BNP's first budget in 20 years: Amir Khosru starts budget speech
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today presents the BNP government's first budget in two decades - and the numbers are record-breaking in scale.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27 stands at Tk 9.38 lakh crore, a 19% increase over the current revised budget, against a revenue (tax and non-tax) target of Tk 6,95,000 crore. The fiscal deficit is projected at approximately Tk 2.43 lakh crore, to be financed through domestic bank borrowing and external creditors - with an IMF programme still under negotiation.
The budget arrives at a moment of considerable economic strain. The National Board of Revenue fell more than Tk 1 trillion short of its target by April. Non-performing loans in the banking sector stood at 30.60% as of December 2025. A geopolitical shock - the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - has added an estimated $3 billion to Bangladesh's energy import bill in just four months.
Against this backdrop, the budget proposes incentives for green energy, electric vehicles, freelancers, technology manufacturers and healthcare, while raising taxes on tobacco products and conventional fuel-powered vehicles. Relief on everyday essentials is also proposed to ease inflationary pressure on households.
The government's stated ambition is to transform Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034.
The Daily Star is following the parliamentary session live. Scroll down for the latest updates.
03:00pm
Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury starts budget speech.
01:00pm
Govt may cut share settlement time gradually
The government, in today’s proposed budget, is expected to announce a gradual reduction in share trading settlement time in the stock market, aiming to enhance market liquidity.
Settlement will be brought down from the current T+2 to T+0 in phases.
12:50pm
Cabinet approves proposed budget for FY2026-27
The proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 was approved at a special cabinet meeting today with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair.
The meeting began at the cabinet room of the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat at 10:00am, Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Md Zahidul Islam confirmed.
12:30pm
Govt to unveil 3R strategy for economic recovery
The government is going to unveil a 3R strategy to revive the economy and achieve its goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy.
The 3R strategy comprises Recovery & Stabilisation, Restoration, and Reconstruction for Acceleration. The government aims to implement the plan in three stages.
12:15pm
What are the 10 broad priorities in the new budget?
Within the next couple of hours, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury is going to place his budget proposal before parliament.
It will be the first budget to be tabled by Chowdhury, a former commerce minister during the previous tenure of the BNP government.
12:00pm
Govt to propose zero VAT and tax on imported fertilisers, pesticides
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury will propose in the FY2026-27 budget a complete exemption of value-added tax (VAT) and advance tax at the import stage for all fertilisers and pesticides used in agriculture.
He will also propose fully exempting the 5 percent VAT applicable at the business stage on all fertilisers, and the 5 percent advance tax on all pesticides at the import stage.
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