Dhaka: Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed announced that a practical-based Annual Development Programme (ADP) would be implemented in the upcoming budget for FY26 without resorting to hefty borrowings from banks or printing additional money. The announcement was made following a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr Salehuddin emphasized that the interim government aims to implement the new ADP through a practical approach, avoiding the creation of mega projects that could lead to significant deficits. He assured that any potential budget deficits would be mitigated through successful negotiations with the World Bank and IMF for support.
In response to queries about the recent ordinance abolishing the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and establishing two separate entities, the Finance Adviser stated that this restructuring would not negatively impact revenue collection. He noted that revenue collection has already seen a 2% growth compared to the previous year, and he remains optimistic about further improvements.
Dr Salehuddin advised stakeholders to thoroughly review the ordinance, mentioning that the policy division would be a smaller entity and that there is no cause for concern regarding the revenue authority. He explained that separating the policy and implementation divisions aligns with international practices, where professionals and experts manage policy divisions globally.
The ordinance, promulgated after a detailed process and discussions with NBR members, aims to modernize tax administration and enhance revenue collection. Under the ‘Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance 2025’, the newly formed Revenue Policy Division will handle the design of tax laws, rate setting, and oversight of international tax treaties. Meanwhile, the Revenue Management Division will focus on enforcement, audits, and compliance related to income tax, VAT, and customs.