Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday began presenting a Tk 9.38 lakh crore national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year in the Jatiya Sangsad, outlining the newly elected government's economic strategy to accelerate growth, create jobs and move Bangladesh towards a trillion-dollar economy.
The budget was tabled after the second session of the 13th Parliament resumed at 3:00pm, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, presiding over the sitting.
With a total outlay of Tk 9.38 lakh crore, the proposed budget is the largest in Bangladesh's history. It is also the first budget presented by the BNP government since its landslide victory in the parliamentary election on 12 February. The last budget placed by a BNP-led administration was for the 2006-07 fiscal year, when the then finance minister M Saifur Rahman presented the spending plan.
The budget reflects the government's focus on economic recovery, investment promotion, human resource development and improved public service delivery. According to budget documents, domestic revenue collection is projected at Tk 6.95 lakh crore, while the overall budget deficit is estimated at Tk 2.43 lakh crore, equivalent to 3.6% of gross domestic product (GDP).
The government has set a GDP growth target of 6.5% for FY27 and aims to bring inflation down to 7.5%. The size of the economy is projected to reach Tk 68.30 lakh crore during the fiscal year.
In his budget speech, the finance minister highlighted education, healthcare, employment generation, private sector-led investment and social protection as key priorities. He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to building a knowledge-based economy and expanding opportunities for the country's growing youth population.
The proposed budget includes a range of deregulation and business facilitation measures. These include simplifying licensing procedures, modernising tax administration and expanding digital services to improve the ease of doing business and attract both domestic and foreign investment.
Officials said the FY27 budget had been prepared in line with the government's election pledges and long-term development goals, with a stronger emphasis on human capital development alongside macroeconomic stability.
The budget will now be debated in Parliament before being passed and implemented from 1 July 2026.
