, June 15 -- Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Convener of the Citizen's Platform on Monday said the budget's fiscal architecture remains "devoid of realism" despite its welfare-oriented rhetoric.

The national budget, while thoughtfully designed in its policy framework, falls critically short in reaching the country's most disadvantaged citizens, he said while presenting a detailed analysis at a media briefing at BRAC Centre in Mohakhali.

"The real budget question is not how much we are spending, but whose vulnerabilities we are choosing to protect," he said.

Debapriya said FY26 economic growth of 4.14 percent became "exclusionary", failing to lower prices, raise real wages or c...