The government on Thursday proposed a reduced allocation for the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in the FY2026-27 budget, even as child rights advocates warned that rising child labour, street children, violence against women and growing social protection needs require greater investment rather than cuts.
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury proposed Tk5,196 crore for the ministry in the upcoming fiscal year, down from the revised allocation of Tk5,371 crore in FY2025-26.
The reduction comes despite the government’s announcement of a wide range of new programs for women, children, mothers and vulnerable groups.
The proposed cut has reignited concerns over whether Bangladesh’s budget priorities adequately reflect the needs of nearly half the country’s population made up of women and children.
Presenting the Tk9.38 lakh crore national budget in parliament, the finance minister highlighted plans to expand daycare facilities for working women, strengthen child protection services, rehabilitate street children, enhance maternal healthcare and intensify efforts to eliminate child labour.
The government also announced plans to establish 20 modern daycare centres in the first phase, followed by another 60 centres, strengthen rapid response mechanisms against violence targeting women and children, and continue rehabilitation programs for disadvantaged and street children through 33 Integrated Child Rehabilitation Centres operating in 17 districts.
A draft National Action Plan 2026-2030 to eliminate child labour has already been prepared, while the government pledged a “zero tolerance” policy against workplace violence and sexual harassment.
Authorities also plan to introduce a women-operated “Pink Bus Service” and expand support for returning female migrant workers.
At the same time, maternal and child welfare programs are set to grow.
Under the Mother and Child Assistance Program, the number of beneficiaries will rise by 124,000 to 1.89 million women, backed by an allocation of Tk1,944.7 crore.
The budget also includes support for children with disabilities, children in conflict with the law and families affected by the July Mass Uprising.
Despite the initiatives, experts questioned whether a smaller ministry allocation would be sufficient to deliver meaningful results.
Human rights and development activist Khushi Kabir said reducing resources for women and child development sends a contradictory signal at a time when gender equality and child protection require stronger state support.
Child rights advocate Abdullah Al Mamun noted that children account for more than 40% of Bangladesh’s population, yet child-focused spending remains fragmented across nearly 20 ministries and agencies.
“Without a dedicated institutional structure and coordinated budgeting, it is difficult to ensure effective planning, monitoring and protection for children,” he said.
The debate comes amid growing concerns over rising child labour, school dropouts, violence against women and the lack of a comprehensive child budgeting framework capable of tracking how much public money is actually reaching children.
While the budget promises new programs and expanded welfare coverage, analysts say the real test will be whether reduced resources can deliver on increasingly ambitious commitments to women and children.