Agricultural Sector Allocation in New Budget Falls Short

A recent Bangladesh Bank study reveals that farmers are the primary risk-takers in the agricultural value chain, especially for essential items like rice, potatoes, onions, eggs, and broiler chicken. Conducted across 14 districts, the study attributes price increases mainly to supply shortfalls caused by seasonal factors, reduced cultivation areas, floods, and pest attacks. Unlike intermediaries who secure fixed margins, farmers face fluctuating profits or losses depending on market conditions.

On Sunday, T-bill yields in Bangladesh showed a mixed trend as banks shifted preference toward longer-tenure securities. The yield on 91-day T-bills rose to 11.65% from 11.54%, while yields on 182-day and 364-day T-bills declined to 11.51% and 11.62%, down from 11.64% each.

In FY2023–24, Bangladesh produced 68.84 lakh tonnes of maize from 6.42 lakh hectares, with FY2024–25 targets set at 71.60 lakh tonnes from 6.51 lakh hectares. Despite high yields of 35–45 maunds per bigha (1 maund ≈ 37 kg), farmers in districts like Lalmonirhat and Rangpur face falling prices—now Tk 28–29 per kg, down by Tk 2–3 from last year—while production costs rose to Tk 11–13 per kg or Tk 14,000–16,000 per bigha.

In the proposed Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY2025–26, the top 10 ministries and divisions in Bangladesh will face a 13% budget cut, totaling Tk 163,103 crore—around 70% of the total ADP. The railway ministry’s allocation is set to be halved to Tk 7,715 crore, with Tk 3,258 crore from foreign funds.

In a major reform move, the Bangladesh government has officially dissolved the National Board of Revenue (NBR) through an ordinance, replacing it with two new divisions—Revenue Policy and Revenue Administration—under the Ministry of Finance. This restructuring, enacted late Monday night with presidential approval

The World Bank has approved a \$280 million loan for the Chattogram Water Supply Improvement Project (CWSIP), aimed at enhancing safe, climate-resilient water supply and sanitation in Chattogram city. Signed on 10 May 2024, the agreement between Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division and the World Bank outlines a project to improve water access and sanitation, while also boosting the performance and financial sustainability of Chattogram Wasa