B Mirror Report
The interim government, established after the uprising, is scheduled to unveil its first national budget today, amounting to Tk 7.9 trillion for the fiscal year 2025-26, clearly aimed at reforms and achieving income equality.
Due to the absence of a functioning parliament following the transition in July-August, the budget presentation will occur at 3:00 PM outside the Jatiya Sangsad (national parliament) and will be broadcast live on state-owned BTV as well as various private media channels.
Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, the Finance Adviser of the interim government, will present the budget through a pre-recorded address.
This marks the first time since Bangladesh’s independence that the national budget is being contractionary compared to previous years, as the current administration navigates a challenging landscape characterized by economic disruptions stemming from political turmoil.
The previous budget, delivered under the Awami League government by former Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali, was sized at Tk 7.97 trillion for the outgoing fiscal year 2024-25.
Sources close to the situation have informed the FE that the interim government will focus on restoring macroeconomic stability, particularly by addressing rampant inflation.
The Ministry of Finance has indicated that the forthcoming budget will include welfare programs aimed at expanding social safety nets—both by increasing the number of beneficiaries and the amount of allowances—and creating job opportunities, especially in rural regions.
Efforts will also be made to boost infrastructure development, particularly in road construction and renovation, to support these initiatives.
The Awami League government fell on August 5 following a student-led uprising, resulting in a power vacuum now filled by this interim government led by Prof. Yunus as Chief Adviser.
Nevertheless, budget documents will be accessible on the official website of the Finance Division.
A comparable budget presentation outside of parliament also occurred previously under military or military-supported administrations.
On June 9, 2009, the then Finance Adviser Dr. AB Mirza Md. Azizul Islam revealed a budget of Tk 999.62 billion for FY2008-09.
This presentation also took place on a Monday at 3:00 PM and was aired on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.
Throughout the four consecutive terms of the Awami League, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith presented the budget 10 times, AHM Mustafa Kamal five times, and Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali once, covering a total of 15 and a half years. All these budgets were presented in parliament.
Subsequently, the proposed budgets were debated in parliament for a month. The budget for the upcoming fiscal year would typically be approved by the end of June. However, with no parliament in session, there is no chance for discussion or debate on this budget.
Nonetheless, after the budget announcement, the Ministry of Finance will solicit feedback from the public regarding the proposed budget, as stated by officials from the finance division.
They mentioned that a section will be available on the finance division’s website to gather public opinions on the budget.
The budget will be finalized based on this feedback. Following that, it will be sanctioned by the Advisory Council in a meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Prof. Yunus any day after June 23, and will be enacted as a presidential ordinance starting July 1, 2025.
Saifur Rahman, the former Finance Minister during the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, presented a total of 12 budgets over his three terms in office.
His tenure lasted from December 1976 to October 2006. He served under three different governments and holds the record for being the longest-serving Finance Minister of Bangladesh. He presented these 12 budgets during the periods of 1980-1981, 1991-1996, and 2001-2006.
