Economic Outlook and Finance Act 2026: Key Changes and Implications
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28 Jul 2026
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4:00 am
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The Westin Dhaka
On July 28, 2026, the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) hosted a Business Insights Dialogue titled “Economic Outlook and Finance Act 2026: Key Changes and Implications” at The Westin Dhaka. The event brought together AmCham Executive Committee members, AmCham members, business leaders, and key industry stakeholders to discuss Bangladesh’s economic outlook and the implications of the Finance Act 2026 for the Bangladesh economy.
AmCham President, Mr. Syed Mohammad Kamal, opened the session by commending the national budget and acknowledging its positive direction in supporting economic growth. He emphasized that its success would ultimately depend on effective implementation and highlighted the importance of strengthening the financial sector to support Bangladesh’s long-term development and digital transformation.
Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), shared her assessment of Bangladesh’s economic outlook, noting that achieving the government’s ambitious GDP growth target would require stronger investment, improved revenue mobilization, and a more efficient fiscal framework. As Bangladesh prepares for LDC graduation, she underscored that reforms aimed at creating a more progressive and predictable tax system, ensuring reliable energy supply, expanding access to sustainable finance, and enhancing policy consistency will be critical to restoring investor confidence.
Mr. Shams Zaman, Country Managing Partner of PwC Bangladesh, together with his team, presented the key provisions of the Finance Act 2026. He emphasized the importance of a predictable tax and regulatory environment for business planning and investment. The presentation highlighted several notable reforms, including the confirmation of corporate tax rates for the next five years, providing greater certainty for investors, and new provisions allowing tax losses to be carried forward when a firm converts into a company, facilitating business expansion and attracting investment.
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where participants exchanged views on the economic outlook, fiscal policy reforms, and the practical implications of the Finance Act 2026. The dialogue reaffirmed the importance of continued collaboration between policymakers and the private sector to strengthen Bangladesh’s investment climate and support sustainable economic growth.
