Dhaka: The government today formed a national task force to restructure the country's tax system with the aim of boosting revenue collection and raising the tax-GDP ratio to an acceptable level.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the nine-member task force will focus on structural adjustments and development of the overall tax framework to help Bangladesh achieve its fiscal goals.
Dr. Zaidi Sattar, Chairman of the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI), has been appointed as the head of the task force. The other members include Dr. Sultan Hafiz Rahman, Professorial Fellow at BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD); Dr. Syed Mainul Ahsan, Professor Emeritus at Concordia University, Canada; Dr. Mohammad Zahid Hossain, Chairman of Bangladesh Krishi Bank; and Dr. Sajjad Zohir, Executive Director of the Economic Research Group (ERG).
Representatives from the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB), and the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) are also included as members of the task force. Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Patwari, Joint Secretary of the Internal Resources Division (IRD), will serve as the Member Secretary.
The task force has been assigned to formulate recommendations for restructuring the national tax system to achieve the desired tax-GDP ratio. It will also propose tax policy measures that support economic development and facilitate domestic and international trade. In addition, the task force will prepare specific recommendations outlining immediate, short-term, and long-term actions needed to meet these objectives.
If required, additional members may be co-opted into the task force. It has been directed to submit its final report to the Finance Adviser by January 31, 2026.