Finance advisor to present national budget on Monday,  post-budget briefing set for Tuesday

The finance ministry has revised the schedule for the announcement of the national budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, moving the presentation up to 3pm on Monday instead of the previously announced 4pm.

In a significant departure from tradition, the budget will not be presented in parliament but will instead be televised live on Bangladesh Television and other networks.

This marks the first time since 2008 during the tenure of the military-backed caretaker government that the budget will be unveiled outside of a parliamentary session.

On Jun 9, 2008, then the finance advisor AB Mirza Azizul Islam presented a Tk 999.62 billion budget for FY2008–09 at 3pm, with the speech broadcast on BTV and Bangladesh Betar.

The upcoming presentation mirrors that arrangement in both format and timing.

During the Awami League’s 15-and-a-half-year tenure, national budgets were traditionally presented in parliament—ten times by Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, five times by AHM Mustafa Kamal, and once by Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.

These sessions were typically followed by nearly a month of parliamentary debates before final approval at the end of June.

With no functioning parliament this year, there will be no formal discussion period.

The budget, once approved by the Advisory Council, will be enacted through a presidential ordinance.

Following longstanding tradition, the finance advisor will hold a press briefing the day after the budget presentation to address questions and provide further details.