News

NEC approves Tk 3 lakh crore ADP for FY27

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The National Economic Council (NEC) today approved an Annual Development Programme (ADP) outlay worth Taka 3,00,000 crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year aiming to sustain inclusive economic growth, strengthen infrastructures, enhance social protection and accelerate climate-resilient development.

The new ADP for the fiscal year 2026-27 has been designed with a reform-oriented and inclusive development vision aimed at ensuring sustainable economic growth, balanced regional development and administrative modernization.

NEC Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presided over the maiden meeting of NEC under the incumbent government held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.

After the meeting, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury briefed reporters.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on the ministries of Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki and Planning Secretary SM Shakil Akhter were present at the briefing.

Ministers, state ministers and secretaries concerned attended the meeting.

The meeting also gave policy approval to a strategic financial planning framework for the next five years, which is being prepared by an advisory committee under the General Economics Division (GED).

According to the Planning Ministry, the approved ADP outlay for FY2026-27 has been estimated around Taka 3,00,000 crore, of which Taka 1,90,000 crore will come from government financing while Taka 1,10,000 crore will be financed through foreign loans and grants.

The size of the ADP is larger than that of the current fiscal year, indicating the government’s growing investment and implementation capacity.

The new ADP also includes a significant number of fresh projects. A total of 1,277 new projects have been recommended by different ministries and divisions, while proposals have been made to include 80 projects under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and 148 projects under the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund.

The planning ministry said the programme clearly reflects increased emphasis on private sector participation and climate adaptation initiatives.

The ADP has laid special importance on accelerating project implementation and ensuring fiscal discipline. The implementation rate of development expenditure has increased notably in the current fiscal year, signalling improved execution capacity in public investment management.

Among the 15 sectors, the Local Government Division, Road Transport and Highways Division, Health Services Division, and Secondary and Higher Education Division received the highest allocations.

In addition, a special allocation of Taka 17,000 crore has been earmarked for social development assistance programmes aimed at protecting poor and marginalised communities.

A significant number of the newly approved projects are dependent on foreign financing, reflecting the confidence of international development partners in Bangladesh’s development process.

The meeting also directed the authorities concerned to complete projects scheduled for completion by June 2027 on a priority basis, while limiting fresh expenditures under expired projects to make development spending more effective and accountable.

The size of the ADP increased by 50 per cent compared to the revised ADP of the current fiscal year, with a 48.44-per cent rise in domestic resource allocation and a 52.78 per cent increase in external financing.

The fresh ADP prioritises poverty reduction, employment generation, women’s empowerment, regional balanced development, tourism, blue economy, green growth and improvement of people’s living standards through sector-based development interventions.

Planning Commission officials said the overall outlay under the proposed ADP would stand at Tk 3,08,924.83 crore if self-financed projects of autonomous bodies and corporations are included. Of the amount, Tk 1,98,923.93 crore would come from government and own financing sources, while Tk 1,10,000.90 crore would come from foreign loans and grants.

The programme includes 971 investment and survey projects with an allocation of Tk 1,78,914.63 crore and 107 technical assistance projects involving Tk 2,796.28 crore.

In addition, Tk 38,027.49 crore has been proposed under the “special development assistance” block allocation to support newly approved and ongoing projects during the fiscal year. Another Tk 17,000 crore has been earmarked for social development assistance.

The allocation in the new ADP showed that the transport and communication sector received the highest allocation of Tk 50,092.53 crore, accounting for 16.70 percent of the total proposed ADP.

The education sector received Tk 47,591.12 crore or 15.86 percent, while the health sector got Tk 35,535.50 crore, representing 11.84 percent of the total outlay.

The power and energy sector received Tk 32,691.54 crore or 10.90 percent, while the housing and community facilities sector got Tk 20,361.72 crore, accounting for 6.79 percent of the total allocation.

Together, these five sectors accounted for more than 62 percent of the total proposed sectoral allocation.

Among ministries and divisions, the Local Government Division received the highest allocation of Tk 33,735.10 crore or 11.25 percent of the new ADP.

The Roads and Highways Division got Tk 30,741.36 crore or 10.25 percent, while the Health Services Division received Tk 26,806.26 crore.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division got Tk 20,835.44 crore or 6.95 percent, while the Primary and Mass Education Ministry received Tk 19,440.59 crore or 6.48 percent.

The Power Division received Tk 14,938.66 crore or 4.98 percent of the total allocation.

Besides, the Science and Technology Ministry got Tk 17,403.74 crore, the Health Education and Family Welfare Division Tk 8,220.85 crore, the Shipping Ministry Tk 8,206.53 crore and the Water Resources Ministry a significant allocation under the proposed ADP framework.

The Planning Commission has also recommended prioritising projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Adaptation Plan (NAP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), Green Climate Resilient Development (GCRD) strategy and the Delta Appraisal Framework (DAF).

Priority has also been suggested for projects with confirmed foreign financing, PPP initiatives, climate-resilient infrastructure and regionally balanced development.

According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), the ADP implementation rate during July 2025 to March 2026 stood at 36.19 percent, with total expenditure amounting to Tk 75,607 crore against the revised allocation of Tk 2,08,936 crore for the current fiscal year.

A total of 26 projects identified for completion in the current fiscal year will be carried over to the next fiscal year.

News

RAB working to become symbol of public hope, trust: DG

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Staff Correspondent

Director General (DG) of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Md. Ahsan Habib Palash today said the force is working to establish itself as a symbol of public hope, trust and professionalism through lawful and people-oriented operations across the country.

“We hope that the elite force would continue strengthening professionalism, accountability and operational efficiency while ensuring proper application of the law in all activities,” he said while addressing a programme organized as a part of the 22nd founding anniversary at RAB Headquarters in the capital.

The anniversary programme was held on Sunday with Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed attending as the chief guest.

Prime Minister’s Adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Cultural Affairs Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, chiefs of the Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy, Assistant Chief of Air Force, Inspector General of Police, senior military and civil officials, foreign guests, and RAB officials were also present, according to a RAB press release.

In his welcome speech, the RAB chief said the force has been playing an important role in maintaining law and order since its formation in 2004 by conducting operations against illegal arms, narcotics, organized crimes, extortion, kidnapping, human trafficking, robbery and juvenile gangs.

He said the force is committed to gaining public confidence by performing its duties with professionalism and dedication to public safety and national stability.

A special documentary highlighting RAB’s operational achievements and humanitarian activities over the past year was screened during the programme.

The event concluded with tribute and respect being paid to RAB members who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

News

Bangladesh to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on May 28

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh will celebrate the holy Eid-ul-Azha on May 28 as the crescent moon of the holy month of Dhul-Hijjah was sighted in the country today.

An official of the Islamic Foundation confirmed the matter to BSS, saying the moon of Dhul-Hijjah was seen in the sky of Bangladesh, paving the way for the celebration of Eid-ul-Azha on Thursday, May 28.

Muslims across the country will observe the festival with religious fervour through offering Eid prayers and sacrificing animals in remembrance of the devotion of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

News

Pakistan deploys 8,000 troops, JF-17 jets, Chinese air defence system to Saudi Arabia

Published

18 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Staff Correspondent

Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence pact, ramping up military cooperation with Riyadh even as Islamabad serves as the main mediator in the Iran war.

The deployment, the full scale of which is reported here for the first time, was confirmed by three security officials and two government sources, all of whom described it as a substantial, combat-capable force intended to support Saudi Arabia’s military if the kingdom comes under further attack.

Pakistan’s military and foreign office and Saudi Arabia’s government media office did not respond to requests for comment on the deployment.

The full terms of the defence agreement, signed last year, are confidential, but both sides have said it requires Pakistan and Saudi Arabia ⁠to come to each other’s defence in the event of an attack. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has previously implied that it places Saudi Arabia under Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella.

According to the sources, Pakistan has deployed a full squadron of around 16 aircraft, mostly JF-17 fighters made jointly with China, which were sent to Saudi Arabia in early April. Two of the security officials said Pakistan had also sent two squadrons of drones.

All five sources said the deployment includes around 8,000 troops, with a pledge to send more if needed, as well as a Chinese HQ-9 air defence system.

The equipment is operated by Pakistani personnel and financed by Saudi Arabia, they said.

Thousands of troops
The military and air force personnel deployed during the Iran conflict will primarily have an advisory and training role, according to two of the security officials, who said they had seen exchanges between the two countries and documents on the military assets’ deployment.

The deployment adds to thousands of Pakistani troops ⁠with a combat role that were already stationed in the kingdom under previous agreements, all three security officials said.

One of the government sources, who has seen the text of the confidential defence pact, said it provides for the possibility of up to 80,000 Pakistani troops being deployed to Saudi Arabia, to help secure the kingdom’s borders alongside Saudi forces.

Two of the security officials said the agreement also involved the deployment of Pakistani warships. Reuters was not able to determine whether any had reached Saudi Arabia.

The scale and composition ⁠of the deployment — combat aircraft, air defences and thousands of troops — mean Pakistan has sent far more than a symbolic or advisory mission, the sources said.

Reuters previously reported that Pakistan had sent jets to Saudi Arabia after Iranian strikes hit key energy infrastructure and killed a Saudi national, raising concerns that the Gulf kingdom might retaliate heavily and ⁠widen the conflict.

This took place before Islamabad emerged as the war’s principal mediator, helping to broker a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran that has held for the past six weeks. Islamabad hosted the only round of US-Iranian peace talks so far, and had planned further rounds which the sides called off.

Reuters has ⁠since reported that Saudi Arabia launched numerous unpublicized strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks carried out inside the kingdom.

Pakistan has long provided military support to Saudi Arabia, including training and advisory deployments, while Riyadh has repeatedly stepped in to support Islamabad financially during periods of economic stress.