DHAKA, -June 30 (V7N): Notun Dhara Bangladesh (NDB) Chairman Momin Mehedi criticized the newly passed state budget, stating that the BNP-led government has "shot itself in the foot" by pushing through a massive, whimsical fiscal plan. Speaking at an NDB meeting at Topkhana Road on Tuesday afternoon, Mehedi warned that the administration will soon face harsh economic realities due to the immense budget deficit, while claiming the financial plan creates an opportunity for the opposition Jamaat-NCP alliance to exploit national resources. He asserted that the budget was designed for public show rather than genuine national welfare and will ultimately increase public suffering.
During the discussion, other senior NDB leaders—including Presidium Member and freedom fighter Fazlul Haque, Senior Vice Chairman Shanta Farzana, and Vice Chairman Chandan Sengupta—directed strong criticism toward both the government and the 11-party opposition alliance. The leaders pointed out that despite 74 MPs from the Jamaat-NCP alliance entering parliament following the anti-discrimination movement, they have remained completely silent regarding a highly controversial trade agreement with the United States.
The NDB leadership issued a one-week ultimatum demanding the immediate cancellation of the US bilateral agreement, threatening to launch a continuous agitation program—including a siege of the parliament building—if the government fails to act. They argued that the trade deal, which they claimed was originally brokered by the "Yunus clique" under the guise of protecting the garment industry, severely damages Bangladesh's domestic economy. According to the NDB leaders, the agreement heavily penalizes vital local sectors—including pharmaceuticals, poultry, dairy, agriculture, and e-commerce—and traps the current administration in an economic bind that further jeopardizes the nation's financial stability.
end/ma/rh/
