Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman on Monday urged the government to take visible and effective steps to bring back public assets laundered abroad and the culprits saying that even one-ninth of the siphoned-off money would be enough to eliminate the budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year.

"Tk 28 lakh crore was laundered abroad over the 15 and a half years. But this budget contains neither any guideline nor any proposal on how that money will be brought back. If we can recover just one-ninth of the laundered money in the 2026-27 fiscal year through proper initiatives, there will be no budget deficit," he said.

The opposition leader said this while taking part in the general discussion on the proposed national budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year in Parliament.

Noting that the laundered money belonged to people and must be returned to them, he said, "The assets must be recovered and the culprits must also be brought back to face punishment. If so, none will dare anymore to extend their black hand to plunder public assets in future.”

He warned that overlooking the issue would encourage creation of even larger financial criminals in the future. "We want to see visible and effective steps in this regard," the opposition leader said.

He urged the government to pursue all legal avenues including signing necessary Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the countries concerned to recover the assets.

"But the pace must be like that of a deer, not a tortoise, because the sooner the assets are recovered, the more the state and the deprived people will benefit," he said.

Referring to the proposed budget, Shafiqur said he would neither describe it as large, small nor medium-sized. "I would say the nation needs a budget that truly meets its requirements," he said.

Though he expressed concern over the revenue target, he said the government could collect more revenue than the target set in the budget if it remains honest and demonstrates political will.

Drawing attention to the country's tax system, the opposition leader alleged that income taxpayers effectively paid three kinds of taxes.

"One goes to the state treasury, another ends up in the pockets of some dishonest people involved in the system, and the third goes to extortionists," he said.

He said if taxpayers could be assured that they would pay only one tax—the one deposited to the government—they would be more willing to pay higher taxes voluntarily.

Shafiqur also said the government must build confidence among businesses by standing beside them during difficult times.

"If confidence created among businesspeople that paying taxes is not a one-way tunnel, rather two-way tunnel—that they pay taxes in my good times and will receive support in difficult times—they will be encouraged to pay taxes in the same way businessmen do in developed countries," he said.

He focused on different issues, including education, Ebtedaiye Madrasha, Qawmi Madrasha, nationalizing the eligible non-MPO educational institutes, healthcare services, medical research and reduction of migration cost for overseas jobseeker by breaking syndicate of recruitment agencies;

Take humane-logical step over Ad-din Hospital:

He urged the government to take humane and logical steps soon regarding Ad-din Medical College and Hospital, considering the academic future of hundreds of medical students and nurses left in uncertainty following the suspension of it's licence by the government.

"I urge the government to give serious consideration to this issue in order to protect the academic careers and lives of the medical students and nurses," he said.

He said tens of thousands of people had been receiving healthcare services from the hospital, while around 750 medical students and an equal number of nursing students were now facing uncertainty over their academic future because of the licence suspension.

He also expressed concern that foreign students would lose interest in enrolling in such institutions in Bangladesh if they feared their education could be disrupted midway.

Shafiqur said if the hospital is not reopened very soon after completing the required reforms, all these students and nurses will remain in uncertainty, he said.

"If anyone is found guilty through a proper investigation, let them face trial and punishment—we have no objection," he said.

He said if it commits any wrong, it should be dealt with appropriately. "But our steps should be humane and logical," the opposition leader added.