Economists, tax experts, and business leaders on Monday warned that excessive dependence on indirect taxes such as value added tax (VAT) and tax deducted at source (TDS) could have adverse impacts on the economy, businesses and consumers. They expressed concern over the growing reliance on indirec
Policy uncertainty remains one of the key barriers hindering both local and foreign direct investment, which are essential for economic growth and job creation in Bangladesh. “The number one reason over the past few years has been policy uncertainty,” said Dhruv Sharma while delivering
The National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday approved the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for FY2026-27 with an outlay of nearly Tk3.0 trillion, describing it as a roadmap for economic reforms, balanced growth and long-term development. The outlay is nearly 53 per cent higher than that of the
Bangladesh's proposed FY2026-27 budget faces a 'near-impossible revenue challenge' that could force the government to choose between paying civil servants more and protecting the poor, the Citizens' Platform warned Monday. The government has set a revenue target of Tk 6.95 lakh crore for F
New Zealand has assured Bangladesh of extending duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) facility and preferential market access even after its graduation from LDC. The country has also expressed its strong interests in further expanding bilateral trade and investment between the two nations. Non-re
Bangladesh Bank (BB) has introduced a monthly performance review system to strengthen the implementation of the Bangladesh Bank Service Standard, aiming to improve efficiency, accountability, and service delivery across all operational units. The decision was taken at the inaugural performance rev
KHULNA, May 16: Bangladesh Bank will continue to ensure the steady flow of credit to productive and employment-generating sectors to guarantee sustainable and inclusive economic growth. This statement was made by the Bangladesh Bank Governor during his address at an event on Saturday, emphasizing
National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan has said that strict monitoring to curb tax evasion will begin with the tobacco sector. There are plans to introduce counting machines, counting cameras, QR codes and advanced revenue stamps at the production stage, he told a pre-budget
The Society for Asian Circular Innovation Network (SACIN), a research think tank dedicated to advancing circular economy solutions across Asia, officially launched its journey through a programme in Dhaka. Speaking at the event held at the BCI Conference Room on Saturday, SACIN Founder President P
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) on Saturday unveiled its Economic Position Index (EPI) for the second quarter of FY2026 (October–December 2025), revealing that Dhaka's economy recorded a moderate overall score of 0.50, reflecting visible advancement but persistent structural wea
The government has released Tk 15 billion in cash incentives for the country's exporters. It is the fourth tranche of export subsidy for the fiscal year (FY) 2025-26. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) recently issued an order on the disbursement of the export intensive, which was followed by issuance
Bangladesh's outstanding government guarantees extended for the upkeep of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) show a downturn, reflecting lower borrowing and partial repayment made by several entities. According to official data up till December 2025, total outstanding sovereign guarantees amounted to
Bangladesh's cement sector, which is mostly import-dependent for raw materials, is facing serious trouble due to the Middle East (ME) conflict as increased freight charges have led to higher operational costs. However, manufacturers cannot pass the cost on to the retail level in proportion to thei
