The Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Abdur Rahman Khan, stated that due to borrowing for the budget over the years, the size of the budget has grown, causing an increased burden on businesses.
In a recent pre-budget discussion held in the RDRS auditorium of Rangpur city on Thursday (February 27), NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan highlighted the growing financial pressures on businesses due to the expanding size of the national budget. He emphasized that the country’s revenue collection system needs to be strengthened, yet it has not been able to keep up with the rising budgetary demands.
“The government has been borrowing to finance the budget for a long time, leading to an increase in the budget’s size. This, in turn, has caused an additional burden on the business community,” Khan remarked.
The discussion, attended by leaders from various chambers, businesspersons, and professionals, saw concerns raised over regional disparities. Speakers urged the government to address the developmental needs of the Rangpur region, specifically calling for the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan in the upcoming budget.
Khan acknowledged the validity of the demands raised and assured that he would bring the matter of regional inequality to the government’s attention. He also pointed out that last year, the NBR collected revenue worth 3 trillion BDT, and this year, the expected revenue is around 2.8 to 2.85 trillion BDT. However, he noted that to fulfill the demands of the Rangpur region, an additional 1 trillion BDT would be needed.
Liberty News’ economic correspondent states that addressing the issue of tax evasion, Khan expressed concerns about the burden on regular taxpayers, stating that those who pay taxes face increasing pressure, while those evading taxes remain outside the system. He assured that measures would be taken to address this imbalance.
LND/BG
