Bangladesh’s per capita debt now Tk 1.29 lakh: Finance minister

Bangladesh’s per capita debt stood at Tk 129,239 as of March 2026, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said today.

The government is emphasising higher revenue collection, efficient management of public finances and more disciplined debt management to reduce the per capita debt burden, he said while answering a question from Reza Ahmed MP at the parliament.

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As part of the effort, initiatives are being taken to reduce the need for borrowing by expanding revenue collection, increasing tax and non-tax revenue (NTR), and raising the government’s own income, the minister added.

The government is also seeking to reduce its financing needs by making public expenditure more economical and effective and controlling unnecessary and non-priority spending, he added.

To reduce interest rates and refinancing risks associated with government debt, the government is pursuing orderly, market-based credit expansion and measures to make the government securities market more effective and competitive.

Initiatives have also been taken to develop the domestic credit market and build an investor base.

The government is following prescribed limits to control excessive borrowing through savings certificates and has taken steps to align their interest and profit rates with prevailing market conditions and interest rates.

These measures will help reduce dependence on relatively high-cost loans, keep the government’s overall interest expenditure under control and create a more balanced debt portfolio, Amir Khosru said.

The government is also emphasising the formulation and implementation of an Annual Borrowing Plan to prevent excessive and unplanned borrowing, he added.