The government has decided to change Bangladesh’s fiscal year from the existing July–June cycle to April–March, a move aimed at improving the implementation of development projects and reducing disruptions caused by the monsoon season.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting on Monday, August 17, 2026.

Under the new arrangement, the fiscal year will begin on April 1 and end on March 31.

Bangladesh currently follows a fiscal year from July 1 to June 30.

The government said the change would allow major development activities to be completed before the peak monsoon period, when heavy rainfall often hampers infrastructure work and causes public inconvenience.

A nine-month transitional fiscal year will be introduced during the shift.

The 2027–28 fiscal year will run from July 2027 to March 2028. From the 2028–29 fiscal year onward, the new April–March cycle will be fully implemented.

The government will also introduce necessary amendments to the Constitution and relevant laws to accommodate the new fiscal calendar.

Financial management and government accounting systems will also require technological and administrative adjustments.

The change is expected to bring the government’s budgeting and development planning cycle more closely in line with the country’s seasonal pattern, particularly by creating greater scope to complete infrastructure work before the monsoon.

The decision marks a major change in Bangladesh’s public financial management system, which has followed the July–June fiscal calendar for decades.