Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury’s first budget speech as finance minister performed a delicate, dual function: it read as an indictment of the old economic order, and served as a blueprint for its replacement.

The proposals, outlined in the national budget for fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27), include new incentives and regulatory changes covering free trade zones, off-docks, inland container depots (ICDs), air cargo operations and port management

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Investment will depend less on tax incentives and more on restoring business confidence, said Abdur Razzaque, chairman of the Research and Policy Integration for Development

He welcomed the government’s commitment to keeping corporate tax rates stable, reducing financing costs and offering incentives to foreign investors

The minister said the government has increased allowances for athletes in an effort to promote sports as a viable profession. Currently, 300 athletes receive sports allowances

Here are 12 measures in the new budget

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said while presenting the national budget for FY27 in parliament today

The government plans to expand the corporate bond market and promote alternative financing instruments to support long-term investment

To finance the deficit, Tk 127,000 crore is proposed to be sourced domestically and Tk 116,000 crore from external sources

The Daily Star is following the parliamentary session live. Scroll down for the latest updates-

Finance minister Amir Khosru to place the budget in parliament at 3:00pm

Finance Minister Khosru will propose the complete exemption of the 7.5 percent VAT applicable at the business stage on all fertilisers used in agricultural activities

It will be the first budget to be tabled by Amir Khosru, a former commerce minister during the previous tenure of the BNP government

The BNP government is set to unveil a series of tax measures in the new budget for fiscal year 2026-27 today, offering incentives for green industries, digital entrepreneurs and technology manufacturers, while imposing higher taxes on tobacco products, conventional fuel-powered vehicles and selected imports.

The finance minister unveils Bangladesh's largest-ever budget today. The real question isn't the number -- it's who pays for it, and whether it will be any different

The upcoming national budget should avoid imposing any new taxes on food products consumed by ordinary people, said Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman of PRAN-RFL Group, one of the country’s largest food and beverage companies.

Private commercial banks need stronger legal backing rather than financial support in the next national budget to restore confidence in the banking sector and protect depositors, according to the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB).

The government should reduce import duties on solar equipment in the upcoming budget for fiscal year 2026-27 to encourage wider adoption of renewable energy and help exporters meet international compliance requirements, said Vidiya Amrit Khan, vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

The government should focus on stabilising businesses in the upcoming budget for fiscal year 2026-27 rather than chasing ambitious growth targets, according to a top business leader, as he says confidence remains fragile at home and global risks are rising.