Revised ADP slashes funding for metro rail, major projects
The Planning Commission has finalised a Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) of Tk 2 trillion, which is Tk 300 billion lower than the original ADP. Allocations have been reduced for health and social protection, education, transport, religious affairs, and agriculture, while funding has increased for the environment, the Local Government Division, and science and technology.
The reduction comes as funds allocated to several projects under the original ADP could not be spent. Consequently, the revised ADP’s allocation has been cut by Tk 300 billion.
The revised ADP was finalised at an extended meeting of the Planning Commission, chaired by Planning Adviser Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud. It will be placed before the National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday (January 12). The planning adviser will brief the media in detail after the NEC meeting.
Speaking to Jago News, Planning Secretary SM Shakil Akhtar said the NEC meeting will present the revised ADP of Tk 2 trillion. According to the Planning Division, the development budget includes Tk 720 billion in foreign loans and Tk 1.28 trillion from government funds.
A major cut has been made to the Metro Rail Line-1 project, where the allocation has been reduced from Tk 86.31 billion to Tk 8.01 billion—representing a nearly 91 per cent reduction.
The size of the revised ADP for the current fiscal year is expected to be Tk 2 trillion, down from the original Tk 2.3 trillion. This marks an overall reduction of Tk 300 billion in the development budget.
A comparison between the ADP and RADP for the 2025–26 fiscal year shows significant changes in allocations among the top 15 recipient ministries and divisions. While some sectors have received higher funding, major cuts have been imposed on key social sectors.
Among the increases, the Ministry of Water Resources saw the largest rise in allocation at 28 per cent, followed by an 8 percent increase for the Local Government Division.
Conversely, the largest cuts were made to the Health Services Division, with a 77 per cent reduction, and the Health Education and Family Welfare Division, which saw a 73 per cent cut. Allocations for secondary and higher education fell by 55 per cent. Funding was also reduced by 27 percent for power, 29 per cent for primary education, and 36 per cent each for shipping, railways, and agriculture.
Major infrastructure projects were also affected. Allocations for the Kishoreganj Elevated Road project dropped by more than 95 per cent, while the Meghna-Dhonagoda Bridge on the Matlab North–Gajaria road saw a reduction of nearly 97 per cent. Officials warn that such cuts could slow road connectivity development in northern and eastern regions.
Funding for the Matarbari Port Development Project was reduced from Tk 40.68 billion to Tk 10.85 billion. Similarly, allocations for the expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport fell from Tk 10.39 billion to Tk 3.06 billion. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project also saw a significant cut, with allocations declining from Tk 4.25 billion to Tk 1.68 billion. Funding for the Chattogram–Dohazari metre-gauge railway conversion to broad gauge was reduced by nearly 98 per cent.
Social protection and urban development projects were not spared. The school feeding programme for primary students was cut by nearly 50 per cent. The Dhaka Sanitation Development Project saw a reduction of more than 41 per cent, while funding for preventive public health services in urban areas was slashed by over 80 per cent.