Sohel Parvez

Bangladesh’s budget as a percentage of national income has been falling consistently for the last four years although the economy has grown, reflecting its inability to generate enough revenue and spend enough on social sectors.

The government is likely to keep the tax-free income limit unchanged for fiscal year 2022-23 in order to expand the tax net, said officials of the finance ministry.

Bangladesh is likely to buy the bulk of its muriate of potash (MOP) from Canada and other countries to meet its requirement for 7.5 lakh tonnes of the chemical fertiliser to produce rice and other crops for the next fiscal year, said officials of the agriculture ministry yesterday, dispelling concerns of a shortage due to the war in Ukraine.

For the first time, home textile has emerged as the second largest export earning sector after garments as demand remains buoyant in major markets, particularly Europe, according to exporters. Exporters fetched $1.3 billion from shipping home textiles in the July-April period of the current fiscal year, posting 39 per cent year-on-year growth. Receipts from shipments of home textile items such as bed sheets, pillow covers, curtains and cushion covers were higher than export receipts from agricultural products as well as leather and leather goods during the period. Home textile exports were 28 per cent higher than its nearest peer, agricultural products, namely dry foods, vegetables, tobacco and spices. Jute and jute goods, which topped the export basket as the second biggest earning source in fiscal year 2020-21, fell to fifth place in the face of falling demand for jute yarn, twine, sacks and bags, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). “We have been registering increasing demand for home textiles from the last fiscal year as people stayed home as a part of coronavirus containment measures,” said Shahidullah Chowdhury, executive director of Noman Group, the main exporter of home textile. It exports $27 million worth of home textiles each month. “Our main markets are Europe, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan. However, our exports are increasing in new markets such as Australia,” he added. The sector first crossed the $1 billion mark in fiscal 2020-21 thanks to a 49 per cent year-on-year hike in export earnings, driven mainly by higher costs and prices of raw cotton and other materials. Export earnings were only 3 per cent of the total receipts of $38.75 billion for that year with garments accounting for 81 per cent, according to the EPB. “Definitely the volume of exports has increased too,” said Abul Basar, general manager of human resource, admin and compliance of Momtex Expo Ltd, another major exporter. He said Bangladesh can offer competitive prices as labour costs here are the cheapest. Labour cost has increased in China, which once dominated the home textile market. Political uncertainty in Pakistan has also discouraged buyers from placing orders there, Bashar said. “So, the increased order flow is likely to sustain,” he added. Harun-Ar-Rashid, managing director of Apex Weaving and Finishing Mills Ltd, said nearly 10 textile mills export home textile products from Bangladesh and the export volume is not that high. Bangladesh only has a 7 per cent share in the global home textile export market. He went on to say that demand may decline due to a yarn shortage and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Noman Group’s Chowdhury said exports would grow if the government provides policy support. Increasing the cash incentive for exports to 10 per cent from the present 4 per cent and reducing congestion at ports will be instrumental for increasing export earnings from home textiles. “We have political stability now but what we need is policy stability,” he added.

When his children ask Russel Shaikh why there is no meat and even fish in their meals, he has no answer. This is because he simply has no choice as soaring prices of essential commodities and the rising cost of living have hit hard the pockets of the low-income people like him.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been failing to achieve tax collection targets since the fiscal year of 2012-13 because of lofty goals set by the government and the absence of major reforms.

Prices of paddy, particularly the finer varieties, are on the rise in the producing regions in Bangladesh amid worries of crop damages and lower yield inflicted by the recent flash floods in the haor districts and cyclone Ashani-induced rainfalls.

While official data portrays the burgeoning growth of Bangladesh’s economy, tax collection relative to the gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the size of the economy, shows an almost opposite trend.

When Farid Uddin planted sunflower, sesame and groundnut on his 80-decimal land, he had no idea that prices of edible oil would skyrocket.

The government should make budgetary allocation for the fiscal year of 2022-23 to deal with the impacts of the ongoing Russian-Ukraine crisis and the possibility of the emergence of another wave of coronavirus, said a noted economist.

Anyone who follows the national budget of Bangladesh is familiar with some expressions such as ‘ambitious budget’ and ‘implementation will be challenging”.

The government has granted permission to manufacturers to produce bikes up to 500cc engine capacity, a move that is expected to give a huge boost to the motorcycle industry in Bangladesh and provide the scope to bike lovers to ride higher engine two-wheelers.

Despite offering the scope to legalise black money without asking any questions, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) received very poor responses from taxpayers in the current fiscal year of 2021-22, official figures showed.

Inflation in Bangladesh rocketed to a 17-month high in March driven by higher food costs as global uncertainties stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war and supply chain disruptions show no sign of abating, official figures showed yesterday.

The Bangladesh Bank yesterday imposed an interest rate cap on deposits and loans at non-bank financial institutions aligning with the ceiling now prevailing at banks although rates are rising globally to tame runaway inflation.   

Food stocks at public storages declined over the past two months from the peak of nearly 20 lakh tonnes in mid-February this year amid increased distribution under various social protection programmes.

Bangladesh’s debt service to revenue ratio rocketed to 81.2 per cent in the last fiscal year amid lower tax collection and higher borrowing, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC has won the bid to acquire three European brands and the trademark and branding rights in 57 countries, seeing off two renowned companies.

Outbound potato shipments are set to exceed last year’s total as local exporters are able to supply the vegetable at more competitive prices than Pakistan and China, various exporters said yesterday.

The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has set a goal to provide between $750 billion and $1 trillion in financing and investment globally in the next decade to support its clients to lower carbon emissions and achieve sustainable growth.