Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Basad) staged a protest rally demanding a people-oriented national budget with increased allocations for education, healthcare, agriculture and social protection.

The party also demanded cancellation of the trade agreement signed with the United States, withdrawal of plans to lease Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company, reversal of increased fuel, gas and electricity prices, and effective action against child rape and the ongoing measles situation.

The rally, organised by the Dhaka city unit of the party, was held in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Friday, where party leaders sharply criticised the government’s proposed budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year.

The rally was chaired by Basad’s Dhaka city unit’s In-Charge Nikhil Das. Among others, Basad central committee General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz, central committee member Zulfikar Ali, city unit leaders Ahsan Habib Bulbul, Jakir Hossain, and Rukhsana Afroz Asha addressed the rally.

The event was conducted by Khalequzzaman Lipon.

Speaking at the rally, Bazlur said that the government had announced the largest budget in the country’s history, amounting to Tk9,38,000 crore, with a deficit of Tk2,43,000 crore.

He argued that the plan to finance the deficit through domestic and foreign borrowing was a matter of concern for the economy.

He alleged that the government had set an ambitious revenue collection target without explaining why it failed to meet revenue targets in the current fiscal year.

According to him, indirect tax burdens on ordinary people have been increased following recommendations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while source taxes benefiting the wealthy have been reduced.

Basad leaders said that although the budget promises employment generation and inflation control, it lacks any concrete roadmap to achieve those objectives.

They argued that military and other non-productive sectors continue to receive priority, while people-oriented sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture and social protection remain neglected.

The speakers also criticised provisions allowing the legalisation of undisclosed income, commonly known as black money.

They claimed that although the Constitution discourages the enjoyment of unearned income, the budget’s provisions would encourage corruption by creating opportunities to whiten illicit wealth.

The leaders further said that increases in fuel, gas and electricity prices have intensified the suffering of ordinary people. They also expressed concern over the worsening measles situation, alleging that adequate measures have not been taken to address it. Basad demanded that measles be declared a “public health emergency” or epidemic.

Referring to violence against women and children, the speakers said the culture of impunity and the erosion of social values have contributed to a rise in such incidents. They demanded speedy justice in the rape and murder of Ramisa and all other cases involving child sexual violence.

Basad leaders also opposed plans to lease the profitable New Mooring Container Terminal at Chattogram Port to the foreign company DP World. They alleged that the process, initiated under previous government, has been continued by the current government despite concerns over national economic interests.

The party further demanded the cancellation of the trade agreement signed with the United States, describing it as unequal and contrary to national interests.

According to the speakers, the agreement could pose threats to Bangladesh’s agriculture, pharmaceutical industry, financial sector and trade, while undermining the country’s sovereignty.

The rally concluded with a call for a broader mass movement against what Basad leaders described as domestic and foreign exploitation, imperialist aggression and anti-people policies.