The International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) on Thursday welcomed the proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, describing it as 'a positive and pragmatic roadmap' aimed at driving economic recovery, industrial expansion, and long-term structural reforms.
Speaking at a press conference titled “Proposed Budget 2026-27: Expectations and Outcomes” at the National Press Club, IBFB President Lutfunnisa Saudia Khan noted that the budget sends highly encouraging signals to the business community.
She lauded the government's strategic focus on boosting investment, industrialisation, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development, supporting women and youth entrepreneurs, expanding the digital economy, promoting renewable energy, and raising the tax-free income threshold.
"The successful implementation of these targeted initiatives will play a critical role in attracting both domestic and foreign direct investment, creating new avenues of employment, and accelerating macroeconomic growth," the IBFB Chief said.
While praising the budget's forward-looking direction, the forum underscored that the state must remain vigilant against major impending challenges.
The IBFB president emphasized the need for prompt, effective policy interventions to manage ambitious revenue collection targets, tackle ongoing inflationary pressures, fix underlying structural weaknesses in the banking sector, and overcome state implementation capacity constraints.
To guarantee smooth economic execution, the IBFB reiterated its core set of recommendations to the policymaking authorities, which include-complete digitalisation of the tax administration, sweeping structural reforms within the National Board of Revenue (NBR), lowering bureaucratic hurdles to drastically improve the ease of doing business, expanding accessible financing channels for the SME sector and accelerating the development of the local capital market while ensuring absolute policy continuity.
During the question-and-answer session with journalists, former NBR Chairman and IBFB Life Member Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid pointed out that policy predictability and consistency are absolute prerequisites for maintaining an investment-friendly climate and ensuring long-term financial stability.
The forum expressed its firm belief that with rigid implementation, adherence to good governance, and the execution of necessary fiscal reforms, the FY2026-27 budget will successfully fortify Bangladesh's journey toward sustainable development.
Former IBFB President Humayun Rashid, Director M.S. Siddiqui, and Vice President Engr. Utpal Kumar Das were also present at the press briefing.