Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said the government is working to reduce unnecessary public expenditure while ensuring that essential sectors receive adequate funding.

He made the remarks on Tuesday (August 18) while attending the Revenue Conference 2026 as the chief guest at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.

Responding to a question about the government’s spending plans, the prime minister said, “We are trying to reduce expenditure in unnecessary sectors. However, spending will certainly be made where it is necessary.”

He also stressed the importance of ensuring that everyone properly performs their respective responsibilities, saying this could help bring positive changes to the country.

The prime minister further said the issue of penalties for revenue officials would be considered seriously.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and the prime minister’s adviser on finance and planning, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, were present on the stage.

The Revenue Conference 2026 was jointly organised by the Internal Resources Division of the Ministry of Finance and the National Board of Revenue (NBR), with senior NBR and relevant government officials attending.