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In a break from longstanding tradition, Bangladesh’s interim government will announce the national budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 on Monday, June 2, instead of the customary Thursday in June, an official of the Ministry of Finance said.
The budget is expected to total Tk 7.90 trillion (Tk 7,90,000 crore), slightly lower than the current fiscal year’s original allocation of Tk 7.97 trillion. The decision was finalised during a high-level meeting of the Coordination Council on Financial, Monetary, and Exchange Rate Policy, alongside the Asset Management Committee, held at the Secretariat and chaired by Finance Advisor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.
This will mark the first national budget presented under the interim administration led by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.
Budget timing aligned with Eid-ul-Azha
The timing of the budget presentation has been adjusted to precede the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, expected in the second week of June. Following the budget’s formal declaration on June 2, a post-budget press briefing will be held the next day.
In the absence of a sitting National Parliament, the budget will be enacted through a Presidential Ordinance, accompanied by a televised speech from the Finance Advisor—mirroring the approach adopted during the 2007–08 fiscal year under a previous caretaker government.
Prioritising ongoing development projects
The proposed FY2025–26 budget emphasises fiscal prudence amid ongoing economic challenges. No new mega infrastructure projects will be launched; instead, the government will continue funding existing large-scale initiatives.
The Annual Development Programme (ADP) is slated to receive Tk 2.30 trillion, with focused investments in healthcare, education, information technology, and social safety nets.
Revenue and economic targets
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is expected to collect Tk 5.18 trillion in the upcoming fiscal year, up from a revised target of Tk 4.635 trillion for FY2024–25.
Key economic goals outlined in the budget include reducing inflation to 6.5% and maintaining the fiscal deficit below 5% of GDP. The GDP growth target for FY2025–26 has been set at 5.5%, reflecting cautious optimism amid global and domestic economic uncertainties.
The upcoming budget is seen as a critical test for the interim administration as it seeks to maintain economic stability, continue development progress, and prepare the groundwork for the next elected government.
