Increase allocations for education and healthcare

Given the dire condition of the country’s education and healthcare sectors, it was expected that the interim government would play a significant role in providing allocation to these sectors. But the draft budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year reveals that allocations for both sectors are being reduced. According to the Planning Ministry’s draft ADP (Annual Development Programme), the education sector will receive Tk 28,557 crore for 91 projects in the upcoming fiscal year, whereas the original ADP for the current fiscal year allocated Tk 31,528 crore to this sector. This marks a reduction of nearly Tk 3,000 crore. Similarly, the allocation for the health sector is decreasing by Tk 2,500 crore.

These details have been obtained from sources within the Planning Ministry. On May 6, in an extended meeting of the Planning Ministry, the draft of the upcoming ADP was finalised. The new ADP is expected to be approved at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council in Bangladesh (ECNEC) meeting today (Sunday, May 18). According to information published in the media, the size of the main budget is also decreasing compared to the current year. The size of the ADP for the 2025–26 fiscal year is set at Tk 2.30 lakh crore. In the current fiscal year, the original ADP was Tk 2.65 lakh crore, although it was later revised downward.

In the new draft ADP, the highest priority in terms of allocation has been given to the transport and communication sector, which has been allocated a total of Tk 58,973 crore. The second highest allocation of Tk 32,392 crore has been provided to the power and energy sector. The education sector will get the third highest allocation.

Transport and communication, as well as power and energy, are undoubtedly important sectors. In the context of Bangladesh, increasing allocations to these sectors is also necessary. However, education and healthcare are fundamental rights of the people, and without progress in these two sectors, the overall development of the nation is hindered. In that context, education and healthcare could have received the highest allocations.

This is particularly pressing because Bangladesh’s education and healthcare systems are in such fragile conditions that there is no alternative to a comprehensive overhaul. According to data from the World Bank, Bangladesh is among the 10 countries in the world that allocate the least to education in proportion to the size of its economy. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation states that to access basic healthcare, a Bangladeshi citizen needs to spend $88 per year; however, the per capita healthcare expenditure in Bangladesh is only $58, a large portion of which citizens have to bear themselves.

Individuals involved in the education and healthcare sectors say that during the tenure of the interim government, it was hoped that education and health would be given the highest priority and that allocations to these sectors would increase. The fact that they have not increased is unfortunate. There may still be time to raise the allocations. Therefore, we urge that education and healthcare be prioritized and that allocations to these sectors be increased further.