Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today said the core philosophy of the upcoming national budget is the democratization of the economy and bringing poor and marginalized communities into the mainstream of economic activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe low-income people have historically been the most deprived in Bangladesh\u2019s budgetary framework. Therefore, we have given priority to the poor, low-income groups and homemakers (housewives) in the upcoming budget,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled \u201cBudget 2026\u201327: Expectations and Reality\u201d as the chief guest in the capital today, organised by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ERF President Daulat Akter Mala chaired the seminar. Executive Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Fahmida Khatun, Chairman of East Coast Group Azam J Chowdhury and President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) Shawkat Aziz Russell attended the programme as special guests. ERF General Secretary Abul Kasem moderated the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Finance Minister also said the next national budget seeks to address rising poverty, expand economic opportunities for marginalised groups and reduce bureaucratic obstacles to business, despite being prepared under exceptionally difficult circumstances.
\u201cpreparing a national budget within one and a half months of assuming office was almost impossible, noting that the process normally takes at least six months,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the government inherited a fragile economy marked by declining indicators, weak investment, growing unemployment and rising poverty, but was nonetheless required to present a budget within the constitutional timeframe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe economy has reached a level where significant intervention is needed to restore stability and put it back on the path to prosperity,\u201d he said, likening the situation to priming a tube well by pouring water into it before groundwater can be drawn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to criticism over the size of the budget amid economic challenges, Khosru said the government was investing heavily to revive economic activity and rebuild confidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the budget prioritises low-income and disadvantaged groups who have traditionally been overlooked in national fiscal planning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the key initiatives, he highlighted the expansion of the Family Card programme, under which financial assistance will be transferred directly to women heading households through bank accounts, minimizing opportunities for corruption and political influence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister claimed that a pilot project recorded only a 1-1.5 percent deviation rate and expressed confidence that the programme could achieve near-perfect targeting in future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also underscored the government\u2019s focus on farmers through the introduction of Farmer Cards, aimed at strengthening food security and improving rural livelihoods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On healthcare, Khosru said the government is moving towards universal primary healthcare, noting that Bangladeshis spend a disproportionately high share of their own income on medical treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the programme would be implemented through partnerships involving the private sector and non-governmental organisations rather than relying solely on government agencies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The finance minister also announced significant support for what he termed the \u201ccreative economy\u201d, including artisans, weavers, folk craftsmen, performers, theatre artists and other cultural workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the initiative, targeted groups will receive skills training, access to finance, design assistance, branding support and opportunities to market products online, drawing inspiration from successful international models such as Thailand\u2019s \u201cOne Village, One Product\u201d programme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Khosru said economic growth should not be measured solely through industrial production, arguing that creative industries and cultural activities also contribute significantly to gross domestic product (GDP). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur vision is the democratisation of the economy,\u201d he said. \u201cEconomic participation and the benefits of growth must reach every citizen and every community.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister reiterated the government\u2019s commitment to strengthening the private sector, describing it as the primary driver of economic growth while positioning the state as a facilitator rather than a regulator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He announced plans to simplify regulatory procedures through a one-stop service system under which multiple approvals would be processed within specified timeframes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Applications not acted upon within the prescribed period would be deemed approved, he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calling for a \u201cderegulated economy\u201d, Khosru said excessive controls had constrained businesses, citizens and institutions for years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On budget implementation, he acknowledged concerns over low execution rates and said the government would introduce digital monitoring systems across the ministries.
According to the minister, all development projects will be tracked through dashboards at the ministry, finance ministry and Prime Minister\u2019s Office levels, allowing delays and bottlenecks to be identified in real time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said future project selection would be guided by four criteria: value for money, return on investment, job creation and environmental sustainability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government has already reviewed around 1,300 ongoing projects inherited from previous administrations and plans to cancel those that fail to meet the new standards while repurposing others to improve economic returns, he added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turning to the capital market, Khosru said the government is restructuring the securities regulator and expects to appoint a new professional leadership team within weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said reforms would help attract quality listed companies, reduce pressure on the banking sector and enable businesses to raise long-term financing through the capital market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister also said international financial institutions and major investment firms, including global fund managers, had expressed interest in Bangladesh as economic reforms gather pace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Khosru expressed confidence that the budget\u2019s inclusive approach, coupled with stronger governance and implementation mechanisms, would help restore stability and lay the foundation for sustainable and equitable economic growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said money under the Family Card programme would be transferred directly to beneficiaries\u2019 accounts, ensuring no political influence or intermediary involvement in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Referring to the agriculture sector, the minister said a \u201cFarmers Card\u201d initiative has been introduced to strengthen food security and improve farmers\u2019 living standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the health sector, Amir Khasru said people in Bangladesh continue to incur high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. In response, the government is prioritising the expansion of universal and primary healthcare services with the participation of government institutions, the private sector and NGOs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today said the core philosophy of the upcoming national budget is the democratization of the economy and bringing poor and marginalized communities into the mainstream of economic activities. \u201cThe low-income people have historically been the most deprived in Bangladesh\u2019s budgetary framework. Therefore, we have given priority to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":34595,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,110,93],"tags":[45],"class_list":["post-34594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bangladesh","category-economy-business","category-nationwide","tag-45"],"yoast_head":"\n