An allocation of Tk 2,60,767 crore has been proposed for the gender-relevant budget and Tk 5,078 crore for the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in the financial year 2025–2026, both marking a decrease from the FY 2024-25.
The allocation for the gender-relevant budget was Tk 2,71,819  crore in FY 2024–2025, while the women and children affairs ministry received allocation of Tk 5,222 crore in the same year.
Women’s rights activists expressed concern that the decreased allocation may pose an obstacle to achieving women’s advancement and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad president Fauzia Moslem said, ‘If we talk about implementing the SDGs and advancing women's development, then how can we expect it if the budget for the women and children affairs is reduced?, she questioned, adding, ‘I believe this decision is not appropriate.’  Â
Regarding the this year’s gender-relevant budget, representing 33 per cent of the total budget, the rights activist said there should be clear guidelines on how to utilise the gender budget and mechanisms to monitor its implementation to ensure women’s advancement.
Tania Haque, professor at the Department of Women and Gender Studies at Dhaka University, said women's advancement had already slowed due to the political shift after August 5 last year and the impact of Covid-19, the budget cut would definitely hinder women’s progress. Â
Gender-relevant budget allocations are categorised under four key thematic areas, with declines in three of them in FY 2025–26 compared with FY 2024-2025.
Allocation for Women’s Empowerment and Enhancing Social Status decreased to Tk 62,535.9 crore from Tk 64,074.6 crore; Increasing Women’s Effective Access to Public Services dropped to Tk 36,177.9 crore from Tk 44,054.4 crore; and Education, Health, and Wellbeing for Women’s Development fell to Tk 82,867.7 crore from Tk 86,894.4 crore.
However, the budget allocation for Economic Participation and Equality increased to Tk 79,185.2 crore in FY 2025–26, up from Tk 76,841.7 crore in FY 2024–25.
Since FY 2009–2010, the government has been preparing a gender budget to promote women’s advancement, gradually expanding its coverage to all 62 ministries and divisions.
In his budget speech on Monday, finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed also announced that the government has allocated a special fund of Tk 125 crore for women entrepreneurs.
Recognising unpaid household works by women, the adviser said the government would take necessary steps in the future to include the economic value of household labour in GDP.