Modernising trade tax regime
Bangladesh's trade tax is high and its structure is complex. Though formal customs duties might appear lower, extensive use of para-tariffs (supplementary and regulatory duties) has made the tax structure overly complicated. That has resulted in a large number of (some 50) effective tax rates. But why is this extensive...
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Job loss foreshadows deeper economic strain
For much of the past decade, Bangladesh has been celebrated as a development model-an economy that expanded rapidly while reducing poverty and improving social indicators. Yet, behind the glow of growth figures, a harsh reality has been unfolding. The latest findings from the Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID)...
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Need big change in governance
The much-anticipated 13th parliamentary election, along with the referendum, has concluded peacefully without major violence and citizens exercised their voting rights enthusiastically. The nation now looks forward to a sound and inclusive system of governance, free from authoritarian practices across all public institutions. It also hopes for constructive cooperation among...
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Overcoming cost hurdles for export growth
The recent Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between the U.S. and Bangladesh is currently the most discussed topic regarding Bangladesh's profitability, since the pact carries many conditions that may affect actual returns through bilateral trade. Although more than seven thousand U.S. products will gain duty-free access in Bangladesh, and about...
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