The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has been allocated approximately Tk826 crore in the proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2026-27. The allocation forms part of the government’s overall budget proposal unveiled on Thursday.

According to the proposed budget, the ministry will receive Tk485 crore for operational expenditures and Tk341 crore for development activities.

In the fiscal year 2025-26, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs was initially allocated Tk824 crore. However, the amount was later revised downward to Tk752 crore.

The allocated funds for FY2026-27 will be utilised for salaries, development initiatives and various cultural programmes. Several important projects and activities are scheduled to be implemented during the upcoming fiscal year.

Among the key programmes are the organisation of national-level events, including the observance of Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day, the arrangement of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, and celebrations marking the birth anniversaries of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam.

The ministry will also organise seasonal festivals, including the Bengali New Year (Pahela Baishakh), month-long folk art fairs and traditional cultural festivals. The conferment of prestigious Ekushey Padak, while grants and financial assistance will be provided to indigent artistes and cultural organisations, including theatres and libraries, to promote national ideology and democratic values.

The budget also includes provisions for the exchange of cultural teams and experts with different countries, as well as measures to ensure copyright protection of intangible creative cultural works.

Efforts will continue to preserve the country’s cultural heritage through the collection, conservation and exhibition of artefacts. Plans have also been made for the modernisation of galleries, the development of the Zia Memorial Museum, and the operationalisation of the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum.

In the field of archaeology, the government will identify new archaeological sites and undertake excavation, conservation and restoration work. Archival systems for ancient and rare documents will also be established.

The budget further prioritises the promotion of a healthy cultural environment through music, dance, drama and literary activities organised by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and other institutions. Development projects include the construction and renovation of facilities under the “Bangladesh Folk and Crafts Foundation”, the implementation of the “KhudraNri-Gosti Cultural Academy” project in Rangamati, conservation initiatives in the Mymensingh region, and the continuation of the Nationwide Mobile Library Activities project.

It may be mentioned that Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury unveiled the proposed national budget of Tk9.38 lakh crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year on Thursday.