Stamford University hosts symposium on FY2026-27 national budget

Stamford University Bangladesh organised a post-budget symposium on the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, bringing together policymakers, economists, academics and industry leaders to discuss its implications for the country's economy.

The symposium was jointly organised by the university's Department of Business Administration and Department of Economics, according to a press release.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sharif Nafe As-Saber presided over the event and said effective utilisation of public resources was as important as budget allocations. He stressed the need for stronger coordination among the government, industry and educational institutions to ensure successful implementation of the national budget.

Among the keynote speakers, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed said the country's electricity generation capacity is expected to reach 7,000 megawatts by 2030.

Dr. Iftikhar Mostafa, senior agricultural economist at the World Bank, said a national budget reflects the aspirations of the people and emphasised the importance of adopting a people-centred approach to budget formulation.

AKM Sohel, additional secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), said investment in Bangladesh had increased significantly compared with the previous year, indicating growing confidence among domestic and foreign investors.

Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), described the proposed budget as an improvement over last year's, saying it would support the country's industrial and export sectors.

Former National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman and former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) commissioner Dr. Nasir Uddin Ahmed discussed the challenges faced by India and Pakistan in implementing large-scale solar power projects.

The programme was moderated by Faria Kabir, assistant professor of the Department of Business Administration, and jointly conducted by her and Susmita Banik, assistant professor of the Department of Economics.

The welcome address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Abdus Sattar, chairman of the Department of Economics. Other speakers included Mohammad Nazmul Huq, head of the Department of Marketing; Mohammad Azizul Haque, director of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC); and Farjana Sultana, assistant professor of the Department of Economics.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Md. Golam Rabbani, head of the Department of Management and Human Resource Management.

The symposium was attended by Proctor Dr. Mrityunjoy Acharjee, Registrar Mohammad Abdul Matin, Head of Public Relations Prodeepto Mobarook, deans, department chairpersons, faculty members and students.

The discussion concluded with a call for closer collaboration among the government, industry and academia to ensure effective implementation of the national budget and promote sustainable economic growth.