Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Abdur Rahman Khan said that they have gradually been adopting information technology to improve compliance, expand the tax base and reduce human discretion in revenue administration. "With digital data, we can analyse taxpayer behaviour and assess th
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday said the government has decided not to undertake projects that fail to ensure returns on investment, employment generation and environmental sustainability. He said many of the nearly 1,300 projects currently under the Annual Dev
Despite foreign investment increasing in Bangladesh in the last calendar year, it has decreased in the ongoing fiscal year, according to official data. The Bangladesh Bank estimate released on May 5 shows that net foreign direct investment (FDI) of $1.77 billion came into the country last year. Th
Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are opening negotiations on a major economic-cooperation deal for expanding bilateral trade and investment, as Dhaka ramps up the country's forthcoming LDC-graduation preparation. A 20-member high-powered Bangladesh delegation is set to leave for Abu D
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Saturday said Bangladesh is moving forward with discussions to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea to boost exports and strengthen bilateral trade ties. "The proposed FTA would open up new opportunities for Bangladesh's export sector and
Top policymakers of the government have found little reflection of the ruling BNP's election pledges in the proposed Tk 3.0-trillion Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY2026-27 -- the first ADP under the new government, which is 50 per cent higher than the revised allocation for the current fi
A Tk 3.0-trillion Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the next fiscal year is getting final consideration today with several-fold increases in education and health allocations with the focus on human-capital development, officials say. However, the highest development-budget sanction goes for t
Returning the five merged Islamic banks to their former shareholders might prove difficult for the government as major development partners dislike the reversion move, officials says. The new government last month passed the Bank Resolution Act 2026 amending the Bank Resolution Ordinance 2025 unde
Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) President Doulot Akter Mala has said the government should think about a different fiscal policy for small and medium industries (SMEs) so that they can come under the tax net with a tolerable tax rate. “If we impose an unaffordable tax rate for any sect
The government must ensure greater transparency in how tax revenue is spent before asking businesses to carry a heavier tax burden, Showkat Aziz Russell, President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), said today. He made the remarks while speaking as a panellist at the ICAB-FE
Bangladesh must urgently modernise its fiscal infrastructure to address its critically low tax-to-GDP ratio, Kamran T. Rahman, President of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), said today. He made the remarks while speaking as a panellist at the ongoing ICAB-FE pre-budget roun
Digital accounting is no longer optional for Bangladesh, as it is now imperative for ensuring financial transparency, reducing tax evasion and improving revenue collection, Sabbir Ahmed, FCA, Council Member of ICAB, said today. He made the remarks while presenting the keynote paper at the ongoing
A pre-budget roundtable discussion jointly organised by The Financial Express (FE) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) began today at CA Bhaban in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area. The event is scheduled to be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and will focus on issues
