Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday called for making the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) more responsible and accountable, saying it should serve as the principal forum for resolving people's problems rather than becoming a venue for political confrontation or "entertainment".

Speaking at a post-budget exchange meeting with journalists at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad complex, he said the opposition would continue to support every government initiative that benefits the country while firmly opposing any measure that undermines people's rights or democratic values.

Referring to the recently passed national budget for FY27, Shafiqur said several proposals put forward by the opposition had been incorporated into the final budget.

He welcomed the withdrawal of the proposed provision allowing the whitening of undisclosed money, saying the opposition had taken a firm stand against it.

He also appreciated the removal of the proposed advance tax on small and marginal traders, describing it as a positive step for low-income businesspeople.

The opposition leader further welcomed the government's assurance that duties on imported bicycle parts would be reduced through a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO), arguing that the bicycle industry generates employment, supports exports and primarily serves low-income people.

At the same time, he expressed disappointment that several key opposition proposals had not been accepted. Among them was changing Bangladesh's fiscal year from July-June to January-December to better align with the country's weather conditions and reduce the year-end rush in development spending.

He alleged that a large portion of development expenditure is typically concentrated in the final months of the fiscal year, resulting in waste, inefficiency and misuse of public funds during the monsoon season.

Shafiqur also proposed introducing periodic budget evaluations every three to four months instead of relying solely on supplementary budgets at the end of the fiscal year. Such a system, he said, would strengthen parliamentary oversight and improve accountability in public expenditure.

"A large budget is not a problem if there is a national vision. The real challenges are implementation capacity and corruption. Unless these are addressed, people will not receive the actual benefits of the budget," he said.

Turning to constitutional issues, he said the opposition would continue its campaign to implement the reform agenda through peaceful democratic means.

The opposition leader said political stability could only be achieved through cooperation between the treasury and opposition benches.

Commenting on parliamentary practices, Shafiqur called for greater opportunities for opposition lawmakers to participate in debates, saying procedural imbalances should be addressed to ensure meaningful parliamentary democracy.

He also urged equal treatment of ruling and opposition MPs in development allocations, saying public resources belong to all citizens irrespective of political affiliation.

Dr Shafiqur said his party had honoured its election pledge by refusing to avail itself of duty-free vehicle facilities and government residential plots for personal ownership, while clarifying that official accommodation allocated to lawmakers during the parliamentary term was different from permanent ownership.

He also criticised the absence of adequate allocations in the budget for institutions related to the July Movement, including the July Museum and the July Foundation, saying their contributions deserved due recognition.

Highlighting the issues facing migrant workers, the opposition leader said, "We will continue to raise our voice inside and outside parliament for the rights of migrant workers. We will not remain silent while poor people are exploited.”

Shafiqur also voiced strong support for implementing the Teesta Master Plan, saying millions of people living in the river basin had suffered for decades and deserved a permanent solution.

On foreign policy, he said Bangladesh should implement projects solely on the basis of national interests while maintaining mutual respect with neighbouring countries and adhering to an independent foreign policy.

The opposition leader reiterated that his party would continue to pursue democratic politics peacefully and responsibly, rejecting violence and confrontation.

He also described the media as one of the four essential pillars of the state, alongside the legislature, executive and judiciary, and urged journalists to continue performing their watchdog role with fairness and independence.

He expressed hope that the media would continue to highlight the constructive contributions of both the government and the opposition in strengthening parliamentary democracy.

Senior leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami were present at the event.