The government has proposed a budget allocation of Tk 41,908 crore for the health and family welfare sector in the 2025–26 fiscal year — an increase of Tk 501 crore from the previous year.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed announced while unveiling the national budget on Monday afternoon.

In his speech, he said an additional Tk 4,166 crore has been allocated to provide free medical services to low-income populations, while Tk 1,000 crore has been set aside to support the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

To boost Bangladesh’s footprint in the global care sector, the adviser said initiatives will be taken to provide training to develop skilled caregivers who meet international standards. “This will open up new opportunities for overseas employment and increase remittance earnings,” he noted.

He added that steps are also being considered to launch PhD programmes in nursing education and establish a nurse educator training centre to deliver international-standard training.

Highlighting the sector’s role in national development, Salehuddin Ahmed proposed the revised allocation for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, up from Tk 41,407 crore in the 2024–25 budget.