Interim Government’s Defence Budget Cuts Raise Grave Concerns

The decision by Bangladesh’s interim administration to reduce defence spending in the fiscal year twenty twenty five to twenty twenty six is being received with growing alarm among security analysts and defence professionals. At a time when regional rivals are reinforcing their military postures and investing heavily in modernisation, Dhaka has taken a most perplexing step in the opposite direction. The reduction in the national defence budget appears to disregard not only the country’s current threat environment but also the essential role played by the armed forces in maintaining national stability. The proposed allocation for the Ministry of Defence stands at Tk 40,698 crore, a notable decrease from the previous year’s figure of Tk 42,014 crore. The expectation within both military and policymaking circles was that this year’s allocation would rise significantly, possibly reaching up to Tk 55,000 crore, to support new acquisitions, force expansion and broader operational commitments. Instead,