5 lakh more families being included in food-friendly program 

5 lakh more families are being included in the food-friendly program in the fiscal year 2025–26.

The interim government has proposed to support 55 lakh families under food-friendly program in the national budget for fiscal year 2025–26, an increase of 5 lakh families from that in the previous fiscal year.

In addition, the duration of the benefits has been extended to six months from the next fiscal year, up from five months at present.

Previously, 50 lakh low-income families were entitled to receive 30 kilogrammes of rice per month at a subsidised rate of Tk 15 per kilogramme over a five-month period under the program.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed announced this while presenting the proposed Tk 7,89,999 crore national budget for 2025–2026. 

Bangladesh Television broadcast the Financial Adviser's budget speech live from 3 pm on Monday (June 2).  

Earlier, the budget was approved at a special meeting of the Advisory Council at the Chief Adviser’s office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus in the chair.