The per capita public debt of Bangladesh stood at Tk 129,239.19 as of March 31, 2026, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told Parliament on Sunday.
He disclosed the figure while responding to a question from BNP MP Reza Ahmed of Kushtia-1.
The Finance Minister said the government is taking a range of measures to reduce the debt burden on people, with emphasis on increasing revenue collection, ensuring efficient management of public funds and strengthening debt management.
He said the government is working to expand the revenue base and increase tax and non-tax revenue to boost its own income and reduce the need for borrowing.
At the same time, efforts are being made to make public expenditure more economical and productive while curbing unnecessary and non-priority spending, he said.
The government is also pursuing market-based and disciplined borrowing and debt management to reduce refinancing risks, said the minister.
He said initiatives have been taken to develop the domestic debt market, broaden the investor base and make the government securities market more effective and competitive.
The government is also maintaining prescribed limits on additional borrowing through savings certificates, while taking steps to align their interest or profit rates with market conditions and prevailing interest rates, he said.
“These measures will help reduce dependence on relatively high-cost borrowing, keep the government’s overall interest expenditure under control and create a more balanced debt portfolio,” the minister said.
The government is also placing importance on preparing and following an Annual Borrowing Plan to avoid excessive and unplanned borrowing, he said.
“Cash Forecasting” initiatives are being undertaken by taking into account the government’s likely cash requirements, revenue and expenditure flows and debt repayment schedules, he added.
The minister said the government is also emphasising compliance with the Public Money and Budget Management Act, 2009 (PMBM Act) in financial management, budget implementation, borrowing and maintaining fiscal discipline.
He said the combined efforts to increase revenue and income, control public expenditure and borrowing costs, improve cash management and strengthen market-based debt management are aimed at reducing the government’s borrowing requirements and, in the long term, easing the debt burden on the people.
The minister, however, did not provide a separate figure for per capita debt for an earlier year in the response placed before Parliament.