin Ahmad Hanzala called for the restoration of the histories of Haji Shariatullah and Titumir in school textbooks, arguing that their contributions had inspired patriotism among Bangladeshis.
He praised the electoral process as fair and highlighted the hardships faced by expatriate Bangladeshis, including harassment at airports and delays in obtaining passports. He urged authorities to address their grievances promptly.
Hanzala also drew attention to persistent electricity shortages, saying local residents frequently contacted him about power outages and warning that the issue needed urgent resolution.
Jamaat-e-Islami MP Mahbubur Rahman Belal described several targets in the proposed budget as overly ambitious and warned that financing the deficit through money printing would fuel inflation.
He further argued that the government had yet to implement reforms endorsed through a national referendum and cautioned that public dissatisfaction over the issue could lead to renewed political unrest, potentially undermining the environment needed for budget implementation.