National,Business & Commerce,Healthcare

Finance adviser introduces new tariff, SD structure with eye on US trade deal

The interim government has introduced a new tier in the import duty structure for the upcoming 2025–26 fiscal year.Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, in his televised budget speech on Monday, announced that the existing six-tier customs duty structure will be reorganized by adding a new tie...

National,Politics

EC assures Jamaat of executing court rule on registration soon: Azad

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad on Monday said the Election Commission (EC) has responded positively to their request for reinstating the party's registration and electoral symbol, the Scale (Daripalla)."The EC has assured us that it will take only...

National,Business & Commerce,Healthcare,Budget

Health sector to receive Tk 41,908cr in FY2025-26 budget

The government will allocate Tk 41,908 crore for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26, marking a modest increase aimed at strengthening the country’s healthcare system.Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed presented the proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal...

National,Business & Commerce,Healthcare

Budget FY 25-26: Tobacco prices to go up

The prices of tobacco products – cigarette and other smokeless products—have gone slightly up in the proposed national budget for 2025-2026 fiscal year due to new customs duties on tobacco seeds and higher supplementary duties on certain raw materials used in tobacco product manufacturin...

National,ICT,Science & Technology

Mobile and internet costs to fall in new budget

The proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 includes a reduction in source taxes on mobile operator services and internet usage, paving the way for lower consumer expenses in these sectors.While presenting the new budget on Monday, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed announced a redu...

National,Healthcare

Govt moves to cut prices of cancer, other medicines

Treatment of cancer and other complex diseases will be more affordable in the country as the government proposed expanding duty and tax exemptions on the import of raw materials used in the production of all types of medicines including cancer drugs.Financial Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed revealed th...

National,Politics

Bangladesh, Denmark join hands to support efficient, sustainable food production

Bangladesh and Denmark on Monday signed a government-to-government cooperation agreement to further strengthen cooperation on sustainable and safe food production in Bangladesh.Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller said it is crucial to work towards a global food production, w...

National,Politics

Yunus vows to announce July Charter on political consensus

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday said the July Charter will be announced by reaching consensus with all political parties."We all have gathered here today for the welfare of the country...we hope that we will be able to prepare a very beautiful July Charter by reaching consensus...

National,Business & Commerce,Power, Energy, Oil, Gas,Budget

No immediate power price hike, Finance Adviser assures

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday said the government has decided not to raise electricity prices for the time being to give people relief considering the prevailing high inflation.“It is very important to ensure adequate supply of energy and at the same time keep it as affordable as ...

National,Business & Commerce,Politics

Jakarta eyes stronger trade, investment ties with Dhaka

Indonesian Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir on Monday called for enhanced trade, investment and cultural ties between Bangladesh and Southeast Asia’s largest nation, saying Jakarta is eager to deepen its engagement with Dhaka.Nasir made the remarks during a meetin...

National,Politics,Budget

Anti-tobacco groups criticise budget for ignoring tobacco tax reforms

Anti-tobacco organisations PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and ATMA have expressed strong disappointment over the proposed national budget for FY 2025–26, accusing the government of missing out on a vital opportunity to boost revenue and improve public health by leaving tobacco taxes unchanged...

National,Politics,Budget

MJF applauds govt move to recognise women’s unpaid work in GDP

With deep appreciation, Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) has welcomed the Finance Advisor’s landmark announcement in the 2025–26 national budget speech, committing to formally recognize women’s unpaid care work and incorporate its value into the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).The move...

National,Politics

Yunus opens dialogue with political parties

The fresh round of dialogue of the National Consensus Commission with the political parties began at the Foreign Service Academy on Monday.Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the dialogue at 4:48pm.The political parties and stakeholders involved in the reform process are joining the dialogue.Se...

National,Politics,Art& Culture,Budget

Budget 2025-26: Govt allocates Tk 95,644 crore for education sector

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday proposed an allocation of Tk 95,644 crore for the education sector in the national budget of Bangladesh for the fiscal year 2025-2026, up from Tk 7,482 crore from the current fiscal.Finance Adviser announced the budget allocation while unveiling the nationa...

National,Business & Commerce,Budget

Revenue target set at Tk 5.64 lakh crore for FY2025-26

The proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 sets the revenue collection target at Tk 5.64 lakh crore, which is equivalent to 9 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed presented the budget of Tk 7.90 lakh crore, proposing the ne...

National,Politics,Budget

Budget allocates Tk 405cr for ‘July Uprising martyrs, injured’

The interim government has proposed an allocation of Tk 405.20 crore for the families of martyrs and those injured in the July Uprising in the national budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year.Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed unveiled the proposed national budget of Tk 7.90 lakh crore, marking his f...

National,Business & Commerce,Budget

Proposed budget ‘exceptional’, says Finance Adviser

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday called the proposed Tk 790,000 crore national budget for 2025–26 somewhat ‘unusual’, as it is the first time in the country's history that a new budget is smaller than the previous one. “This year's budget is somewhat ex...

National,Business & Commerce,Budget

Tk 2.26 lakh cr budget deficit projected in FY26

The proposed budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 has projected a deficit of Taka 2,26,000 crore, down from Taka 2,56,000 crore in the current fiscal year, representing 3.6% of the GDP.Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said this while presenting the proposed national budget for FY26 through a pre-re...

National,Business & Commerce,ICT,Politics,Science & Technology

SC clears way for Nagad administrator to continue work

The Appellate Division on Monday stayed an earlier order of the chamber court that had suspended the Bangladesh Bank’s decision to appoint an administrator to oversee operations at the mobile financial service (MFS) provider Nagad.A five-member bench led by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam of the App...

National,Business & Commerce,Politics,Budget

Budget prioritises people over infrastructure: Finance Adviser

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has said the national budget of 25-26 fiscal year is smaller in size than the previous years’, a first in Bangladesh’s history. “For the first time, we are proposing a budget that is smaller than the previous one. Instead of merely highlighting...