Bangladesh budget 2025-26

Opinion / The upcoming budget should deliver economic stability

Controlling inflation should be a top priority for the interim government.

Tax-free income limit may rise to Tk 3.75 lakh

The government is planning a series of measures in the upcoming national budget to alleviate the tax pressure on individuals and businesses, including raising the tax-free income threshold and relaxing certain compliance requirements.

Let this budget mark a break from the past

Strengthen budget transparency to build public confidence

Bangladesh lags behind LDC-graduating peers in public spending and revenue mobilisation efforts

Bangladesh’s fiscal deficit is projected to remain above 4 percent of GDP through 2026, as revenue growth continues to fall short of expanding public expenditure.

Retreating from pandemic-era peak

Bangladesh’s national budget is now shrinking in relative size even as the government struggles to deliver on its development commitments.

Be realistic, avert risks

In a country weighed down by high inflation, dwindling fiscal space and weak investments, now is not the time for illusions.

A unique chance to reset fiscal priorities

Bangladesh’s upcoming national budget, set to be unveiled by the interim government in June, could mark a rare departure from past fiscal cycles.

Shift focus to services from infrastructure spending

Bangladesh’s approach to budgeting for health and education has come under sharp scrutiny, as decades of allocations have primarily gone towards construction. Meanwhile, the core of these sectors, service delivery, has been historically neglected.

Fix social protection flaws instead of expanding outlay

Bangladesh must urgently redirect resources within its fragmented social protection system and scale up a handful of proven programmes that directly benefit the poorest, according to a leading economist.

May 13, 2025
May 13, 2025

The upcoming budget should deliver economic stability

Controlling inflation should be a top priority for the interim government.

May 13, 2025
May 13, 2025

Tax-free income limit may rise to Tk 3.75 lakh

The government is planning a series of measures in the upcoming national budget to alleviate the tax pressure on individuals and businesses, including raising the tax-free income threshold and relaxing certain compliance requirements.

May 12, 2025
May 12, 2025

Let this budget mark a break from the past

Strengthen budget transparency to build public confidence

May 11, 2025
May 11, 2025

Bangladesh continues to perform poorly in budget transparency

Bangladesh has continued to showcase a weak performance in the open budget rankings among its South Asian peers, reflecting a lack of transparency and accountability in the formulation and implementation of fiscal measures.

May 11, 2025
May 11, 2025

Budget to shrink amid fiscal strain

Bangladesh’s interim government is preparing to unveil a rare contractionary budget on June 2, driven by a sharp rise in interest payment that is crowding out fiscal space and forcing spending cuts.

May 11, 2025
May 11, 2025

Fix social protection flaws instead of expanding outlay

Bangladesh must urgently redirect resources within its fragmented social protection system and scale up a handful of proven programmes that directly benefit the poorest, according to a leading economist.

May 11, 2025
May 11, 2025

Shift focus to services from infrastructure spending

Bangladesh’s approach to budgeting for health and education has come under sharp scrutiny, as decades of allocations have primarily gone towards construction. Meanwhile, the core of these sectors, service delivery, has been historically neglected.

May 11, 2025
May 11, 2025

A unique chance to reset fiscal priorities

Bangladesh’s upcoming national budget, set to be unveiled by the interim government in June, could mark a rare departure from past fiscal cycles.

May 11, 2025
May 11, 2025

Be realistic, avert risks

In a country weighed down by high inflation, dwindling fiscal space and weak investments, now is not the time for illusions.

May 11, 2025
May 11, 2025

Retreating from pandemic-era peak

Bangladesh’s national budget is now shrinking in relative size even as the government struggles to deliver on its development commitments.