The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) today passed a
Taka 9,38,000 crore national budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, which
outlines the BNP government’s comprehensive roadmap to shape a human economy.
The budget for next fiscal set targets to accelerate economic growth to 6.5
percent and bring inflation down to 7.5 percent.
This was the maiden budget for the Finance Minister after BNP formed the
government this time following a landslide victory on February 12 general
election. A BNP-led government had last presented its national budget for the
fiscal year 2006-’07 under then Finance Minister M. Saifur Rahman.
The budget for FY27, the first presented by Finance Minister Amir Khasru
Mahmud Chowdhury, is 19 percent larger than the original Taka 7,90,000 crore
budget for the current fiscal year.
The fiscal deficit has been projected at Taka 2,43,000 crore, equivalent to
3.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), while the overall
budget size represents 13.7 percent of the projected GDP for FY2026-27.
As part of the government’s economic roadmap, the finance minister unveiled a
“3R Strategy” aimed at reviving the economy and supporting Bangladesh’s
ambition of becoming a US$1 trillion economy.
The strategy comprises Recovery and Stabilisation, Restoration, and
Reconstruction for Acceleration, and will be implemented in three phases over
a period of one to five years.
Key features of the budget include a revenue collection target of Taka
6,95,000 crore, of which the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is expected to
collect Taka 6,04,000 crore.
To facilitate implementation of the budget, Finance Minister Amir Khasru
Mahmud Chowdhury moved the Appropriation Bill, 2026, today seeking
authorisation for government expenditure amounting to Taka 15,15,439 crore.
The bill was passed by voice vote.
Earlier on Monday, the Parliament passed the Finance Bill, 2026 with several
significant amendments, including raising the tax-free income threshold and
abolishing the provision requiring disclosure of investments.
Before passage of the Appropriation Bill, ministers concerned presented
justifications for expenditure under their respective ministries through 59
demands for grants covering both development and non-development spending.
The House also rejected, by voice vote, some 1,343 cut motions submitted by
opposition lawmakers against the 59 demands for grants.
A total of 43 MPs from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party
(NCP) and independent members moved the cut motions and participated in
discussions on 36 ministries and divisions.
The 36 ministries, divisions and offices included in the opposition’s list
for cut motions are: the Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Division, Ministry
of Public Administration, Bangladesh Public Service Commission Secretariat,
Finance Division, Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of
Bangladesh, Internal Resources Division, Financial Institutions Division,
Economic Relations Division, Planning Division, Implementation Monitoring and
Evaluation Division (IMED), Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Law and Justice Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of
Primary and Mass Education, Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry
of Science and Technology, Health Services Division, Information and
Communication Technology Division, Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of
Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of
Housing and Public Works, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry
of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Agriculture,
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Land,
Ministry of Water Resources, Road Transport and Highways Division, Ministry
of Railways, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Posts and
Telecommunications Division, and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Upon the request of the opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Speaker
expedited the passage of the demands for grants imposing guillotine.
Opposition and independent MPs were present in the House when the
Appropriation Bill was passed and did not object to its adoption.
The session was chaired by JS Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram.
