Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Director General Dr AK Enamul Haque has urged the government to place food security, climate resilience and long-term economic preparedness at the centre of the upcoming national budget for fiscal year 2026-27.
Ahead of the national budget announcement next month, the economist said the government should focus on systematically implementing its election commitments while preparing for growing global economic and geopolitical risks.
Dr Enamul warned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could intensify global food shortages, disrupt supply chains and increase inflationary pressure on Bangladesh through higher import costs and reduced availability of essential commodities.
He stressed that the government must strengthen food procurement and maintain sufficient strategic reserves under direct state supervision to avoid future supply shocks.
“If food supply does not increase, inflationary pressure will worsen,” he said, adding that providing only cash assistance would not be enough if markets face shortages of essential goods.
The BIDS chief also highlighted the potential impact of regional instability on Bangladeshi migrant workers employed in Gulf countries, especially in the United Arab Emirates. He said the budget should include rehabilitation support and easier loan access for returnee migrants so they can establish small businesses or alternative income sources.
Dr Enamul further emphasised the need to support climate-vulnerable rural populations affected by heatwaves, flash floods and crop failures, particularly in haor regions where farmers largely depend on a single seasonal crop.
To reduce economic vulnerability, he recommended expanding duck farming, cattle rearing and livestock-based activities in flood-prone areas to create alternative sources of income for rural households.
He also proposed strengthening the government’s Open Market Sales (OMS) programme by including nutritious items such as eggs alongside rice and lentils to support both consumers and local producers.
Referring to rising global concerns over food insecurity, Dr Enamul said Bangladesh must act early to avoid future crises.
“Food insecurity is becoming a serious concern globally, and Bangladesh should prepare now,” he said.
The economist also suggested broader use of farmer cards and family cards to streamline social protection programmes and agricultural support systems.
According to him, subsidised agricultural inputs distributed through farmer cards could help boost domestic production, while integrating welfare programmes under a unified family card system would improve accountability and reduce misuse.
On trade policy, Dr Enamul advised Bangladesh to deepen economic ties with Asian countries amid growing geopolitical tensions affecting Europe and the Middle East.
“Asia remains relatively stable in the current global situation. Bangladesh should focus more on expanding exports to Asian markets, including India,” he said.
He added that the upcoming budget should avoid overly ambitious spending plans and instead concentrate on building a stable economic foundation for the next five years.
“The objective should be to sustain growth momentum while laying the groundwork for long-term stability and resilience,” he said.
