B Mirror Report: Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday presented the revised and supplementary budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year in parliament, proposing a reduction of Tk 2,000 crore in government expenditure to strengthen fiscal discipline and support economic recovery.
The budget was placed on the seventh working day of the second session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, with the government focusing on reviving the economy, easing inflationary pressures and ensuring prudent public spending.
The finance minister said the original budget had set net government expenditure at Tk 7.90 lakh crore, but slower-than-expected implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) prompted the government to revise spending down to Tk 7.88 lakh crore.
Under the revised budget, the overall budget deficit has been estimated at Tk 2 lakh crore, equivalent to around 3.3 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Addressing parliament, Chowdhury said the government has been working to strengthen the economy by addressing global economic volatility and domestic structural weaknesses since assuming office. He said efforts are continuing to reduce wasteful expenditure, cut spending in non-priority sectors and promote austerity in administrative expenses.
The minister noted that although global developments have necessitated adjustments in subsidies for the power and energy sectors, the government has expanded social safety net programmes. Initiatives such as family cards, farmer cards and honorariums for imams, priests and muezzins have been strengthened to enhance social protection.
He said certain expenditure and deficit adjustments in the supplementary budget were necessary to continue implementing these programmes.
Following the budget presentation, the Speaker initiated voting on demands for grants related to expenditures other than charged expenditures for FY2025-26, noting that under Article 89 of the Constitution, charged expenditures may be discussed in parliament but are not subject to a vote.
