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National Citizen Party MP Atiqur Rahman Mujahid has accused the government of discriminating in public fund allocation across districts, citing the proposed 2026-27 budget. Speaking in parliament, he questioned the principle of 'Bangladesh first,' suggesting it should mean equal treatment for all regions, not prioritizing one area over others.

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There were times when critics used to say ‘Gopalganj first’. Now should we say ‘Bogura first’? This is not the Bangladesh we want. If it is truly ‘Bangladesh first’, then every corner of the country must receive equal budgetary treatment.

Mujahid pointed to the Bogura district's Shibganj upazila, which he described as receiving an unusually high allocation of Tk 76 crore, while other areas received nothing. He questioned the "miraculous charisma" behind such disparity, contrasting it with past criticisms of 'Gopalganj first.'

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While other areas receive nothing, one upazila alone gets Tk 76 crore -- what kind of miraculous charisma is this?

Turning to defense, the MP argued that the budget's allocation is insufficient for national security. Out of Tk 42,000 crore for defense, Tk 35,000 crore is for operational expenses, leaving only Tk 7,000 crore for capability development. He warned of ongoing security challenges, including border intimidation from Myanmar and insurgent activities in the hill districts.

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How can our defence be ensured with that?

Mujahid urged increased defense spending, comparing Bangladesh's allocation to that of India and Myanmar. He stressed that protecting sovereignty requires prioritizing defense, even if it means making sacrifices, as the nation's freedom is under constant threat.

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We spend far less. To protect our freedom, even if we must skip a meal, we must allocate more for defence. Our sovereignty is under constant threat, and it is our duty to defend the nation.