India's aid to Bangladesh remains ₹120 crore for FY24-25

India's financial aid to Bangladesh remains at ₹120 crore for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The country's political situation and security issues have led to this unchanged allocation, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The MEA does not plan to begin new people-oriented projects in Bangladesh for the next fiscal year, FY26. The ongoing political disturbances in Bangladesh have affected the execution of already committed projects. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized a careful approach before starting new initiatives. This year's budget for the MEA includes ₹6,750 crore for foreign aid, making up 33% of its total budget. This marks a 20% increase from the previous year. The aid to Bangladesh was reduced after considering potential disruptions from Bangladesh's upcoming elections, which are set for early 2024. Political unrest in Bangladesh has delayed project execution. Notably, this included the campaign period for the elections and other disturbances throughout 2023 and early 2024. As a result, no new High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) will be launched for FY26. These projects typically focus on improving rural infrastructure. However, the MEA expects to complete two ongoing projects by May 2025. One involves equipping a digital service and training center, while the other is a construction project for an educational building in Dhaka. The Akhaura-Agartala Rail Link project is also on track, having achieved full physical progress. The parliamentary committee advised the MEA to coordinate with the Bangladeshi government to protect these projects from political challenges. The committee expressed concern over the unchanged funding for the “Welfare of Overseas Indians” program and suggested seeking additional funds in the next fiscal year. Additionally, the committee recommended that the MEA speed up the integration of its Passport Seva Programme with various identification systems to streamline the passport application process. Despite some technological advancements, the MEA faces hurdles with police verification delays in specific regions. Lastly, the MEA has been engaging social media influencers to promote India's foreign aid initiatives. However, the committee believes more needs to be done to raise awareness about these programs both in India and among recipient communities.