Business Desk:
Considering the current global economic challenges, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the apex trade organization, has called for ensuring policy continuity in the next national budget (2026-2027) to expand trade and commerce in the country and maintain investor confidence.
In particular, the FBCCI has proposed rationalizing interest rates in the national budget, increasing the tax-GDP ratio, full implementation of one-stop services, modernizing port and logistics management, ensuring uninterrupted power and energy, developing priority sectors for export diversification, establishing central bonded warehouses, and enacting shareholder-based legislation.
These proposals were presented at the pre-budget discussion meeting with FBCCI member organizations held at the FBCCI’s Motijheel office on Thursday (March 12, 2026) morning to formulate recommendations for the national budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027.
The pre-budget meeting was chaired by FBCCI Administrator Md. Abdur Rahim Khan.
Participating in the open discussion at the meeting, business leaders suggested that the government increase the tax coverage to increase the tax-GDP ratio. In addition, the business leaders urged the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to be more proactive in ensuring transparency and accountability, including implementing automation and integration in tax policy, tax procedures and management.
At the meeting, FBCCI Administrator Md. Abdur Rahim Khan said that the government has set a target of increasing the tax-GDP ratio in the country to 15 percent. Astonishing the businessmen, he said that just because the government wants to increase revenue collection, this does not mean that the tax burden on you will increase. Rather, revenue revenue will be increased by expanding the tax base.
The FBCCI administrator said that the FBCCI will present the rational recommendations raised by the private sector in the 46th meeting of the National Board of Revenue’s Consultative Committee.
Earlier, in his welcome speech, FBCCI Secretary General Md. Alamgir said that the national budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027 is going to be a time when the global economy is unstable, the energy market is unstable and investment prospects are uncertain. In such a situation, the budget formulation this time will be challenging for the new government. He called on the business community to cooperate with the government by providing rational proposals.
The meeting was attended by former members of the National Board of Revenue and members of the FBCCI’s Budget Expert Committee, Md. Farid Uddin and Aminur Rahman, former directors of FBCCI, leaders of various chambers and associations, and FBCCI officials.
