As Bangladesh prepares to unveil its FY2026-27 national budget, economists, child rights advocates and development experts are warning that millions of vulnerable children remain largely invisible in public spending, despite making up nearly one-third of the country’s population.
They argue that while billions of taka are allocated every year for education, health, nutrition, social protection and child welfare programs, the absence of a dedicated child budgeting framework makes it difficult to determine how much money actually reaches children -- particularly street children, children living in poverty and those exposed to climate-related risks.
The concern comes amid renewed calls for the government to place children at the centre of budget priorities and introduce a transparent mechanism to track child-focused spending across ministries.
According to experts, nearly 20 ministries and government agencies currently implement programs related to children. However, expenditures remain scattered across multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, nutrition, sanitation, social protection and women and children affairs, making overall monitoring difficult.
As a result, analysts say Bangladesh lacks a clear picture of whether public investments are producing measurable improvements in children’s lives.
“The first question is not how much money is being allocated, but how much is actually being spent on children and how effectively,” said Professor Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
He said Bangladesh urgently needs a dedicated institutional framework for children and highlighted the plight of an estimated 3.2 million street children who often remain outside mainstream policy discussions.
“A large segment of street children is part of the development process, but if neglected they may also become vulnerable to future social risks,” he said.
The debate has gained significance as policymakers finalize the next national budget at a time when Bangladesh faces growing challenges related to poverty, urbanisation, climate change and demographic transition.
Child rights groups argue that investments in children should be treated not as welfare spending but as long-term investments in human capital and national development.
Save the Children has called for the restoration of a dedicated Child Budget Statement and increased allocations for education, healthcare, child protection, nutrition and climate-resilient services.
The organisation has also urged adequate financing for the Fifth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP5), expanded immunisation programs, child-centred disaster preparedness initiatives and skills development programs for vulnerable adolescents.
Despite notable progress in education and healthcare over the past decade, experts say major gaps remain.
School dropout rates continue to be high in poor, climate-vulnerable and geographically isolated communities, while malnutrition still affects millions of children and undermines their physical and cognitive development.
Climate change is adding new pressures. Floods, cyclones, river erosion and salinity intrusion are increasingly disrupting education, healthcare and nutrition services, particularly in coastal and disaster-prone areas.
Forhad Hossain, executive director of LEEDO, said street children remain among the most neglected groups in public policy.
“A huge population is living on the streets, yet there is no comprehensive national strategy to address their needs,” he said.
He warned that programs designed without consulting organisations working directly with children often fail to achieve intended outcomes.
Experts also point to weaknesses in data collection and coordination among government agencies, arguing that poor data frequently leads to ineffective budgeting and implementation delays.
Professor Rumana Huque of Dhaka University said Bangladesh’s highly centralised budgeting system makes it difficult to assess child-related spending across ministries.
Countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan and Nepal increasingly analyse demographic needs during budget preparation, allowing governments to better understand investment requirements for children and vulnerable groups, she noted.
“A child’s development begins before birth. Investment in children must therefore include investment in mothers, families and supportive social environments,” she said.
She stressed that while the amount of money allocated is important, effective implementation, accountability and coordination are equally critical.
Budget figures illustrate the challenge. The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs received Tk5,077.89 crore in the proposed FY2025-26 budget, slightly lower than the previous year’s allocation of Tk5,222.19 crore.
Experts argue that direct spending targeted specifically at children remains modest relative to the size of Bangladesh’s child population and the scale of challenges they face.
For policy advocates, the central question is no longer whether Bangladesh spends money on children, but whether those investments are coordinated, measurable and reaching those most in need.
As budget discussions enter their final stage, they warn that failing to prioritise children, particularly street children and other vulnerable groups, could carry long-term economic and social costs.
Their message to policymakers is simple: a budget that cannot clearly account for its children is ultimately a budget that risks overlooking the country’s future.