The Cabinet, at a special meeting on Thursday, approved the
proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. The meeting was presided
over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the cabinet room of the Jatiya Sangsad
Bhaban.
Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali, along with other ministers
and state ministers, attended the meeting. The finance minister is set to
unveil the proposed national budget this afternoon, following its
authentication by the President. The proposed budget for the 2024-25 fiscal
year exceeds Tk 8 lakh crore, including a Tk 265,000 crore Annual Development
Programme (ADP). The National Economic Council (NEC) has already approved the
ADP, allocating the highest amount of Tk 70,687.75 crore (26.67% of the
allocation) to the transport and communication sector. Additionally, the NEC
approved an ADP of Tk 13,288.91 crore for autonomous bodies and corporations,
bringing the total ADP for 2024-2025 to Tk 278,288.91 crore.
The ADP includes 1,321 projects: 1,133 investment projects,
21 survey projects, 87 technical assistance projects, and 80 projects from
autonomous bodies and corporations. Among the ministries and divisions, the
Local Government Division is set to receive the highest allocation of
approximately Tk 38,809 crore (15% of the total allocation) in the ADP.