Science & Technology Ministry Gets Tk 18,115 Crore in Proposed Budget

Jun 11, 2026 22:21

The government has proposed an allocation of Tk 18,115 crore for the Ministry of Science and Technology in the national budget for FY2026-27, aiming to accelerate technological advancement, scientific research, and innovation across Bangladesh.

The allocation was announced on Thursday as part of the country's first budget under the new government, which has a total proposed outlay of Tk 9.38 lakh crore.

Of the proposed allocation, Tk 711 crore has been earmarked for operational expenditure, while Tk 17,404 crore will be spent on development and research-oriented projects.

Higher Than Previous Original Budget

A comparison of recent budget figures shows that the proposed allocation is lower than the current fiscal year's revised allocation of Tk 20,658 crore, but significantly higher than the original allocation of Tk 15,013 crore.

For reference:

FY2024-25 actual expenditure: Tk 10,630 crore
FY2025-26 original allocation: Tk 13,573 crore
FY2025-26 revised allocation: Tk 12,799 crore
FY2026-27 proposed allocation: Tk 18,115 crore

Compared with the previous original budget, the new allocation represents an increase of Tk 5,316 crore, a move expected to strengthen scientific research, ICT infrastructure, and innovation-driven development projects.

ICT Sector Targeted as Future Economic Driver

Presenting the budget in Parliament, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury described the ICT and telecommunications sectors as key drivers of Bangladesh's future economy.

He noted that the sector currently contributes only around 1–2 percent of GDP, but the government aims to raise that contribution to 10 percent within the next five years through strategic planning and implementation.

Focus on Fourth Industrial Revolution

The minister said the budget places strong emphasis on preparing a skilled workforce capable of meeting the challenges and opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

In line with the government's 2026 election manifesto, priority will be given to building a science-minded nation, developing technology-driven human resources, and promoting modern, employment-oriented education.

Planned initiatives include:

Expanding STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education to grassroots levels.
Aligning research activities with global market demand.
Promoting commercialization of innovation through Research-to-Market (R2M) and Innovate-to-Market (I2M) strategies.
Supporting emerging sectors such as semiconductor technology, space research, and earthquake and seismographic studies.

Expansion of Nuclear Medicine Services

The budget also outlines measures to improve technology-driven healthcare services across the country.

The government plans to establish an integrated online nuclear medicine information system connecting one national institute and 22 nuclear medicine institutes, enabling coordinated delivery of both conventional and nuclear medical services at affordable costs.

Marine and Environmental Research Initiatives

Additional plans include strengthening geological research capabilities to explore rare mineral resources in coastal and riverine island regions.

The government also intends to undertake environmental and sustainable development projects, including:

Coral restoration initiatives in Saint Martin's Island.
Offshore wind energy mapping through wind-flow analysis in shallow coastal waters.
Enhanced scientific research to support climate resilience and sustainable resource management.

Sector experts believe the increased allocation reflects the government's growing focus on transforming Bangladesh into a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy while strengthening its position in advanced technology and scientific research.

//DBTech/SI/MEUM/OR//