Md Asaduz Zaman

Staff Reporter at The Daily Star, covering the economy, trade, planning and public policy in Bangladesh. He can be reached at asaduz.zamanjubd@gmail.com.

Online tax, offline refund

Taxpayers struggle to recover overpaid taxes as the manual refund system leaves money inaccessible

20 January 2026, 00:00 AM

Inflation rises to 8.49% in December

Following months of a brief pause, inflationary pressures continued to rise in December for the second consecutive month.

5 January 2026, 18:00 PM

A year of reform and resistance in the tax sector

A five-member advisory committee was first formed to guide the reforms

30 December 2025, 18:00 PM

A year of reform and resistance in the tax sector

Protest, turmoil, and punishment -- these three words defined Bangladesh’s revenue sector in 2025, a year marked by the split of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), a major source of government income..Following a mass uprising in August last year, the interim government launched long-awa

30 December 2025, 16:02 PM

A year without job security

Layoffs outpaced hiring, while employment shifted toward low-quality informal activity

28 December 2025, 18:00 PM

House rent climbs for three consecutive quarters

Arbitrary increase, slack law enforcement, high inflation to blame

28 December 2025, 18:00 PM

NBR proposes 47% increase in staff to run two new divisions

The NBR submitted the manpower proposal to the finance ministry last week

13 December 2025, 18:00 PM

Construction sector sees falling costs amid weak demand

Construction costs in Bangladesh fell for the seventh consecutive month in November, as official data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) showed a continued slide in building-material prices amid weakening market demand, according to industry insiders.

11 December 2025, 18:00 PM

Businesses decry turnover tax hike

The interim government’s proposal to raise the turnover tax from 0.6 percent to 1 percent from the next fiscal year has sparked an outcry among business leaders, who said the measure could deal a fresh blow to firms already struggling to stay afloat.

3 June 2025, 18:00 PM

No immediate tax relief despite inflation woes

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

2 June 2025, 18:00 PM

Upcoming budget must address inequality

Per capita income is a statistical average, which tells us the size of the economic pie, but not how it’s divided.

2 June 2025, 06:00 AM

Black money may still find its way into real estate

The interim government is likely to retain the opportunity to invest undeclared wealth, commonly known as black money, in the real estate sector, albeit with a sharp increase in associated tax rates.

1 June 2025, 18:00 PM

Tax-free income ceiling to stay the same

The interim government is set to introduce a wide range of tax and duty reforms in the upcoming fiscal year to facilitate the country’s smooth graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and drive economic growth.

31 May 2025, 18:06 PM

FY25: A year of fewer jobs, falling investment

Exports and remittances are climbing, foreign exchange reserves have steadied, and the exchange rate has shown signs of stability

31 May 2025, 18:00 PM

What are the likely tax and duty measures in FY26?

These include steps to reduce the cost of doing business and align tax policies with the requirements of LDC graduation

31 May 2025, 05:45 AM

Duty-free threshold for bank deposits may rise to Tk 3 lakh

In order to provide relief to small savers, the government is likely to increase the excise duty exemption threshold for bank deposits in the upcoming budget for fiscal year 2025-26.

29 May 2025, 18:00 PM

VAT on plastics may double, eco-friendly products may get waiver

In a bid to discourage the use of plastic, the interim government may double the value-added tax (VAT) on some synthetic household products such as tableware and kitchenware to 15 percent.

26 May 2025, 18:00 PM

Who will pay for the NBR turmoil?

NBR is facing paralysis over the recent bifurcation ordinance.

26 May 2025, 03:00 AM

Top earners face 30% tax again as inequality rises

After five years, the income tax rate for the highest bracket is likely to revert to 30 percent in the upcoming fiscal year as part of the government’s efforts to address growing inequality — an issue that is among the country’s major economic concerns.

24 May 2025, 18:04 PM

NBR may continue prospective tax system till FY28

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is expected to continue the prospective tax system until fiscal year 2027-28, allowing taxpayers and businesses to determine applicable tax rates in advance instead of waiting until the end of the income year.

18 May 2025, 18:00 PM

Tax-free income limit may rise to Tk 3.75 lakh

The government is planning a series of measures in the upcoming national budget to alleviate the tax pressure on individuals and businesses, including raising the tax-free income threshold and relaxing certain compliance requirements.

12 May 2025, 18:00 PM

Budget should draw clear roadmap for smooth LDC GRADUATION

The upcoming national budget must outline a comprehensive roadmap to prepare for the country’s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) club in 2026, prioritising tariff rationalisation, tax reform, and sustainable fiscal policies, according to a leading business leader.

11 May 2025, 18:00 PM