Kulaura municipality announces Tk 98.28cr budget

Kulaura Municipality in Moulvibazar has announced a Tk 98.28 crore budget, comprising the revised budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year and the proposed budget for 2026-27.

Municipal Administrator and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sanjida Akter formally announced the budget at a ceremony held at the Kulaura Municipality auditorium on Monday afternoon.

The event was moderated by Municipal Executive Officer Sharadindu Roy, while Accounts Officer Hirendra Chandra Pal presented the budget details.

The budget gives top priority to development projects aimed at improving civic services, public welfare, and transforming the municipality into a modern and clean urban centre.

For the 2026-27 fiscal year, the municipality has proposed the budget without imposing any new taxes.

According to the budget, revenue income has been projected at Tk 61.01 crore, while revenue expenditure has been estimated at Tk 59.05 crore. Government grants are expected to amount to Tk 2.09 crore, while the revenue surplus to be transferred to the development fund has been estimated at Tk 16.4 lakh.

Although Kulaura Municipality has held Grade-A status for several years, no new house or holding taxes have been imposed over the past five years.

However, officials acknowledged that tax collection remains low despite repeated efforts.

During the budget discussion, several citizens questioned the transparency of the IUGIP project currently being implemented in the municipality.

They expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress of drain construction under the project, alleging that delays have caused significant public inconvenience and worsened traffic congestion across the town.

Among those present were Upazila BNP President Joynal Abedin Bachchu, former Principal of Kulaura Government College Soumya Pradip Bhattacharya Sajal, Lecturer Sipar Uddin, Municipal Executive Engineer Shahidul Islam, Assistant Engineer Kamrul Hasan, Accountant Tajul Islam, along with municipal officials and employees, journalists, and other distinguished citizens.