Business Desk:
The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) has termed the proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 as a bold initiative for economic recovery, job creation and expansion of the social safety net. However, at the same time, the organization has also expressed concern over the ambitious revenue collection target, stagnation in investment and the need for structural reforms in tax administration.
In a response on Saturday (June 13, 2026), the MCCI said that as the first budget of the newly elected government, the budget of Tk 9.38 trillion for the fiscal year 2026-27 carries special importance. The budget has been formulated in a challenging environment of inflation, global geopolitical uncertainty, high interest rates, stagnation in investment and revenue collection.
The chamber said that the budget has set a target of 6.5 percent GDP growth and 7.5 percent inflation. At the same time, an Annual Development Program (ADP) of Tk 3 lakh crore has been adopted to boost economic activities, which is the highest in the country’s history.
However, the MCCI has termed the revenue collection target of Tk 6 lakh 95 thousand crore in the fiscal year 2026-27 as ‘ambitious’. According to the organization, the NBR has been able to collect only 65 percent of the revised target till April of the current fiscal year. As a result, it will be difficult to achieve the new target without structural reforms and there is a possibility of increasing pressure on taxpayers.
The MCCI said that revenue collection should be increased through modernization of tax administration, automation, digitalization and expansion of the tax net. At the same time, it is important to focus on incorporating new taxpayers without creating additional pressure on existing taxpayers.
The chamber also expressed concern about the investment situation. According to them, total investment in the 2025-26 fiscal year has fallen to 27.93 percent of GDP, the lowest in the last decade. The decline in investment is reducing employment and increasing the risk of poverty.
MCCI sees the allocation of Tk 1,44,338 crore for the social safety net and special allocation for family cards, farmers’ cards and religious allowance programs as positive. According to them, these programs will be helpful in maintaining domestic demand and implementing election promises.
MCCI also mentioned one-stop digital services through the ‘BanglaBiz’ platform, expansion of various free trade and economic partnership agreements and the ‘Stimulus Package-2026’ of Tk 60,000 crore as important steps for investment and industrialization.
While welcoming various reforms in the tax system, the organization expressed concern over the lack of initiatives to rationalize the minimum turnover tax of companies. The chamber also opined that the reduction in the investment rebate rate for individual taxpayers and the increase in the minimum tax rate may discourage middle-class and honest taxpayers.
The MCCI has termed the decision to digitalize VAT administration, paperless system, quarterly return filing and appeal payment rates as business-friendly initiatives. At the same time, the organization has called for caution in implementing data interconnection systems without ensuring taxpayer privacy and information security.
At the end of its response, the MCCI said that the proposed mega budget is a bold initiative to restructure the country’s economy and implement election promises. However, its success will depend on good governance, a harassment-free environment for tax administration, increasing revenue collection efficiency and maintaining macroeconomic stability. The organization has also reiterated its commitment to working in partnership with the government for the country’s economic development.
