Bangladesh set for return to tradition with 55th budget

The first budget in an independent Bangladesh was presented on Jun 30, 1972 by then Finance Minister Tajuddin Ahmad

In line with a tradition that began with Tajuddin Ahmad in 1972, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury is set to present the 55th budget for Bangladesh.

The first budget in an independent Bangladesh was a modest Tk 7.86 billion in a newly-formed war-torn nation. The one to be announced by Amir Khosru on Thursday is likely to be, by comparison, a whopping Tk 9.38 trillion.

This will be the first budget of the BNP government, which swept to power by winning an absolute majority in the 13th parliamentary election. The finance minister will present this budget in parliament at 3pm.

The finalised budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year will pass on Jun 30, ahead of the start of the new fiscal year on Jul 1.

Since independence, 15 people, including finance ministers, economic advisors, and military administrators, have presented a total of 53 budgets under both military and democratic regimes.

The late M Saifur Rahman and Abul Maal Abdul Muhith share the record for the highest number of budgets presented, with 12 each across three separate terms.

During the Awami League’s last four consecutive terms, spanning 15 and a half years, Muhith delivered 10 budgets, followed by five from AHM Mustafa Kamal, and one from Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.

Last year, in the wake of the July Uprising and the dissolution of the 12th parliament, finance advisor Salehuddin Ahmed of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government presented a Tk 7.9 trillion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

It was then reviewed by the Advisory Council of the interim government and approved.

The budget for FY2026 was the first time since independence that the size of the proposed budget was smaller than the plan for the previous fiscal year.