PM directs welfare-focused budget, emphasises inflation control, jobs 

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed that the FY2026-27 budget include measures to improve people's living standards.

He emphasised strategies to achieve GDP growth through controlling inflation and creating employment.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury briefed the prime minister on the upcoming budget at a meeting held at the Secretariat today (13 May).

The nearly four-hour meeting focused mainly on expenditure, allocations, and policy strategies. Senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office and the finance division were present. A separate meeting will be held with the National Board of Revenue regarding revenue matters.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin has convened the budget session of parliament on 7 June. The budget for FY27 is expected to be presented on 11 June. This will be the first budget of the 13th parliament and the BNP government, marking the beginning of implementing its election pledges.

According to officials present, the prime minister instructed prioritising agricultural support through agriculture cards, strengthening social safety nets via the family card programme, ensuring protection for persons with disabilities, improving education affordability, ensuring healthcare for all, boosting employment and investment, and protecting the environment.

He stressed a prudent and welfare-oriented budget to address domestic and global challenges, with a focus on inflation control and job creation. He also called for reducing wasteful expenditure amid global energy crises and geopolitical tensions.

The prime minister sought details on how election promises would be implemented. The finance adviser highlighted initiatives such as family and agriculture cards, student support programmes, healthcare, disability protection, canal excavation, tree plantation, employment generation, and food-for-work programmes.

The PM also advised expanding ICT and technical education and allocating funds for overseas employment training. He further emphasised anti-corruption measures, judicial reforms, land management simplification, improved law and order, and financial sector reforms.

He recommended improving and ensuring safety in rail and water transport, strengthening food security, addressing climate change, and ensuring timely project implementation.

The finance ministry proposed a total budget outlay of Tk9.30 lakh crore, including Tk3 lakh crore for the Annual Development Programme (ADP). The highest allocations will go to local government and road transport sectors, followed by power, primary education, and secondary and higher education. The remaining expenditure will cover operating costs, including social protection, subsidies, and interest payments on domestic and foreign loans.

The budget will also focus on entrepreneurship development, domestic and overseas employment, higher economic growth, agricultural support, expanded healthcare, financial discipline, and deregulation to remove investment barriers.

Creative economy sectors such as film, music, sports, and rural culture will receive increased attention.

To boost revenue, the government plans digital transformation, widening the tax net, improving administrative capacity, and increasing non-tax revenue.

The projected GDP growth for FY2026-27 is 6.5%, with an inflation target of 7.5%. Investment is expected to reach 31.4% of GDP, while revenue collection is projected at 10.17% of GDP. The total GDP size is estimated at Tk68.62 lakh crore.

The finance adviser also highlighted challenges, including global instability, rising energy prices, inflation pressures, subsidy constraints, and slow recovery of liquidity in the financial sector, which could hinder investment and job creation. The Prime Minister advised adopting proactive strategies to manage such risks.