Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday alleged that the Opposition is opposing the proposed national budget for FY2026-27 not to protect public interests but to create instability in the country and mislead people.

“I saw in the newspapers, Alhamdulillah that so far no commodity prices have increased following the budget unlike in the past,” he said while addressing a brief gathering after inaugurating the re-excavation work of the historic Patali Canal in Pmkhali Union under Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila.

Tarique said taxes on around 60 essential products including rice, lentils, edible oil and salt have been withdrawn in the budget announced two days ago so that prices of daily necessities do not rise.

“The objective is simple – to ensure that people can live well,” he said.

Criticising the Opposition’s rejection of the budget, Tarique questioned its position on measures intended to ease the burden on consumers.

“The Opposition says it does not accept this budget and calls it anti-people. I want to ask you a question. They do not accept a budget that reduces taxes. They do not like a budget that increases the prices of alcohol and cigarettes. Then have you understood what their real intention is?” the Prime Minister said.

“Their objective is not to stand beside the people of the country. Their only goal is to create instability and unrest in the country and mislead people,” he added.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presented the proposed budget for FY2026-27 in Parliament on Thursday.

Highlighting the budget’s emphasis on production and employment, Tarique said Bangladesh must strengthen industry and commerce alongside agriculture.

“Bangladesh is an agriculture-based country. But at the same time we must build industries and expand trade. If industries and businesses grow, employment opportunities will be created for our young people. They will be able to find jobs and engage in business activities,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the government has increased taxes on imported products that compete with locally manufactured goods in order to protect domestic industries.

“We have raised taxes on imported products that are also produced locally so that our domestic industries and manufacturers can receive support. We have included such measures in this budget. Yet even this is not acceptable to the Opposition,” he said.

Tarique said the people, not any political party or family, are the true owners of the country.

“I want to say that you are the owners of this country. No political party is the owner of the country, no family is the owner of the country. The owners of the country are its 200 million people,” he said.

Before addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister formally launched the canal re-excavation work by digging soil with a spade and planting a sapling on the canal bank.

He said BNP draws its strength from people and pledged to continue working for the welfare of the country and its citizens.

“The people are the source of all power for BNP. Public support is our greatest support and our greatest strength. As long as we live, we will continue to work for this country and its people because this country is BNP’s first destination and its last destination,” Tarique said.

Calling for collective efforts to build the nation, he said, “If we can build this country, we and our children will live better lives. That is why we say: let us work, build the country, and put Bangladesh first.”

The Prime Minister said BNP believes in politics for the welfare of the people and that his government has already started implementing various election pledges aimed at improving the lives of ordinary citizens.

He said the government has introduced initiatives such as the Family Card and Farmers’ Card programmes to support low-income families and farmers.

“We are standing beside farmers. We are standing beside ordinary people. Every commitment we made before the election is being implemented step by step,” he said.

Tarique said the government wants to build a self-reliant rural economy through expanded irrigation facilities, agricultural support and employment generation programmes.

Highlighting the significance of the canal restoration project, he said re-excavating canals across the country would help boost agricultural production, improve water management and benefit rural communities.

The gathering was presided over by Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila BNP President Abdul Mabud.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad, Cox’s Bazar-3 lawmaker Lutfur Rahman Kajal and local BNP leader Harunur Rashid, among others, addressed the programme.