The national budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year is being positioned as one aimed at restoring fiscal discipline, according to Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud.
He added that this year’s budget will not be an irresponsible one.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday (May 18) after a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka, Mahmud emphasized that the main objective is to ensure sustainable budget management. “This budget will focus on increasing revenue collection,” he stated.
The NEC meeting was chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The meeting approved the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY2025–26 with an expenditure allocation of Tk 2.3 trillion.
Additionally, autonomous bodies and corporations received ADP allocations amounting to Tk 85.99 billion.
As in previous years, the upcoming ADP has been formulated considering the country’s resources, foreign financing availability, and the macroeconomic context.
Priority has been given to projects funded by foreign loans/grants that are already in progress, as well as to initiatives focused on poverty reduction, employment generation, GDP growth acceleration, agriculture and agro-based industries, education, health, ICT, science and technology, power generation, disaster management, and rehabilitation.
Projects directly linked to human resource development and those under various ministries and departments were also prioritized.
The meeting was attended by members of the Advisory Council, the Cabinet Secretary, the Chief Secretary to the Chief Adviser, the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, members of the Planning Commission, and senior officials from relevant ministries and departments.
