The National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday approved the Annual Development Programme (ADP) worth Tk 3,00,000 crore (three trillion) for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
This is the first time the size of the ADP has exceeded Tk 3,00,000 crore.
The overall ADP, including development expenditure by autonomous institutions, stands at about Tk 308,925 crore. The new ADP is Tk 1,00,000 crore higher than the current ADP.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting at the NEC conference room of the Planning Ministry in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.
The education and health sectors have been given priority in the new ADP. Among the top five ministries and divisions receiving allocations, three are the Health Services Division, the Secondary and Higher Education Division, and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. Allocations to these ministries and divisions have increased significantly compared to the previous ADP.
According to the ADP document, Tk 1,90,000 crore of the main ADP will be financed from domestic sources, while Tk 1,10,000 crore will come as project assistance from development partners. The ADP includes a total of 1,105 projects.
After the meeting, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury briefed reporters on the ADP. He said each ministry would have a dashboard to monitor whether projects are being implemented on schedule. Immediate action will be taken if project progress is found to be unsatisfactory.
He also said a review is underway to remove unnecessary projects from the ADP. In addition, new rules and regulations will be followed in appointing project directors, ensuring that only qualified officials are assigned to the role. Allegations of corruption against project directors have been reported in the past.
Responding to a question on whether the ADP was overly ambitious, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said a political government must remain ambitious and move forward with clear aspirations. He said investment is necessary to support the fragile economy inherited from the previous government, which is why a large ADP has been adopted.
Prime Minister's Finance and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Planning Md Jonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, and others were present at the meeting. The National Economic Council also approved a five-year reform and development strategy framework.
In the new ADP, the Local Government Division received the highest allocation of Tk 33,735 crore. The Road Transport and Highways Division secured the second-highest allocation at Tk 30,741 crore. The Health Services Division ranked third with Tk 26,806 crore.
The Secondary and Higher Education Division received the fourth-highest allocation of Tk 20,835 crore, while the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education obtained the fifth-largest allocation at Tk 19,441 crore.
