At a post-Eid felicitation event organised by the Rajbari District Council, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Economic and Planning Advisor to the Prime Minister, unveiled a comprehensive strategy to curb tax evasion, eliminate fiscal waste, and strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation. He highlighted that during the authoritarian era, Bangladesh’s tax-to-GDP ratio was among the lowest in South Asia and globally, and that the current government has initiated structural reforms to reverse this trend.
Speaking at the event, Titumir outlined the government’s plan to enhance revenue collection through targeted interventions across three core streams of the National Board of Revenue (NBR)—income tax, customs duties, and value-added tax (VAT). He announced that dedicated taskforces have been established for each sector, tasked with eradicating inefficiency, reducing tax evasion, and transforming public compliance culture. The upcoming national budget will include a roadmap to raise the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio to 15 per cent by 2034.
He emphasised the importance of reducing the nation’s dependence on borrowing, noting, “Although we are currently burdened by debt, increasing domestic resource mobilisation will allow us to lessen reliance on external loans. Social protection initiatives, including the Family Card and Farmer Card schemes, will continue while development expenditure is expanded.”
The event was presided over by Rajbari Deputy Commissioner Abdus Salam Mia and moderated by Rezoul Karim, Joint Convenor of the District BNP. Other notable attendees included State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyum, Member of Parliament for Rajbari-2 Md. Harun-or-Rashid, Deputy Commissioner Sultana Akter, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Manzur Morshed, and District BNP Convenor Liakat Ali.
Tax Taskforce Structure
| Sector | Taskforce Established | Primary Objective | Current Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 1st Taskforce | Detect and reduce tax fraud | Record verification, online monitoring initiated |
| Customs Duties | 2nd Taskforce | Harmonise import-export taxation | Increased audits at border checkpoints |
| Value-Added Tax (VAT) | 3rd Taskforce | Prevent VAT evasion and waste | Business record verification, digital reporting |
Titumir reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bolstering domestic revenue, establishing a transparent and accountable taxation system, and using enhanced collection to reduce national debt while supporting social and developmental expenditures.
In closing, he assured citizens that through the combined efforts of the taskforces and adherence to fiscal discipline, the government will uphold fair, transparent, and accountable policies, ultimately strengthening economic stability and public trust.