STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday presented a Tk 8,39,505 crore shadow budget ahead of the national budget for fiscal year 2026–27, which is scheduled to be placed in parliament tomorrow.

The shadow budget prioritises education and health and includes measures such as raising the tax-free income threshold to Tk 500,000, using National Identity (NID) card numbers as Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), increasing social safety net allowances, and introducing a new government pay scale.

Jamaat leader and Dhaka-12 MP Saiful Alam Khan Milon presented the proposal at an event titled “People-Oriented Budget Proposal 2026–2027” at Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar.

The shadow budget sets a revenue target of Tk 6,65,926 crore and projects an overall deficit of Tk 1,68,329 crore, equivalent to 2.43 percent of GDP.

Saiful said the proposals were based on the principles of equality, justice, and human dignity with the goal of building a welfare state.

He alleged that years of political patronage, corruption, and money laundering had weakened the country’s economic foundations. Recovering laundered money could help reduce the budget deficit, he said.

As part of tax reforms, the Jamaat proposed replacing the separate TIN system with NID numbers and introducing a “Smart Social Security Number” to widen the tax base.

Besides raising the tax-free income threshold for individual taxpayers from Tk 4,50,000 to Tk 500,000, the party proposed introducing tax rebates on educational expenses incurred by taxpayers, their family members, or dependents.

Under the social safety net programme, the Jamaat proposed increasing old-age, widow, and disability allowances, as well as benefits under the mother and child assistance programme, from the current Tk 650–900 per month to Tk 1,000 initially and gradually to Tk 3,000.

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