Foreign loans mostly used for debt repayment: Edn adviser

A large portion of Bangladesh's foreign loans is being spent in repaying previous debts, leaving limited scope for allocating adequate funds to priority sectors like education, said Education Adviser Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar.

He made the remark as the chief guest of a seminar, titled "Budget 2025-26: Education and Employment", held at Mozaffar Ahmad Chowdhury Auditorium on the Dhaka University (DU) campus on Tuesday.

The seminar, organised by Centre on Budget and Policy (CBP), was inaugurated by DU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan.

Prof Abrar said, "We are operating under severe time and resource constraints. Additionally, lack of accountability and poor planning have further intensified our challenges. Much of the foreign debt we receive is being used to repay previous loans. This has been a recurring situation for Bangladesh over the years."

In such circumstances, it becomes difficult to ensure adequate allocation for high-priority sectors like education.

"It is a misconception that forming an education commission alone will solve all problems. Reforms require more than dialogue, these need time-bound, effective action."

DU Treasurer Prof Dr M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury presided over the seminar. DU Pro-VC (Admin) Prof Dr. Saima Haque Bidisha, and Director General of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Dr. A. K. Enamul Haque were present as special guests.

CBP Director Professor Dr. M. Abu Yusuf presented the keynote paper.

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