A decision on this matter may be taken on December 22 at a meeting expected to be attended by the chief adviser

The council of advisers today approved the national budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026

Rights activists warn that this rollback threatens to reverse progress and stall efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday described the budget for the new fiscal year as “realistic, implementable, and pragmatic”, saying it aims to stabilise the economy.

If you're planning to import cheap lipstick into Bangladesh anytime soon, think again. The country's interim government, in its latest budget, has quietly declared war on undervalued imports with a series of oddly specific tweaks to customs rules. Among the victims: chocolate bars, lipsticks, eye shadow, and -- wait for it -- inflatable toys.

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.

The liquidity crisis in the sector worsened significantly in 2024, with only 57 percent of insurance claims being settled,

Around a dozen banks are currently struggling to repay depositors, eroding public trust

Here’s to hoping that the interim government initiates targeted and critical reforms in FY2026 to improve budget implementation

Say economists about budget

Despite high hopes, the budget did not introduce any new initiatives aimed at improving migrant workers' welfare, standard of living, healthcare, or security

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.

Although the national parliamentary election is slated to be held within June next year, the allocation for the Election Commission (EC) in the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26 has been set at Tk 2,956 crore — significantly lower than what was spent in the previous election year.

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).

Despite pledging special attention to education and health, the government has proposed only slight increases in allocations for both sectors in the national budget for fiscal year (FY) 2025–26.

Home and commercial space buyers are expected to face higher costs as the government seeks to hike value-added tax on the services provided by construction firms. The VAT rate will be 10 percent in FY26, up from 7.5 percent during this outgoing fiscal year. Besides, an increase in specific VAT on rods is expected to fuel construction costs.

Annual income and tax rate

One of the main targets of this government is the recovery of stolen assets, or assets that have been pilfered abroad through capital flight.

The proposed budget seeks to increase the youth loan ceiling to Tk 2 lakh for trained individuals and Tk 5 lakh for successful entrepreneurs and also allocate Tk 100 crore fund for youths, as part of the interim government’s efforts to address youth unemployment.

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