The government has proposed the complete withdrawal of import duty on 51 new raw materials used in the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to make medicines more affordable for consumers in the domestic marke

The Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB), the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), and the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) have welcomed several measures in the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year unveiled today.

While describing it as a largely realistic budget, he argued that the new government's ambitious targets have resulted in an expansionary fiscal plan whose implementation will be extremely difficult

He said the government's decision to keep corporate tax rates unchanged, alongside measures to lower the cost of foreign borrowing and machinery leasing, would provide greater certainty for investors

Proposed budget keeps the monthly allowance for general freedom fighters unchanged at Tk 20,000

Allocation rises by Tk 1,445 crore from the outgoing fiscal year’s initial budget

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today said the government is spending around Tk 40,000 crore in the current fiscal year to recapitalise weak banks as part of a broader effort to restore discipline and stability to the financial sector.

Finance minister says

Nineteen years ago, BNP finance minister M Saifur Rahman placed a national budget of Tk 69,740 crore for fiscal year 2006-07. Three governments have since come and gone, and BNP has now returned to power through a national election.

Ahead of the fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27) national budget, the government faces mounting fiscal pressure amid high inflation and low investment at a time when the global geopolitical situation remains volatile, said Prof Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

Bangladesh’s next national budget should focus on strengthening economic resilience rather than increasing spending, said Zahid Hussain, former lead economist at the World Bank’s Dhaka office.

About Tk 35,000 crore is likely to be allocated in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget for the partial implementation of the new pay scale for government officials, pensioners and MPO-listed teachers and staff.

Garment exporters yesterday urged the government to cut the source tax from 1 percent to between 0.5 and 0.65 percent, citing ongoing difficulties caused by domestic challenges and external pressures.