Rejaul Karim Byron

It was mainly the pressure from big businesses that led to the government's backtracking on its decision to implement the new VAT law. Appeasing the people in general was not much of a reason, which the government has been touting. The late u-turn of the government last month has left the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in a spot of bother, as it now has to fill a gaping hole in its revenue collection target.

Bangladeshi nationals' deposits in Swiss banks rose 20.18 percent year-on-year in 2016 to 661.96 million Swiss francs or Tk 5,575 crore. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) came up with the data in its annual report titled “Banks in Switzerland 2016”.

Unlike previous budgets, which were passed by parliaments with minor changes, this year's proposed budget could have major

The government will widen a narrow 51-kilometre road from Ashuganj river port to Akhaura land port to four lanes for smooth transhipment of Indian goods.

The government may backtrack on its plan to implement the new VAT law from July this year, in the face of pressure from a section of

Rice import by the private sector has dropped to a four-year low at a time when its prices have shot up in the domestic market. Traders imported only 1.2 lakh tonnes of rice till mid-June in the current fiscal year against 2.56 lakh tonnes in the previous fiscal year.

An anti-money laundering taskforce will ask the government to introduce a permanent attorney service with competent lawyers to fight militancy.

Scam-hit BASIC Bank is set to get Tk 1,000 crore of taxpayers' money to once again meet its capital deficit despite criticism from economists.

The government is set to establish two land-based liquefied natural gas terminals alongside the floating terminal, as it continues with its efforts to alleviate the country's energy shortage.

The government yesterday sanctioned 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice import from Vietnam at prices much higher than that of another one lakh tonnes it approved for import two weeks ago.

Considering the fast approaching general election in Bangladesh and a likely post-Brexit economic slowdown in Europe, the International Monetary Fund has identified seven risk areas where Dhaka needs to take policy measures.

The International Monetary Fund has raised questions about the adequacy of Bangladesh's foreign currency reserves,

The government will keep aside almost three-fourths of the proposed increase in the social safety net allocation for giving retirement benefits to public employees in the next fiscal year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the government to reduce its borrowing costs by cutting reliance on national savings certificates.

It's a life-saving drug often prescribed by doctors for patients with serious kidney and liver problems and also for newborns with a blood-related disease. But to get this already pricey drug called albumin, patients will have to pay more, thanks to the imposition of 15 percent value added tax (VAT) on it on top of a 4 percent advance income tax (AIT) and 5 percent advance trade VAT (ATV).

Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to have a three day tour of Bangladesh in the first week of July.

Halima Khatun, a 55-year-old widow, has to rely on income from fixed deposit receipt (FDR).

The new budget brings bad news for a section of businessmen as it limits to three the number of times a year they can bring along goods through land ports duty free.

The government goes into an immediate-action mode to hike fuel prices in sync with global oil prices. But consumers do not get any benefit when the prices of fuel come down in the international market.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has unveiled a plan to utilise an unprecedented amount of foreign aid next fiscal year with a view to