BMP demands clear allocation data, fiscal commitment

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) has expressed mixed reactions to the proposed gender budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

It has demanded clear data on budgetary allocations, along with the government's fiscal commitment towards gender parity by addressing the rights and empowerment of all marginal communities.

At a press conference titled "Gender Budget 2026-27: Analysis and Expectations" at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Thursday, BMP leaders said the budget lacked clear data on allocations for preventing violence against women, ensuring workplace safety, and maintaining equal wages.

While overall allocations rose, funding, specifically for cyber security, technological capacity building, and decent work for women, actually decreased, said Jahangirnagar University Professor Sharmind Nilormi in her keynote.

She noted that gender-related allocations for FY27 were 34.8 per cent of the total budget and 4.8 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), showing a slight increase from previous years.

However, the implementation of announced initiatives like childcare centres and farmer cards for women remained ambiguous, she said.

BMP President Dr Fauzia Moslem, General Secretary Maleka Banu, and Professor Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha also spoke on the occasion, among others.

smunima@yahoo.com