Bangladesh slashes development budget by Tk 30,000 crore under interim rule
The National Economic Council (NEC) has slashed the annual development programme (ADP) budget for the current fiscal year. Under the interim government’s leadership, the total allocation was reduced from Tk 2,30,000 crore to Tk 2,00,000 crore. Major cuts were made across key sectors, including health, education, and transport.
The NEC meeting took place under the direction of interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Significant reductions were applied to several critical areas. Health sector funding dropped sharply from Tk 18,148 crore to Tk 4,718 crore. Education allocations were cut from Tk 28,557 crore to Tk 18,562.05 crore.
Transport and communication saw its budget fall from Tk 58,973 crore to Tk 38,332 crore. Within this sector, Metro Rail Line-1’s funding was reduced from Tk 8,631.43 crore to Tk 801 crore, while Metro Rail Line-5’s allocation decreased from Tk 1,490 crore to Tk 592 crore. Social protection also faced a steep cut, from Tk 2,018 crore to Tk 545 crore. Reports indicate that, in the first five months of the fiscal year, only 11.7 per cent of the ADP budget had been spent. No further details were provided on how the revised allocations would affect ongoing projects, including Metro Rail Line-1’s construction plans.
The revised ADP now stands at Tk 2,00,000 crore, reflecting broad reductions in public spending. Health, education, and infrastructure projects have all received significantly lower funding. The interim government’s adjustments will shape budget execution for the remainder of the fiscal year.
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