The positive objectives laid out in the proposed national budget for fiscal 2025–26 are not backed by measures, said the Centre for Policy Dialogue.

LNG import will stand 6.5 million tonnes from 5 million, cut import VAT

In a historic move, Bangladesh’s national budget has, for the first time, pledged institutional recognition for women’s unpaid and unacknowledged caregiving and household work.

In the budget for FY26, the government has proposed reducing import duties on certain goods and amending trade rules to enhance competitiveness in preparation for the country’s impending graduation from the list of least developed countries (LDCs).

Budget FY26: What does it mean for you?

The budget for FY26 has drawn strong criticism from business leaders who say it lacks a clear roadmap for improving the investment climate, bolstering industrial competitiveness, and implementing overdue reforms in the banking sector.

A glimpse of the actual expenditure:

Annual income and tax rate

Tax rates on income will remain the same as in fiscal 2024-25

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has offered both empathy and arithmetic in his budget speech, laying out a vision that puts people, not just projects, at the heart of economic policy.

Birupaksha Paul, professor of economics at the State University of New York, described the proposed national budget as “brief and restrained,” marking a departure from the verbose and often overly ambitious budgets of previous years.

The interim government has proposed a 5 percent advance tax on the turnover of cigarette producers, which was 3 percent previously.

The vice chairman of Newage Group of Industries says in his budget reaction

Taskeen Ahmed, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), acknowledged the government’s intent to ensure macroeconomic stability in the proposed budget.

Says Ashikur Rahman, principal economist of the PRI

In his televised address to the nation, the adviser also proposed changes to duties on different products, which will result in increase and decrease in their prices

According to budget documents, the total deficit for FY 2025–26 is projected at Tk 221,000 crore. 

Grounded in the spirit of the July Uprising, the budget seeks to restore economic stability while fostering a just and sustainable society.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has proposed a Tk 100 crore startup fund in the national budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2025–26 to support emerging entrepreneurs.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today proposed a Tk 7,90,000 crore budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year, which is 12.7 percent of the GDP