After the BNP's landslide in the February 2026 election, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government is using a record Tk 9.38 trillion budget to tame prices, widen social protection such as the Family Card, and improve the investment climate. Invest Bangladesh, which merges BIDA, BEZA and PPPA, now serves as a one-stop investment agency.
Government · leader
President Mohammed Shahabuddin / Prime Minister Tarique Rahman (BNP, in office since 2026-02-17)
Key national agenda
- Stabilising prices of essentials and power/gas supply
- Expanding social protection (Family Card, Farmer Card)
- Launch of Invest Bangladesh and a 180-day business climate plan
- 20% renewable share in power generation by 2030
- Anti-corruption and restoring law and order
- Preparing for LDC graduation (deferral to 2029 requested)
Government programmes
FY2026-27 budgetTk 9.38 trillion
Largest ever; deficit Tk 2.51 trillion (3.6% of GDP), growth target 6.5%
Launch of Invest Bangladesh
Single investment agency under the PMO merging BIDA, BEZA and PPPA; runs the Banglabiz one-stop licensing platform
National Renewable Energy Development Strategy
20% renewables and 15% power savings by 2030; approved in principle by cabinet in Jul 2026
SME and youth fundsapprox. Tk 25.25bn
SME fund Tk 20bn, start-up development fund Tk 2.25bn, youth creative economy Tk 3bn
Chattogram New Mooring Container Terminal
DP World to modernise and operate it; ownership and control stay with the port authority
Karnaphuli rail-road bridgeUSD 1.24bn
Bridge and access roads in Chattogram; USD 810m Korean EDCF/EDPF loan (total cost USD 1.24bn)
Business opportunities
AI chatbot and automated document screening for investment licensing
The newly merged agency must show quick results under its 180-day plan.
Invest Bangladesh (PMO), Banglabiz platform team
EU due-diligence and ESG compliance package for garment/export SMEs
LDC graduation will cut trade preferences while EU supply-chain rules tighten.
Export SMEs, BGMEA members, Ministry of Commerce
Practical AI training for civil servants and youth
KOICA starts an AI talent programme in 2026, creating demand for Korean-style training.
ICT Division, technical training institutes, KOICA implementers
Welfare card beneficiary registration and de-duplication system
Expansion of Family and Farmer Cards increases the beneficiary management load.
Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Finance, local administration
Factory and building energy audits and demand management
Gas and power shortages persist and the government targets 15% power savings by 2030.
Power/Energy Ministry, industrial zone tenants
Korean support schemes
- KOICA's five new projects in Bangladesh (USD 96m) · KOICA — AI talent, Saemaul anti-poverty, an AI cybersecurity centre and ship-recycling skills, phased in from 2026.
- EDCF loan for the Karnaphuli bridge · Export-Import Bank of Korea (EDCF) — USD 720m EDCF plus USD 90m EDPF, the largest single EDCF project to date.
- KOICA statistics data warehouse project · KOICA — USD 9.65m for a national statistics data warehouse and big-data platform at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
Official notices
Invest Bangladesh (investment agency under the PMO)
- 2026-10-26 Promoted investment opportunities at the World Investment Forum in Doha
- 2026-10-20 Joint session with China Exim Bank on opportunities for Chinese banks
- 2026-10-12 Net FDI up 12.78% in Apr-Jun 2026, led by reinvested earnings
- 2026-09-22 Progress report on the 180-day plan
Disaster · conflict · epidemic
Stable 2026-10-30
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