The Bangladesh government has unexpectedly increased the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) revenue collection target for the current fiscal year by Tk 550 billion, raising it from Tk 4.99 trillion to Tk 5.54 trillion—an 11.22% hike. Officials describe the move as unprecedented and unrealistic given the country’s current economic conditions, sluggish investment, and weak export performance. Some NBR insiders believe the decision was influenced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has urged Bangladesh to expand its tax base, eliminate exemptions, and set a uniform 15% VAT rate as part of loan conditions. Former NBR chairman Abdul Mazid noted that revenue collection remains low relative to GDP and called for stronger enforcement against tax evasion. The IMF has so far disbursed $3.64 billion of a $5.5 billion loan package. Implementation details of the new target will be discussed after NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan returns from abroad later this month.