The national budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 is set to be presented in Parliament at a time when Bangladesh is grappling with high inflation, sluggish revenue collection, pressure on foreign exchange reserves, and global economic uncertainty. Economists, business leaders, and ordinary citizens alike expect the upcoming budget to be realistic, employment-oriented, and effective in controlling inflation.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury is scheduled to place the budget before Parliament on June 11. It will be the first budget of the BNP-led government and also the first budget to be presented by Amir Khasru as finance minister. The government is formulating the budget amid a global economic slowdown and a public debt burden of nearly Tk 23 lakh crore, making the task particularly challenging.
Despite these challenges, public expectations remain high.
Speaking to The Daily Observer, BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, “We believe in realism. A country with a large population like Bangladesh naturally faces various limitations in governance. However, we are not discouraged. The journey forward has begun, and we will reach our desired goals, Insha’Allah.”
Key Priority Areas
According to sources at the Ministry of Finance, the upcoming budget is expected to prioritize inflation control, food security, economic recovery, higher growth, job creation, and the expansion of social safety net programs. Significant allocations are also likely for the Family Card and Farmers’ Card initiatives, financial sector reforms, education and healthcare, energy security, agriculture and agro-based industries, climate change adaptation, and infrastructure development.
Several senior BNP leaders have indicated that the government will begin implementing its election pledges through this budget. Special emphasis may be placed on canal excavation, tree plantation programs, Family Card initiatives, employment generation, and various community-based development projects.
Call for Greater Focus on Employment
Nationalist Jubo Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Nayan told The Daily Observer, “Creating employment opportunities for 15 million young people is one of our key electoral commitments. Therefore, the budget should include realistic employment plans for the youth. At the same time, opportunities for technical education, skills development, and foreign language training must be expanded.”
He added that due to a lack of language proficiency, many Bangladeshis working abroad are often confined to low-skilled jobs. Expanding foreign language education is therefore essential. He also called for easier access to credit for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs.
High Expectations Amid Limited Resources
Economic analysts believe the government's biggest challenge will be meeting public expectations with limited resources. While there are growing demands for expanded social protection programs, increased allocations for education and healthcare, and continued infrastructure development, the government must also maintain fiscal discipline in the face of revenue shortfalls and rising debt obligations.
For ordinary citizens, the foremost expectation is controlling the prices of essential commodities and reducing the cost of living. Persistent inflation over the past several years has hit low- and middle-income households particularly hard. As a result, people want to see effective measures in the budget to increase food production, improve market management, and strengthen consumer protection.
Emphasis on Reforms and Investment
Experts suggest that the budget may place greater emphasis on modernizing the revenue system, expanding the tax net, and ensuring transparency in public expenditure in line with reform programs supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other development partners.
They also recommend prioritizing investment in renewable energy, climate resilience, information technology development, and the creation of a skilled workforce to support long-term economic growth.
Farmers Seek Highest Priority for Agriculture
Nationalist Krishak Dal General Secretary Shahidul Islam Babul told The Daily Observer, “Agriculture is the main driving force of Bangladesh’s economy. Therefore, there is no scope to neglect this sector. Subsidies for farmers should be increased, agricultural loans should be made available on easier terms, and access to fertilizers and other farming inputs should be further improved.”
Demand for Increased Education Allocation
Nationalist Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib told The Daily Observer, “In FY2024-25, education spending accounted for only 1.5 percent of GDP. BNP pledged in its election manifesto to gradually increase this figure to 5 percent. We expect to see a clear reflection of that commitment in the upcoming budget.”
He also called for increased allocations for research, human resource development, youth training, and improving the quality of education.
A Major Test for the Government
According to stakeholders, the FY2026-27 budget will be more than just a statement of revenues and expenditures; it will serve as a key policy document outlining how the government plans to address current economic challenges while laying the foundation for futurInvestment
Balancing public expectations, implementing electoral commitments, and maintaining economic sustainability will be the government's greatest test. If it can successfully strike that balance, the budget is likely to be viewed as both people-cenInvestment
ffective.
