AmCham Presents Budget Recommendations for FY 2026–27 to NBR.
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05 Apr 2026
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10:00 am
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NBR Bhaban, Agargaon
AmCham presented its Budget Recommendations for FY 2026-27 to Mr. Md. Abdur Rahman Khan, FCMA, Chairman and senior officials of NBR, at a consultation session.
The recommendations were presented by Mr. Reza-Ur-Rahman Mahmud, FCA, FCS, Country Manager of Philip Morris Bangladesh Ltd., in the presence of AmCham President Mr. Syed Ershad Ahmed and members including Mr. Fehmi Muhsin Yüksel (Recover Global), Mr. Shadab Ahmed Khan (Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverages Limited), Mr. Md. Mahbub Ur Rahman (HSBC), Mr. Syed Mohammad Kamal (Mastercard), and Mr. Chowdhury Kaiser Mohammad Riyadh (AmCham), alongside senior officials from Citibank N.A. and MetLife.
AmCham emphasized enhancing efficiency, transparency, and predictability in tax administration. Key proposals included simplifying procedures such as removing or expediting certification requirements under Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA), introducing a standardized foreign currency conversion method aligned with international practices, and rationalizing withholding tax rates to eliminate inconsistencies.
AmCham recommended aligning the tax rate for both foreign and local banks and introducing preferential rates for OBUs to attract FDI and support investment. Carbonated beverages face a high tax burden, significantly above regional peers; AmCham recommends reducing the supplementary duty to improve affordability, revive investment, and boost revenue and employment.
In addition, AmCham emphasized promoting digital financial inclusion, encouraging investment, and supporting sustainable industries through measures such as reducing duties on smart cards and POS machines, introducing incentives for digital payments, rationalizing minimum tax rates, and establishing a fully digital, time-bound tax refund mechanism. Further recommendations included digitizing government securities transactions through card-based systems, supporting recycling initiatives through VAT exemptions, and encouraging foreign portfolio investment by adjusting tax rates on government securities, with the overall aim of fostering a more transparent, competitive, and growth-oriented economic environment.
