A pre-budget discussion titled “National Budget for FY 2025-2026: A Pre-Budget Discussion” was held on Sunday afternoon at the International Conference Hall of the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT). 

The event, organized by the Department of Economics, drew significant attention from students and faculty members.

Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, Executive Director of the Institute of Inclusive Finance and Development (InM), attended the session as the chief guest. In his address, Dr. Mujeri underscored the importance of ensuring equitable access to resources through targeted policy reforms. He emphasized that the effectiveness of budget expenditure matters more than the size of the budget itself.

Calling for a comprehensive review of existing economic policies, Dr. Mujeri advocated for synchronized fiscal and monetary strategies, including interest rate adjustments, to combat high inflation. He also stressed the need for improving value chain efficiency, implementing stricter market regulations, and addressing non-performing loans (NPLs) in the financial sector.

Highlighting the role of the SME sector in entrepreneurship development, Dr. Mujeri remarked that quality education, workforce upskilling, and labor market alignment must be prioritized in budgetary allocations. He further proposed the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into public finance management to enhance productivity and reduce inefficiencies.

Presiding over the seminar, Dr. Md. Mahmudul Hassan, Chairman of the Department of Economics, stated that the public expectation from the upcoming budget is a reduction in commodity prices, which would contribute to economic satisfaction and stability.

Prof. Santi Narayan Ghosh, Dean of the School of Business and Economics and Director of the IQAC, emphasized that the national budget is a fundamental tool of fiscal policy. He called for greater transparency and accessibility in both the formulation and implementation of the national budget.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mahboob Ali noted the importance of balancing digitization with equitable growth, particularly in light of Bangladesh's upcoming graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status. He stressed that the budget must address the needs of youth employment and prepare the economy for impending changes in international trade tariffs.

The session featured participatory discussions led by faculty members Mahinoor Akter and Abu Sayed, with Suhana Islam serving as the moderator. Faculty members including Tareq Imam Jahid, Arifa Akter, and Mst. Nazmin Akter actively engaged in the Q&A segment.

Among student participants, Md. Ashikquer Rahman, President of the BUBT Economics Club, along with Himika Rahman and Syed Saifullah Zihadi, shared their thoughts and suggestions regarding the national budget.

Approximately 300 students from both undergraduate and postgraduate Economics programs attended the event. Prof. Dr. Ali Ahmed, Treasurer of BUBT, also took part in the discussion, contributing valuable insights.

The seminar concluded with a call for inclusive policy dialogue and effective execution of budget priorities to ensure sustainable economic progress.