Tax Rates

Govt to raise foodgrain procurement target for FY'26

After securing an impressive 3.38 million tonnes of foodgrain for public storage in the outgoing fiscal year (FY2024-25), the government has set a higher procurement target of 3.7 million tonnes for the upcoming fiscal year (FY2025-26).To meet this target, the...

Tk 41.66b for free medical services to poor

The Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed proposed allocating an additional Tk 41.66 billion for providing free medical services to the poor in the country in his budget speech for the 2025-26 fiscal year on Monday.An allocation of Tk 10 billion for...

Decline in agro growth hits overall economy in FY'25

Bangladesh's agricultural growth has dropped significantly in the outgoing fiscal year (FY2024-25), falling to just 1.79 per cent compared to 3.3 per cent in FY2023-24.Experts warn that this notable slowdown in agriculture-the country's largest employment-generating sector-could have a ripple effect...

Tk 1.0b fund to be introduced to back up young entrepreneurs

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday proposed to introduce a new fund of Tk1.0 billion for supporting the young entrepreneurs, as well as another Tk1.0 billion fund to hold youth festival."I propose to create a new fund of Tk1.0...

Plan to cut electricity generation cost by 10pc

The interim government has planned to reduce the overall cost of power generation by 10 per cent.Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed unveiled the government's plan in his recorded budget speech televised on Monday."If this plan can be implemented, it is...

No excise duty on bank deposits up to Tk 300,000

Good news for low and middle-income account holders as the interim government has proposed waiving excise duty on bank deposits up to Tk 300,000.Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed shared such relaxation while unveiling the proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.At...

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed arrives at BTV Bhaban

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed arrives at BTV Bhaban in Dhaka on Monday to present the National Budget for fiscal year 2025-26. — PID

Initiatives proposed to create 15,000 new SME entrepreneurs

The government has proposed initiatives to create 15,000 new entrepreneurs in the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector over the next three years.Additionally, it plans to train 25,000 SME entrepreneurs to facilitate the establishment of product display and sales centres...

30pc power from renewables by 2040

The government has decided to generate 30 per cent of the country's total electricity from renewable sources by 2040.An Integrated Power Sector Master Plan (IPSMP) has already been prepared, and under it, a target has been set to generate 3,400...

Tk 4.05b budget allocated for July uprising victims

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed proposed an allocation of Tk 4.05 billion (Tk 405 crore) on Monday for the families of martyrs from the July mass uprising and injured individuals in the national budget for the fiscal year 2025-26."I am...

12kg LPG cylinder price cut by Tk 28 for June

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has set the retail price of 12 kg LPG as Tk 1,403 for June, making it cheaper by Tk 28. The BERC slashed the LPG selling price for private operators in line with the downtrend...

MERCANTILE BANK CELEBRATES 26TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY

Mercantile Bank celebrates its 26th anniversary at its head office in Dhaka on Monday. The bank's Chairman Md Anwarul Haque inaugurated the celebration programme by cutting a cake as the chief guest. Vice Chairmen Akram Hossain (Humayun) and Md Abdul...

Govt launches finance sector reforms to restore confidence, reveal true banking sector health

The government has launched sweeping reforms to overhaul Bangladesh's troubled banking sector, aiming to restore depositor confidence and bring transparency to a system plagued by years of misgovernance and corruption.Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed outlined the reforms in his national...

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur hands over images of six newly designed banknotes to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur hands over images of six newly designed banknotes to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a meeting of the council of advisers at the CA's Office in Dhaka on Monday. — Focus Bangla

Standard Bank and its 26-year-long journey

Standard Bank PLC, a conventional bank now transformed into an Islamic one, has completed eventful 26 years. It has been a long journey in the arena of country's banking. Mr. Md. Habibur Rahman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of...

Tax rebate for mobile operators with 20pc free float

A telecom operator will enjoy a 10 per cent tax rebate if it floats 20 per cent shares to get listed on the bourses. Banglalink is the only operator that has been in discussion for public listing for a long...

‘We focus on improving service quality with tech-driven products’

Jamuna Bank is committed to enhancing service quality by introducing innovative, technology-driven products to earn and maintain the trust of its customers, according to the bank's top executive."We have consistently focused on enhancing the quality of our services while introducing...

Unpaid care work recognised in budget speech for first time

For the first time, women's unpaid care work has been formally recognised in a budget speech by a finance ministry head.In the speech for the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed also emphasised on inclusion of the work...

Akij, Pan-China to launch mega business project

Akij Group (Bangladesh) and Pan China Group (China) announced their business partnership at a grand event held at a restaurant in Dhaka on Monday.During the event, Sk. Amin Uddin, Director of Akij Group, and David Liu Xian Wei, General Manager...

Bodies of a couple found hanging in Natore

NATORE, June 02 (UNB): In a deeply distressing incident, the bodies of a husband and wife were found hanging in their home in Kachua village under Lalpur upazila of Natore on Monday morning, casting a pall of grief and shock...

Three college students killed in Magura road crash

MAGURA, June 02 (UNB): Three college students were killed after a speeding bus hit them in front of Abalpur petrol pump on the Magura-Jhenaidah highway.The accident occurred around 5 pm on Saturday near a place called Haor, according to Ayub...

Rain, upstream water inundate three Sylhet upazilas

SYLHET, June 02. Incessant rainfall coupled with onrush of flood water from the upstream in the Indian state of Assam has caused flooding in many areas of Zakiganj, Beanibazar and Kanaighat upazilas of the district. The low-lying areas of Sylhet...

New hope for patients with less common breast cancer

WASHINGTON, June 02 (AFP): A new treatment nearly halves the risk of disease progression or death from a less common form of breast cancer that hasn't seen major drug advances in over a decade, researchers reported Monday.Results from the study,...

No N deal if goal is to 'deprive Iran of peaceful activities'

CAIRO, June 02 (AFP): Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that a nuclear deal would not be possible if the goal is to "deprive Iran of its peaceful nuclear activities"."If the goal of the negotiations is to gain...

Six children among 14 killed in Gaza strike

GAZA, June 02 (AFP): Gaza's civil defence agency said an Israeli strike on a home in the northern town of Jabalia killed 14 people on Monday."The number of martyrs from the targeting of the Al-Bursh family home has risen to...

Russia, Ukraine swap peace roadmaps at Istanbul talks

ISTANBUL, June 02 (AFP): Russia and Ukraine on Monday swapped plans for ending their three-year war during talks in Istanbul aiming to find a way out of Europe's largest conflict since World War II.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said any deal...

Secretariat employees stage demo for withdrawal of ordinance

The officials and employees of Bangladesh Secretariat staged demo on Monday, warning that they would not return to their respective works until the withdrawal of the Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.Md Badiul Kabir, president of Bangladesh Secretariat Officials and Employees...

BB-appointed administrator can continue with Nagad

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday cleared the way for the Bangladesh Bank (BB)-appointed administrator to continue with the mobile financial service (MFS) provider 'Nagad'. The apex court has stayed an order, passed on May 7...

Source taxes on land transfer cut

The interim government has taken initiative to encourage land registration based on actual value.Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed proposed to reduce the source tax collection rate from capital gains on land transfer in the next fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 at...