The proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2025–2026 has allocated Tk 824 crore for the country’s cultural sector, with Tk 487 crore earmarked for operational expenses and Tk 337 crore for development.

The budget announcement was made by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday.

While the allocation marks a slight increase from the current fiscal year’s original allotment of Tk 779 crore (revised to Tk 742 crore), longstanding demands from artists and cultural professionals for dedicating 1% of the national budget to culture remain unmet.

In the proposed budget of Tk 7,90,000 crore, the combined allocation for the entertainment, culture, and religious affairs sector stands at just 0.8%. This sector includes four ministries: Information and Broadcasting, Cultural Affairs, Religious Affairs, and Youth and Sports; and together, these ministries have been allocated Tk 6,540 crore—less than 1% of the total budget.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs plans to undertake a range of programmes in the coming year, including observance of national days, stipends for financially vulnerable artists and writers, grants for theatre groups and private libraries, and cultural exchange programmes with other countries.

The ministry also aims to protect copyrights of creative cultural works, modernise galleries at the National Museum by expanding collections of heritage and contemporary art, and identify, excavate, and preserve new archaeological sites across the country.

Despite these plans, cultural stakeholders have expressed concerns over the continued marginal allocation for the sector, calling for more robust financial support to preserve and promote Bangladesh’s diverse cultural heritage.