Written by The Banking Post
Top finance officials are set to meet tomorrow to finalise the outline of the first national budget under the new government, against the backdrop of mounting economic চাপ triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury will chair two key meetings of the coordination committee on fiscal, monetary, exchange rate, and resource management. The discussions will centre on the overall economic পরিস্থিতি before finalising core budget parameters.
Officials say war-induced shocks—ranging from fuel volatility to global economic uncertainty—will heavily influence decisions on spending, growth, and inflation targets for the আগামী fiscal year.
“While the government initially planned a বড় budget to deliver on electoral pledges, current pressures are forcing a rethink,” a senior official said. He indicated that the upcoming budget may remain contractionary, with only a modest increase in size and conservative growth targets.
Revenue concerns are also weighing on policymakers. The National Board of Revenue missed its collection target by 28 per cent during July–February, creating a shortfall of Tk 714.72 billion. Officials fear the gap may widen further by the end of the fiscal year, increasing reliance on bank borrowing.
Preliminary discussions suggest the next budget could be set at around Tk 8.9 trillion, with GDP growth targeted at প্রায় 6.0 per cent and inflation aimed to be contained within the same range.
However, recent data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics shows inflation remains elevated, easing only slightly to 8.71 per cent in March.
Against this backdrop, policymakers are expected to strike a balance between fiscal discipline and growth support, as external shocks continue to test the country’s economic stability.
