Spending cuts in vital sectors will further hurt people

The education and health sectors in Bangladesh are set to receive less allocation than prescribed in the 8th Five-Year Plan for the fiscal year 2024-25, according to the draft Annual Development Plan (ADP). The health sector will get 7.8% against the prescribed 11.1%, while education and technology will receive 13.7% instead of the proposed 16.5%. Experts have raised concerns over this trend, as inadequate investment in these vital sectors for human development will hinder progress and perpetuate high out-of-pocket expenditure for citizens, leading to increased poverty and inequality.