The National Economic Council (NEC) on Sunday approved the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of Tk 2.3 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2025-26.
Additionally, a separate development budget of Tk 8,599.71 crore was approved for autonomous bodies and corporations, announced Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud after the NEC meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser and NEC Chairperson Prof Muhammad Yunus.
The NEC also greenlit a revised ADP of Tk 2.16 lakh crore for the current fiscal year, reduced by Tk 35,000 crore from the original Tk 2.65 lakh crore to curb unnecessary expenditure.
For FY 2025-26, the ADP comprises Tk 1.44 lakh crore from government funds and Tk 86,000 crore from foreign loans, with Tk 2.15 lakh crore allocated to 1,142 projects.
As in previous years, 70% of the budget prioritizes five key sectors. The transport and communication sector leads with 25.64% (Tk 58,973 crore), followed by power and energy at 14.08% (Tk 32,392 crore), education at 12.42% (Tk 28,557 crore), housing and community facilities at 9.90% (Tk 22,776 crore), and health at 7.89% (Tk 18,148 crore).
Other allocations include: Local government and rural development Tk 13,472 crore; agriculture Tk 10,795 crore; environment, climate change, and water resources: Tk 10,641 crore; industry and economic services: Tk 5,388 crore; science and ICT: Tk 3,894 crore; religion, culture, and entertainment: Tk 3,675 crore; public order and security: Tk 2,777 crore; social security: Tk 2,188 crore; general government services: Tk 1,877 crore; defence: Tk 475 crore.
Compared to the current fiscal year’s original ADP of Tk 2.65 lakh crore, the revised ADP is Tk 49,000 crore lower, while the FY 2025-26 ADP is Tk 14,000 crore higher than the revised figure. Government financing for FY 2025-26 is set at Tk 1.44 lakh crore (down from Tk 1.65 lakh crore), with foreign loans reduced to Tk 86,000 crore from Tk 1 lakh crore.
The ADP was designed considering available resources, foreign financing, and macroeconomic conditions, prioritising ongoing foreign-funded projects, poverty alleviation, employment generation, GDP growth, agriculture, education, health, ICT, science, power, disaster management, and human resource development. Projects aligned with these goals were given precedence.
The meeting saw participation from Advisory Council members, the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Bangladesh Bank Governor, Planning Commission members, senior secretaries, and other high-level officials.