Staff Correspondent, Narayanganj 

The Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) has announced a budget of Tk 7,753,378,158 for the fiscal year 2025–2026  at 11:45 am on Thursday  at the City Hall auditorium by NCC administrator AHM Kamruzzaman.

In this year’s budget, the total income has been estimated at Tk 7.75 billion, while total expenditure has been projected at Tk 6.78 billion. The overall surplus stands at Tk 964 million, with an opening balance of Tk 1.51 billion.

For the fiscal year 2025–2026, an allocation of Tk 34.6 million has been made for mosquito eradication, up from Tk 21.3 million in 2024–2025. Waste management has been allocated Tk 508.3 million, compared to just Tk 152.7 million in the previous fiscal year.

Income sector: In the 2025–2026 budget, revenue income has been set at Tk 2.14 billion, water supply income at Tk 286 million, government block development grants at Tk 362.5 million, foreign-aided projects at Tk 1.70 billion, annual development program (ADP) project support (DPP) at Tk 1.20 billion, and development income from revenue sources at Tk 549 million. Altogether, the total projected income stands at Tk 6.24 billion.

Expenditure sector: For the 2025–2026 fiscal year, total expenditure has been fixed at Tk 6.78 billion. Of this, general revenue expenditure is Tk 1.95 billion, water supply Tk 270 million, revenue development Tk 820 million, ADP Tk 567.5 million, ADP (DPP) Tk 1.47 billion, foreign-aided project support Tk 1.70 billion, and Tk 820 million has been earmarked under NCC’s own financing for infrastructure construction and development, environmental conservation, and public space improvements.

It has been learned that in the 2024–2025 fiscal year, NCC’s budget stood at Tk 5.44 billion. According to NCC sources, in order to increase revenue income, specific plans have been adopted. Rather than raising tax rates, the focus will be on expanding coverage and creating new sources of revenue. Modern, technology-based revenue systems are being developed through e-trade licenses, e-certificate software, and e-water billing software. A five-year assessment program is underway to boost revenue collection. Existing residential and commercial properties are being reassessed, while rebates are being offered for advance payments of holding tax to encourage timely collection.

NCC Administrator AHM Kamruzzaman said this year’s budget follows a policy of expenditure austerity. However, maximum allocation will remain in development sectors. Initiatives have been taken to reduce unnecessary expenses while prioritizing infrastructure development, water supply improvement, waste management, primary healthcare, education and cultural promotion, sports development, waterlogging mitigation, dengue control, pollution control, traffic congestion reduction, streetlight improvement, and enhancement of technology-based civic services.

Present at the budget announcement were NCC Chief Executive Officer Md. Zakir Hossain, Secretary Nur Kutubul Alam, Executive Engineer Azgar Hossain, former councillors of the city corporation, political leaders, and representatives from civil society.

This marks the 14th budget since the formation of Narayanganj City Corporation. Previously, then-mayor Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy had declared Tk 6.95 billion for 2023–24, Tk 5.88 billion for 2022–23, and Tk 6.88 billion for 2021–22.

It may be recalled that after the July uprising, administrators were appointed to all city corporations across the country. In continuation, on August 21, 2024, AHM Kamruzzaman, an additional secretary of the Local Government Division, assumed responsibility as administrator of NCC.

According to NCC’s accounts department, this year’s budget has placed special emphasis on income generation. Plans have been made to boost revenue from property taxes, holding tax, trade licenses, and market rents. At the same time, implementation of the budget will also rely on government and foreign assistance.