In this episode of Orthonitir Barota, our panel explores the structural realities, execution challenges, and long-term strategy behind Bangladesh’s budget and macro-fiscal framework:

Host:
Asif Iqbal — Trustee, Panam Institute

Guests:
Jyoti Rahman — Chairperson, Panam Institute
Asif Khan — Trustee, Panam Institute

Moving beyond traditional budget reviews, the panelists analyze Bangladesh’s macroeconomy, public policy, and long-term economic strategies from a comparative and data-driven perspective.

Key Topics Covered:

  • The FY 2026–27 Budget Realities: Is the target genuinely unrealistic or overly ambitious?
  • IMF Guidelines vs. Fiscal Reality: Key differences between IMF recommendations and actual government budget strategies.
  • Revenue, Expenditure & Deficit Dynamics: The realistic picture of revenue collection, government spending, and budget deficits.
  • Assessing the Financing Strategy: How realistic is the government’s approach to financing the budget gap?
  • Domestic vs. External Borrowing: The key risks associated with domestic and foreign debt streams.
  • Rising Interest Burden: Why skyrocketing interest costs could pose the single biggest challenge in the coming years.
  • Fiscal & Monetary Policy Coordination: Why seamless alignment between central bank operations and government spending is essential.
  • Public Sector Efficiency & Governance: Practical pathways to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability in government spending.