The interim government has lowered allocation for the defence sector in the proposed budget for 2025-26 fiscal year.
The proposed budget declared by Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday allocated over Tk40,851 crore, which is cut by more than Tk1,463 crore.
In the outgoing year, FY25, the toppled Awami League government allocated over Tk42,314 crore, but it later revised it to around Tk39,415 crore in that FY.
The Defence Ministry includes Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy,   Bangladesh Air Force, DGFI, DGDP, DGMS, National Defence College, DSCSC, Armed Forces Medical College, MIST, Cadet Colleges, BNCC, Bangladesh Meteorological Department, SPARRSO, Survey of Bangladesh,   DMLC, DFD, MES, CAO, ISPR, Department of Cypher, MODC, Bangladesh Ordnance Factory, ISSB and BASB.
Of the over Tk40,851 crore in the running fiscal, the operating expenditure is over Tk39,935 crore and the rest for developing expenditure.
Priority spending areas
Procurement of arms, ammunition and modern warfare equipment, training in modern war strategies and extension of information technology are important to build a versatile and skilled Army, Navy and Air Force. Considering this, the area of modernisation of armed forces has been selected as top priority area.
Timely and accurate forecasting and early warning on excessive rainfall, flood, drought, coastal depression, cyclone and tidal surge are critically important to address the challenges of climate change, its adverse impact on agriculture and natural calamities. Besides, relevant information on preparedness against disasters like earthquakes and tsunami warnings are important for the government as well as mass people. Considering all these, this area has been given second most priority.
Services of the Inter-Service Departments are essential to enhance the capacity and modernisation of Armed Forces. Therefore, it is necessary to expand and improve the standard of these services in order to strengthen the capability of the Armed Forces. For this reason, activities of the Inter Services Departments have been given third priority.