Govt endorses Tk3.0t ADP

The National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday approved the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY2026-27 with an outlay of nearly Tk3.0 trillion, describing it as a roadmap for economic reforms, balanced growth and long-term development.

The outlay is nearly 53 per cent higher than that of the current fiscal year.

Of the total Tk3.0 trillion ADP, Tk1.9 trillion will come from the government's own resources, while Tk1.10 trillion will be financed through external funds.

The approval came at an NEC meeting held at the Planning Commission auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, with NEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the proposed ADP reflects the priorities outlined in the government’s election manifesto and marks the first full-fledged development programme under the elected government.

“This is a very important meeting. After a long time, an elected government is going to present a full budget. The development plan reflects our commitment to rebuilding the economy and moving towards sustainable growth,” he said.

He said the new ADP is not limited to infrastructure expansion alone, but also focuses on state reforms, reducing inequality, strengthening macroeconomic stability and ensuring balanced regional development.

The minister said the programme had been designed under a “Five-Year Strategic Framework for Reform and Development” and organised around five key pillars.

Amir Khosru said restoring financial discipline and maintaining macroeconomic stability were now among the government’s top priorities.

“In recent years, excessive borrowing from local banks at high interest rates not only increased the government’s financial burden but also crowded out the private sector. We want to move away from that model,” he said.

He added that avoiding excessive money printing and reducing dependence on high-interest bank borrowing remained major policy priorities for the government.

The finance minister also said the government was working to “democratise the economy” by ensuring wider public participation in economic activities.

“If people cannot participate in the economy and benefit from growth, democracy itself cannot be sustained,” he said, mentioning initiatives such as family cards, universal healthcare, farmer support and assistance for rural artisans.

Highlighting plans for economic deregulation, Amir Khosru said Bangladesh had become an “over-regulated economy” and that unnecessary rules and bureaucratic barriers would be reduced to make business operations easier.

He said future budgets would place greater emphasis on deregulation and structural economic reforms aimed at encouraging investment and creating employment opportunities.

The minister also indicated higher allocations for the health and education sectors, saying there was no alternative to investing in human capital if Bangladesh wanted to fully utilise its demographic dividend.

“We are focusing on vocational education and skill development across the country so that our workforce can access better jobs both at home and abroad,” he added.

Regarding project implementation, the minister said the government had introduced stricter criteria for appointing project directors and warned that newly approved projects must be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

“There will be no scope for unnecessary extensions,” he said.