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.

NBR misses target by Tk 46,000cr despite 14% collection growth

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) posted a 14 percent growth in revenue collection in the first half of the current fiscal year (FY), yet missed the target for the period by a staggering Tk 46,000 crore or nearly 10 percent.

10 hour(s) ago

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

NBR abandons plans to cut tax for AC, fridge and bike makers

The tax administration backtracked from its decision to levy a 5 percent tax on incomes generated by manufacturers of motorcycles, air conditioners and refrigerators until 2032, raising it to the previous rate of 10 percent.

1 July 2024, 18:00 PM

VAT exemptions dropped 17% in 2022

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) exempted various goods and services from value-added tax (VAT) payments to the tune of Tk 129,570 crore in 2022 to give some relief to citizens and facilitate industrialisation, thereby accelerating economic growth.

30 June 2024, 18:00 PM

Highest income tax rate stays unchanged at 25%

The government has moved away from its decision to raise the highest income tax rate to 30 percent and end tax holidays for investors in economic zones and hi-tech parks.

29 June 2024, 16:11 PM

No ray of hope for migrant workers in budget

The government has neglected to outline adequate initiatives in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year to support migrant workers, meaning the country may miss out on opportunities to raise remittance earnings on the back of a higher number of Bangladeshis going abroad.

27 June 2024, 18:00 PM

NBR receipts up 15% in 11 months

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) logged a year-on-year tax collection growth of nearly 15 percent in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year.

27 June 2024, 18:00 PM

Budget Infocus: Direct spending on poverty reduction shrinks

The share of the total allocation for spending directly on poverty reduction has come down for the upcoming fiscal year despite persistently higher inflation, deepening the uncertainties of the poor.

26 June 2024, 18:00 PM

Amnesty to black money may continue despite criticism

Despite widespread condemnation from economists, watchdogs, businesspeople and even multiple lawmakers, the government is expected to retain the amnesty allowing individuals and businesses to whiten black money without scrutiny by paying a 15 percent tax in the upcoming fiscal year.

25 June 2024, 18:00 PM

What’s missing for young people in the budget?

Bangladesh’s high youth unemployment rate necessitates specific remedial steps, including ways for employment generation and adoption of prerequisite education and training, which the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2024-25 did not include, according to analysts.

24 June 2024, 18:00 PM

NBR sets new rules for firms seeking customs privilege

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has revised rules, including raising the capital requirements, for businesses to be listed as authorised economic operators (AEO), a status an increasing number of firms are expressing interest in.

22 June 2024, 18:00 PM

Return filing a must for hotels, restaurants and clinics

Nearly five lakh additional establishments are expected to come under the tax net as the government is going to make proof of submission of return (PSR) mandatory for hotels, restaurants, clinics, and diagnostic centres.

13 June 2024, 00:45 AM

Gifts not sweet anymore as NBR mulls taxes

If someone receives a gift, they will have to show it in their income tax return at the end of the year. At the same time, the person who gives the present will also have to inform it in their income tax return.

12 June 2024, 03:09 AM

Blow for private economic zones, hi-tech parks as tax benefits go

Currently, investors in the EZs and hi-tech parks qualify for a tax break for a decade starting from the first year of their operations. They are entitled to a full tax waiver in the first three years.

11 June 2024, 00:16 AM

Tax exemption in FY25 rises to Tk 163,000cr

Tax exemptions provided by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) are estimated to rise to Tk 163,000 crore in fiscal 2024-25 as the tax administration looks to ease the pressure on individuals and facilitate higher economic growth.

7 June 2024, 18:00 PM

Whitening Black Money: ‘Unethical, unjust and unacceptable’

Backtracking on its promise to eliminate black money, the government has once again made room to allow both individuals and companies to whiten money without facing scrutiny and by paying a 15 percent tax, a move that drew sharp criticism from economists and civil society.

6 June 2024, 18:00 PM