Sangsad Bhaban : Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker ATM Azharul Islam on Sunday urged the government to ensure corruption-free implementation of the proposed national budget.

Taking part in the general discussion on the 2026-27 budget in Parliament, the Rangpur-2 MP said the proposed budget was prepared with the welfare of the people in mind but its success would ultimately depend on effective implementation.

He questioned the feasibility of the government's revenue targets, noting that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has repeatedly fallen short of its collection goals in recent years.

"The budget is highly ambitious. Without expanding the tax base, preventing tax evasion, curbing corruption and carrying out fundamental reforms in digital tax administration, these revenue targets will be difficult to achieve," he said.

Azharul also expressed concern over the government's growing debt burden, particularly interest payments which he said account for a significant share of operating expenditure.

Describing interest-based borrowing as incompatible with Islamic principles, he proposed that the government expand the use of Sukuk, or Islamic bonds, instead of relying heavily on conventional loans.

He said Bangladesh introduced Sukuk in 2020 and bonds worth around Tk 24,000 crore were issued by December 2025.

"If we can mobilise people's savings through Islamic financial instruments, the country can gradually reduce its dependence on interest-based borrowing," he said.

Excessive borrowing from domestic banks could crowd out private sector investment and hamper economic growth, he said.

He questioned the government's projection of achieving 6.5 percent GDP growth, saying the target appeared unrealistic given persistent inflation, energy constraints and global economic uncertainty.

Beyond economic issues, Azharul alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami was subjected to political persecution under the previous Awami League government.

He claimed that five senior Jamaat leaders were "executed through staged trials" and six other central leaders died in prison after being denied proper medical treatment.

He also referred to late Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, describing him as an internationally renowned Islamic scholar and said Bangladesh has witnessed the elimination of 11 top Jamaat leaders.

The lawmaker further criticised what he described as continuing political discrimination saying all parties should be treated equally.

Turning to governance, Azharul said corruption remained Bangladesh's biggest obstacle to development."No matter how good a budget looks on paper, corruption has always been the greatest challenge," he said.

He argued that corruption was largely committed by educated individuals in positions of authority and called for strengthening moral and religious education alongside conventional education.

He urged the government to prioritise ethical values in schools and colleges, saying legal measures alone could not produce honest citizens.

The Jamaat MP also defended his party against allegations that it "sells tickets to heaven", calling the claim misleading."We do not sell tickets to heaven. Prayers and fasting are the 'tickets' prescribed by Allah. We simply encourage people to follow religious teachings," he said.

Azharul also called for the implementation of the Teesta Barrage project, development of rural roads in Rangpur, greater support for madrasa teachers and the nationalisation of eligible madrasashas.