The government has proposed an allocation of Tk1.44 trillion, equivalent to 15.4 per cent of the total budget outlay for the fiscal year 2026-27 (FY'27), for social safety net, protection programmes and inclusive development initiatives.
The allocation marks an increase of Tk180billion compared to the outgoing fiscal year.
Experts observed that the substantial rise reflects the ruling party's commitment to implementing its election pledges, which helped it secure an absolute majority in the latest parliamentary election.
In his budget speech, the finance minister noted that a significant portion of Bangladesh's population still lives below the poverty line.
He said the lack of equitable distribution of resources remains one of the key drivers of social and economic inequality.
"Our goal is to ensure food, clothing, shelter and employment for every citizen in accordance with the directives of the Constitution. To rapidly reduce extreme poverty, the government has accorded the highest priority to the social protection sector in line with Article 15(d) of the Constitution," he said.
The minister acknowledged that the country's existing social protection system is neither sufficiently responsive to present-day needs nor sustainable in the long run.
"Our government is committed to establishing a humane, equitable and dignity-based social protection framework under which the state will play a responsible role in safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of all citizens," he said.
To this end, the government plans to implement programmes based on a life-cycle approach, ensuring that citizens remain under social protection coverage from birth through different stages of life.
The government's flagship social protection initiative, the Family Card Programme, was launched by the Prime Minister within a month of assuming office.
The programme is founded on the principle that "the family, not the individual, is the fundamental unit of development."
Under the programme, genuinely poor households across the country will be identified and provided with improved access to food security, education, healthcare and income-generating opportunities aimed at achieving self-reliance.
Contacted, Prime Minister's Adviser on the Ministries of Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said the BNP-led government had made specific commitments to accelerate socio-economic development.
"The BNP's election manifesto was largely centred on establishing a welfare state. The reflection of those commitments is clearly visible in the proposed budget," he said.
He said that the Family Card Programme seeks to establish a humane and equitable welfare state by addressing the shortcomings of the current social protection system, which comprises more than 90 separate programmes.
"The government will continue working to fulfil its election pledges, the core objective of which is to transform Bangladesh into a welfare state," he said.
According to the budget speech, the Family Card Programme has been allocated Tk144 billion for FY'27.
A total of 4.1 million women are expected to benefit from the programme during the fiscal year.
The budget also proposes continuation of support for the families affected by the July Uprising.
Currently, families of the martyrs of the July Uprising receive a monthly allowance of Tk 20,000, while injured participants in categories A, B and C receive monthly allowances of Tk20,000, Tk 15,000 and Tk 10,000 respectively.
The finance minister proposed to continue these benefits in FY'27 while increasing the number of beneficiaries by 1,857 to a total of 16,513.
Tk 3.0 billion has been allocated for housing support to the families of those killed during the July Mass Uprising and to permanently incapacitated July fighters who have lost their earning capacity.
Political analyst and adviser to the Nationalist ICT Forum, Dr Maruf Mallick, said the government had taken a commendable decision by making a reasonable allocation for the welfare of July martyrs, injured participants and their families.
He said recognising both the freedom fighters of 1971 and the martyrs and injured participants of the July Uprising reflects the ruling party's commitment to honouring those who made sacrifices for the nation and preserving their contributions in the national narrative.
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