Join our subscribers list to get the latest news, updates and special offers directly in your inbox
The immediate steps are neither mysterious nor technically complex: Broadening the VAT base by reducing exemptions, strengthening the Large Taxpayer Unit to capture income from professionals and the informal wealthy, and automating tax administration to reduce discretion and corruption.
According to the Finance Minister's statement in parliament, the government has already paid more than 80,000 crore taka and will have to pay another 100,000 crore taka in the future to maintain the Sammilito Islami Bank under the Bank Resolution Ordinance.
The BNP government has now inherited the institutional resistance it generated and will need to find a way to manouvre around it. Bangladesh will find it extremely hard to finance its development ambitions unless it significantly improves its tax collection systems and addresses the political economy of doing so.
The constraint has never been a lack of opportunity. It has been risk, real and perceived. That is where development institutions can play a catalyzing role: Financing infrastructure, supporting regulatory reform and reducing risk.
Total Vote: 2
Yes, urgently
Total Vote: 8
Argentina national football team vs Brazil national football team
Total Vote: 13
Facebook
Total Vote: 20
Mental health
Total Vote: 42
Yes, completely
Total Vote: 34
Russia-Ukraine War
Total Vote: 34
Japan
Total Vote: 36
Politics
Total Vote: 42
Cricket
Total Vote: 51
Yes
Total Vote: 51
Donald Trump
Total Vote: 50
Yes
Total Vote: 42
Brazil
Total Vote: 60
Inflation
Total Vote: 185
A good decision
Total Vote: 203
YES
Total Vote: 232
YES
Total Vote: 345
Yes, he’ll finally take the charge
Total Vote: 342
Yes
Total Vote: 409
Yes
Total Vote: 334
On the day of the General Election
Total Vote: 348
YES
Total Vote: 311
A correct, principled decision. They should not sign.
Total Vote: 330
A vital, democratic reset
Total Vote: 439
BNP
Total Vote: 329
December 2025
Total Vote: 307
AI can improve transparency
Total Vote: 336
Yes
Total Vote: 647
Yes
Total Vote: 529
As soon as possible
