Dhaka, Dec 18: Bangladesh’s Finance Division has unveiled its third Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform Strategy, a five-year roadmap aimed at shifting fiscal governance from system-focused reforms to outcome-based accountability and improved public service delivery, officials said on Thursday.
The 2025–2030 strategy marks the first time Bangladesh has formally integrated climate-smart public financial management, gender-responsive budgeting, and sector-specific reforms in health, education and social protection into a single fiscal framework, according to a statement issued by the Finance Division.
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, speaking at the launch, said the new framework seeks to strengthen transparency and ensure that public spending delivers tangible benefits to citizens, at a time when the country is facing rising public expenditure, climate-related risks and global economic uncertainty.
The roadmap sets out 15 reform pillars, including measures on fiscal sustainability, debt management, public procurement, audit and oversight, and digital transformation. Officials said the strategy places strong emphasis on macroeconomic resilience, improved macro-fiscal forecasting, integrated debt management and enhanced disclosure of fiscal risks.
Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder described the strategy as the result of sustained collaboration among line ministries, constitutional bodies and development partners.
Comptroller and Auditor General Md Nurul Islam highlighted the importance of independent audit in reinforcing fiscal discipline and improving citizen-focused public services.
Representing the World Bank, Jean Pesme, Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, noted progress in reforms such as iBAS++ and pension digitalisation, which have strengthened fiscal oversight and credibility, while cautioning that institutional capacity, fiscal management and rising public debt remain key challenges.
The Finance Division acknowledged that Bangladesh’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains among the lowest in South Asia, while liabilities linked to state-owned enterprises and other contingent risks continue to expand.
Officials said the success of the PFM Reform Strategy will depend on sustained political commitment, stronger inter-agency coordination and continued investment in public sector capacity, as Bangladesh advances toward its goal of attaining upper-middle-income status.
