Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury -File photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, June 24, 2026 (BSS) – Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today said the government has set a target of reducing inflation to 7.5 percent and raising economic growth to 6.5 percent in the next fiscal year 2026-27.

He made the remarks while replying to a written question tabled by ruling party lawmaker Md Fazle Huda (Naogaon-3) in Parliament. The day’s sitting began with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair.

The finance minister said the government has identified controlling commodity prices, protecting the purchasing power of ordinary people and ensuring balanced regional development as key priorities of the FY2026-27 budget.

To achieve these goals, the government plans to coordinate monetary and fiscal policies effectively, strengthen foreign exchange reserves, keep the budget deficit at a manageable level, prioritize public expenditure and boost production as well as investment to restore market stability, he added.

Amir Khosru said a budget allocation of Tk 144,338 crore has been proposed for the social safety net sector in the next fiscal year to safeguard the purchasing power of the people.
 
Under the Family Card Programme, he said a proposal has been made to allocate Tk 14,500 crore to provide monthly assistance of Tk 2,500 to 4.1 million women. 

At the same time, Tk 1,062.5 crore has been proposed under the Farmer Card Programme to bring 4.25 million farmers in 100 upazilas under the scheme.

He said the primary objective of these programmes is to ensure livelihood protection and consumption support for vulnerable and low-income groups by delivering direct assistance amid inflationary pressures.

Highlighting various government initiatives to keep food prices affordable, the minister said 5.5 million families are receiving 30 kilograms of rice per month at Tk 15 per kilogram for six months under the Food-Friendly Programme during lean periods.

In addition, subsidised rice and flour are being supplied through more than 1,000 sales centres across the country. To stabilise the rice market, additional Open Market Sale (OMS) operations have been launched in 419 upazilas, where rice is being sold at Tk 30 per kilogram.

The minister also said steps have been taken to increase the government’s food grain storage capacity from 2.316 million metric tons to 2.450 million metric tons.

The food grain procurement target has likewise been raised from 3.819 million metric tons to 4.129 million metric tons.

Regarding infrastructure development in northern Bangladesh, he said no separate numerical allocation has been earmarked specifically for the region. However, a total allocation of Tk 174,988 crore has been proposed for the physical infrastructure sector.

As part of balanced regional development, the government has adopted special plans to promote agro-based industrialisation, specialised agricultural product processing industries, cold-chain facilities, storage infrastructure, food processing industries and logistics development in the northern region.

He further said initiatives have been undertaken to implement the Teesta Master Plan aimed at improving the living standards of people in the region.

The finance minister also expressed optimism that coordinated measures involving inflation control, targeted social assistance, food security and regional infrastructure development would help bring greater relief to people’s lives.