The National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday approved a Taka two lakh crore Revised Annual Development Programme (RADP) for the current fiscal 2025-'26 with transport and communication sector getting the highest allocation.
The approval came from NEC meeting held at its Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar with Chief Adviser and NEC Chairperson Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus in the chair.
However, real size of the RADP stands at Tk 2,08,935.53 crore with funds from autonomous bodies. Planning Adviser Professor Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud briefed reporters after the meeting.
The NEC meeting was attended by the Planning Adviser and other members of the Advisers Council, the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser.
Officials said the RADP is planned taking into account the country's resource position, availability of foreign financing and the overall macroeconomic situation.
Of the Tk two lakh crore RADP for FY2025-'26, Tk 1,28,000 crore will come from domestic sources, while Tk 72,000 crore will be financed by foreign sources.
The revised ADP has been down by Tk 16,000 crore d from domestic financing and Tk 14,000 crore from foreign sources, resulting in a total cut of Tk 30,000 crore.
In addition, the RADP allocation for autonomous bodies and corporations has been set at Tk 8,935.53 crore, of which Tk 8,930.53 crore will be financed from domestic sources and Tk five crore from foreign sources. Thus the overall size of the RADP has reached at Tk 2,08,935.53 crore.
The total number of projects under the revised ADP stands at 1,330 including 1,108 investment projects, 35 feasibility study projects, 121 technical assistance projects and 66 projects being implemented by autonomous bodies and corporations using their own funds.
About 286 projects have been earmarked for completion by June 30, 2026. The programme also includes 170 projects funded by the Climate Change Trust Fund.
Five sectors have received the highest priority under the revised ADP. These are transport and communication; power and energy; housing and community facilities; education; and local government and rural development.
These five sectors accounted for Tk 1,21,118 crore, representing 60.54 per cent of the total RADP allocation.
On a ministry and division-wise basis, the highest allocations have gone to the Local Government Division, followed by the Road Transport and Highways Division and the Power Division.
Other ministries and divisions receiving significant allocations include the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Secondary and Higher Education Division, Ministry of Shipping, Bridges Division and the Ministry of Railways.
The revised ADP has included some 856 new unapproved projects without allocation, while another 157 unapproved projects without allocation have been incorporated to facilitate access to foreign assistance.
Additionally, 35 new unapproved projects without allocation have been included under the own-financing of implementing agencies. A total of 81 Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects have also been included in the revised programme.
Officials said the RADP is also expected to contribute to human resource development, achieving self-sufficiency in food production, poverty alleviation and the overall socio-economic development of the country, helping Bangladesh move closer to its targeted growth objectives.
Adviser, the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, members of the Planning Commission, as well as senior secretaries and secretaries from various ministries and divisions.
