Dhaka: Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed announced that the upcoming national budget for FY26 will be practical-based and implementable, as the interim government has considered macroeconomic and social issues in its formulation. Dr. Salehuddin emphasized that the budget will address key concerns such as inflation, trade, foreign currency reserves, and revenue mobilization, marking it as time befitting.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, in an interview at his office, Dr. Salehuddin highlighted that the budget would be the first for the interim government led by Nobel laureate Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. With the Jatiya Sangsad not in session, the budget will be presented via a televised speech and formalized through a presidential ordinance.
Officials involved in the budget process anticipate a Taka 7,90,000 crore budget for FY26, which is Taka 7,000 crore smaller than the current fiscal year’s original budget. This will also be the first televised budget speech by an interim government since 2007-08. The focus will be on sectors such as power, energy, infrastructure, education, agriculture, and health, avoiding projects with limited benefits.
Dr. Salehuddin criticized past projects that benefited a small group and pledged that future initiatives will aim to reach a broader population. He assured that the budget deficit will not exceed 4 percent of GDP, and resource mobilization will prioritize internal sources, with support from development partners, the World Bank, ADB, and IMF’s loan package.
The government aims for optimum fund utilization to avoid misuse and reduce loan and tax burdens, ensuring maximum benefits. Dr. Salehuddin stated that while the budget size considers rising costs, it will not be expansionary, avoiding unnecessary expenditures.
Austerity measures will focus on ensuring “value for money” by completing projects on time to avoid overruns. Although the budget has a one-year implementation timeframe, any successive government can modify it as necessary.