Dhaka: The National Economic Council (NEC) is set to deliberate on a proposed Annual Development Programme (ADP) valued at Taka 3,00,000 crore for the fiscal year 2026-27 in its upcoming meeting. The aim of this program is to sustain inclusive economic growth, enhance infrastructure, bolster social protection, and accelerate climate-resilient development, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman scheduled to preside over the meeting.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, officials at the Bangladesh Planning Commission have outlined that the proposed ADP includes Taka 1,90,000 crore from government funds, amounting to 63.33 percent, and Taka 1,10,000 crore from project loans and grants, constituting 36.67 percent. The proposed ADP signifies a 50 percent increase compared to the revised ADP of the current fiscal year, with domestic resource allocation rising by 48.44 percent and external financing increasing by 52.77 percent.
The ADP proposal prioritizes a range of areas including poverty reduction, employment generation, women’s empowerment, regional balanced development, tourism, blue economy, green growth, and the enhancement of living standards through sector-specific development interventions. Planning Commission officials have indicated that the total outlay under the proposed ADP could reach Tk 3,08,924.83 crore if self-financed projects of autonomous bodies and corporations are included. Of this, Tk 1,98,923.93 crore would come from government and own financing sources, while foreign loans and grants would contribute Tk 1,10,000.90 crore.
The proposed ADP comprises 971 investment and survey projects with an allocation of Tk 1,78,914.63 crore and 107 technical assistance projects involving Tk 2,796.28 crore. Furthermore, Tk 38,027.49 crore has been proposed under the ‘special development assistance’ block allocation to support newly approved and ongoing projects during the fiscal year, with an additional Tk 17,000 crore earmarked for social development assistance.
Planning Commission officials, speaking to BSS, have highlighted the significance of the ADP size for a developing nation like Bangladesh. Dr. AK Enamul Haque, Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), noted that the crucial factor is not the size of the ADP but the selection and timely implementation of suitable projects. He emphasized that corruption and wasteful spending are fundamental challenges, with projects often costing significantly more than they should. Proper project selection should focus on social benefits, feasibility studies, and professional implementation.
The working paper for the proposed ADP indicates that the transport and communication sector is set to receive the highest allocation of Tk 50,092.53 crore, accounting for 16.70 percent of the total proposed ADP. The education sector is expected to receive Tk 47,591.12 crore or 15.86 percent, while the health sector is likely to be allocated Tk 35,535.50 crore, representing 11.84 percent of the total outlay. The power and energy sector is proposed to receive Tk 32,691.54 crore or 10.90 percent, with the housing and community facilities sector slated to get Tk 20,361.72 crore, accounting for 6.79 percent of the total allocation. Collectively, these five sectors will account for more than 62 percent of the total proposed sectoral allocation.
Among the ministries and divisions, the Local Government Division is expected to receive the highest allocation of Tk 33,735.10 crore or 11.25 percent of the proposed ADP. The Roads and Highways Division would get Tk 30,741.36 crore or 10.25 percent, while the Health Services Division is likely to receive Tk 26,806.26 crore. The Secondary and Higher Education Division is proposed to get Tk 20,835.44 crore or 6.95 percent, and the Primary and Mass Education Ministry may receive Tk 19,440.59 crore or 6.48 percent. The Power Division is likely to receive Tk 14,938.66 crore or 4.98 percent of the total proposed allocation.
The Science and Technology Ministry is proposed to get Tk 17,403.74 crore, the Health Education and Family Welfare Division Tk 8,220.85 crore, the Shipping Ministry Tk 8,206.53 crore, and the Water Resources Ministry is also noted for a significant allocation under the proposed ADP framework. The Planning Commission has recommended prioritizing projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Adaptation Plan (NAP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), Green Climate Resilient Development (GCRD) strategy, and the Delta Appraisal Framework (DAF). Priority is also suggested for projects with confirmed foreign financing, PPP initiatives, climate-resilient infrastructure, and regionally balanced development.
According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), the ADP implementation rate from July 2025 to March 2026 stood at 36.19 percent, with total expenditure amounting to Tk 75,607 crore against the revised allocation of Tk 2,08,936 crore for the current fiscal year. The new ADP will incorporate a total of 1,121 development projects, significantly lower than the 1,333 projects under the current Revised ADP (RADP). A total of 26 projects identified for completion in the current fiscal year will be carried over to the next fiscal year.