An ambitious budget has been proposed. All the eye-catching elements can be found in it.

The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) yesterday criticised the proposal to raise the supplementary duty on mobile phone use by 5 percentage points from fiscal 2019-20, terming it a “suicidal decision”.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) yesterday urged the government to explore all sources other than banks to finance the budget deficit in the next fiscal year.

Sugar prices have gone up by Tk 120 per mound in the Khatunganj-Chaktai market, the hub for wholesale of commodities in Chattogram, soon after the proposed budget for 2019-20 was placed on Thursday.

The new VAT law may increase cost of many goods and services and hurt consumers, analysts said yesterday.

The opportunity to legalise black money at nominal tax will encourage compliant taxpayers to be dishonest, said business leaders and economists at a post-budget discussion yesterday.

The government’s move to implement the new VAT law without rebate facility for reduced rates will hurt consumers because of price spike of many goods and services, analysts say.

Gonoforum rejects the proposed national budget for 2019-20 fiscal terming it as frustrating and anti-people.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) urges the government to manage fund from other sources rather than banking channel to finance the deficit financing in 2019-20 fiscal.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday strongly condemned the proposed amnesty for black money in the budget for fiscal 2019-20 and termed it “unconstitutional, immoral and discriminatory”.

“So unfair!” is what middle-class taxpayers were left mouthing upon seeing the budget for the fiscal year 2019-20.

At a time when the government should be encouraging virtual businesses, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has proposed 7.5 percent value-added tax on them in his budget for fiscal 2019-20, making their services dearer.

Leading business associations yesterday urged the government to ensure easy, hassle-free and business-friendly implementation of the new VAT law.

Terming the proposed national budget “highly ambitious”, the BNP yesterday said the people of the country would not accept the budget as it would increase inequality.

The new budget has offered scope for legalising undisclosed income to bring that money to formal channel and allow it to be invested, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said yesterday.

Cost of ridesharing services might go up as well with the hiked VAT rates proposed in the budget on the popular mode of daily commute in Dhaka city.

Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) has sharply criticised the government over the amnesty proposed for black money in the budget for fiscal 2019-20.

Main political opposition BNP terms the budget for fiscal 2019-20 highly ambitious.

Amid growing popularity, online shopping is getting costlier soon for the proposed value added tax (VAT) imposed on it in the budget for fiscal 2019-20.

She has underscored the need for reform in the country's financial sector and warned of taking stern action against wilful loan defaulters.