Who pays the price for chronic budget underspending?
5 June 2026, 00:00 AM
Since fiscal year 2009-2010, Bangladesh’s budget has grown almost every year, with planned spending rising sevenfold to Tk 7.97 lakh crore in FY25. Yet not a single budget announced over the past 16 years has been fully implemented.
5 June 2026, 00:00 AM
Star Interview / Bangladesh has potential to be connectivity hub
26 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Bangladesh has “great potential” to become a regional hub for transportation, logistics, energy and digital connectivity because of its strategic location between South and Southeast Asia, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda has said.
26 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Bangladesh has ‘great potential’ to become regional hub: ADB president
25 May 2026, 19:54 PM
On a two-day visit to Dhaka from May 24, the ADB chief met with the prime minister and finance minister
25 May 2026, 19:54 PM
Budget to include support for every group
20 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Finance minister says
20 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Budget to include support for every group
19 May 2026, 21:05 PM
Finance minister says
19 May 2026, 21:05 PM
Bangladesh should move up the global value chain: ADB
7 May 2026, 00:00 AM
The study on GVCs, growth, and inequality was released yesterday
7 May 2026, 00:00 AM
ADB forecasts oil prices to be $96 this year
6 May 2026, 17:29 PM
The Manila-based lender downgrades growth projection for Asia and Pacific, including South Asia
6 May 2026, 17:29 PM
No thanks to 15pc VAT
Ezaharul Haque has been upset since he learned about the government's decision to impose a uniform 15 percent VAT this July. The thought of more money going out of his pockets to purchase necessary goods and services concerned him.
17 June 2017, 18:00 PM
Fresh VAT burden on weavers
Thirty years ago, Nilkamal Basak began weaving much-coveted Tangail sari to continue in hereditary profession.
16 June 2017, 18:00 PM
Proposed 15pc VAT: Plastic crockery to get pricier
Plastic crockery has seen a steady rise in sales over the last several years mainly due to its growing popularity among middle and low-
12 June 2017, 18:00 PM
Worries over VAT on packaged spices
People will have to pay more to buy packaged powders of spices due to the imposition of uniform 15 percent VAT on these essential cooking ingredients from July 1.
11 June 2017, 18:00 PM
Twin trouble for housing sector
The imposition of a uniform 15 percent VAT would lead to increased prices of building materials and result in a fall in demand, affecting the country's construction sector and related industries that employ around 30 lakh people.
9 June 2017, 18:00 PM
Private employees to face strict tax scrutiny
Private sector companies are going to face greater scrutiny in claiming their expenses for employees' salaries.
5 June 2017, 18:00 PM
Duty on solar panels to hurt green initiatives
The country's solar energy initiatives will face a setback as the government has proposed import duty on solar panels in the budget for fiscal 2017-18.
5 June 2017, 18:00 PM
Worries there though Muhith assures
Finance Minister AMA Muhith denied that any of the tax hikes would affect the lives of the middle and lower middle class.
3 June 2017, 18:00 PM
Powered by VAT
Bangladesh is finally going to implement a single and uniform VAT rate, ending the two-and-a-half-decade system of multiple VAT
1 June 2017, 18:00 PM
Income tax rates, tax-free limit to stay unchanged
The government's move to keep tax-free income threshold and the tax rates on individuals and firms unchanged in the next fiscal
1 June 2017, 18:00 PM
Excise duty on bank accounts to double next fiscal year
The government is considering doubling the excise duty on bank accounts with large debit or credit balance in fiscal
30 May 2017, 18:00 PM
Job growth slowest in two decades
Bangladesh's job growth is the slowest in two decades although its economy has been registering faster growth for
29 May 2017, 18:00 PM
Wealth surcharge collection goes up 24pc
The number of rich people who paid wealth surcharge increased 6.71 percent year-on-year to 11,661 in 2016-17, but analysts say
28 May 2017, 18:00 PM
More products to be VAT-free in new law
The government is expected to keep larger number of goods and services out of the purview of value-added tax in the new law that is
24 May 2017, 18:00 PM
A beacon for entrepreneurs
When West Pakistan-based businesses dominated trade and investment in the 1950s and 60s of the country, very few Bangladeshis
19 May 2017, 18:00 PM
Proceeds from tobacco surcharge remain unused
The health development surcharge collected on all tobacco products has remained unused, although nearly three years have passed
18 May 2017, 18:00 PM
VAT-free turnover limit likely to be Tk 36 lakh
The government may increase the VAT-free turnover ceiling to Tk 36 lakh from Tk 30 lakh as it looks to appease small and medium firms anxious about the impact the new VAT law would have on their profitability.
17 May 2017, 18:00 PM
Economists slam switch to quarterly inflation data
The government's decision to switch to release quarterly inflation data from its current monthly practice has been met with criticisms from economists, who said the move would not be good for the economy.
17 May 2017, 18:00 PM
Food inflation almost doubles in 12 months
Food inflation almost doubled in the month of March, spurred by rising prices of various essentials including rice, which went on to
16 May 2017, 18:00 PM
Edible Oil: Exemption of VAT likely
The government is likely to waive VAT on edible oil to prevent the risk of price hike of the essential cooking ingredient by dishonest
16 May 2017, 18:00 PM