The opportunity to legalise black money at nominal tax will encourage compliant taxpayers to be dishonest, said business leaders and economists at a post-budget discussion yesterday.

Although no sweeping changes were expected, the general anticipation was that the FY2019-20 budget would have some measures to help the small farmers, especially after the severe loss of the boro farmers this year, creating a depressed rural economy. Over the years

An ambitious budget has been proposed. All the eye-catching elements can be found in it.

The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) yesterday criticised the proposal to raise the supplementary duty on mobile phone use by 5 percentage points from fiscal 2019-20, terming it a “suicidal decision”.

The government’s move to implement the new VAT law without rebate facility for reduced rates will hurt consumers because of price spike of many goods and services, analysts say.

Gonoforum rejects the proposed national budget for 2019-20 fiscal terming it as frustrating and anti-people.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) urges the government to manage fund from other sources rather than banking channel to finance the deficit financing in 2019-20 fiscal.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday strongly condemned the proposed amnesty for black money in the budget for fiscal 2019-20 and termed it “unconstitutional, immoral and discriminatory”.

“So unfair!” is what middle-class taxpayers were left mouthing upon seeing the budget for the fiscal year 2019-20.

At a time when the government should be encouraging virtual businesses, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has proposed 7.5 percent value-added tax on them in his budget for fiscal 2019-20, making their services dearer.

Leading business associations yesterday urged the government to ensure easy, hassle-free and business-friendly implementation of the new VAT law.

Terming the proposed national budget “highly ambitious”, the BNP yesterday said the people of the country would not accept the budget as it would increase inequality.

The new budget has offered scope for legalising undisclosed income to bring that money to formal channel and allow it to be invested, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said yesterday.

Cost of ridesharing services might go up as well with the hiked VAT rates proposed in the budget on the popular mode of daily commute in Dhaka city.

Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) has sharply criticised the government over the amnesty proposed for black money in the budget for fiscal 2019-20.

Main political opposition BNP terms the budget for fiscal 2019-20 highly ambitious.

Amid growing popularity, online shopping is getting costlier soon for the proposed value added tax (VAT) imposed on it in the budget for fiscal 2019-20.

She has underscored the need for reform in the country's financial sector and warned of taking stern action against wilful loan defaulters.

The proposed national budget for 2019-20 fiscal year will ensure facilities only to high-income people, says Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) distinguished fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya.

Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) in a budget reaction has termed the incremental supplementary duty on mobile phone uses as a “suicidal decision”.