Tk 3 lakh crore development budget approved for FY 2026–27

Bangladesh’s National Economic Council (NEC) has approved a record Tk 3 lakh crore Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY 2026–27, aiming to rebuild the fragile economy and support long-term state reforms.

The approval came on Monday (May 18) at the Planning Commission in Agargaon, Dhaka, in a meeting chaired by NEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the ADP is designed not only for infrastructure development but also for administrative modernization, balanced socio-economic growth and sustainable economic recovery.

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Of the total allocation, Tk 190,000 crore will come from government funds and Tk 110,000 crore from foreign loans and grants. Including Tk 8,924 crore from autonomous bodies and state corporations, total development spending will exceed Tk 308,924 crore.

Transport and communication received the highest allocation at Tk 50,092 crore, followed by education, health, power and energy, and housing.

The Local Government Division got the highest ministry-wise allocation of Tk 33,735 crore, while the Roads and Highways Division received Tk 30,741 crore.

A major debate has emerged over Tk 118,288 crore kept as block allocation for unspecified sectors, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

Economists have also questioned implementation capacity, as only 36.19 percent of the current fiscal year’s ADP was executed in the first nine months.

The government has directed ministries to speed up project implementation, ensure financial discipline and complete priority projects within the set timeline.