Business leaders and industry stakeholders on Sunday called for a pragmatic, investment-friendly national budget for fiscal year 2026–27, stressing the need for entrepreneur-oriented tax policies, reduced registration costs in the housing sector and stronger energy security.
The calls came at a roundtable titled “National Budget 2026–2027: Expectations of the Business Community,” organised by the Industrialists and Businessmen Welfare Foundation (IBWF) at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
Muhammad Abdul Mazid, former chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and current chairman of the Social Development Foundation (SDF), attended as chief guest, stressed the urgency of formulating a realistic, timely and business-friendly budget to drive economic growth, attract investment and generate employment.
He called for modernisation of the tax system, enhanced revenue mobilisation and the adoption of entrepreneur-friendly policy frameworks.
REHAB Senior Vice President Abdur Razzaque demanded a reduction in property registration costs, warning that land scarcity made vertical development unavoidable. “We must protect agricultural land. That makes planned high-rise construction not a choice, but a necessity.”
He also emphasised that tax policy must be investment-friendly, grounded in market realities and oriented toward long-term national economic interests.
REHAB Vice President Md Harun-or-Rashid urged rationalisation of taxes on secondary flat sales and called for a reduction in Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), noting that businesses were operating under severe financial pressure.
Chairing the event, IBWF President Mohammad Shahidul Islam called for a budget that genuinely reflects the challenges, potential and expectations of entrepreneurs, particularly small and medium enterprises and urged the government to provide tax relief, easier access to credit and measures to reduce production costs.
BGMEA Director Mozammal Hoque Bhuiyan demanded that bank lending rates be brought down to single digits, while BKMEA Director Moniruzzaman Monir pressed for expedited measures to ensure energy security.
Participants also called for increased allocations in health, education, agriculture and infrastructure, alongside incentives for new investors, expansion of industrial zones, export sector development and policies to attract foreign direct investment.
Leaders from FBCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA and representatives of the pharmaceutical and other industries also addressed the roundtable. IBWF Secretary General Dr Anwarul Azim and leaders of the organisation's Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units were among those present.
The session concluded with participants expressing hope that a people-oriented, business-friendly budget would inject fresh momentum into the national economy and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.