National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan stated that the recent rise in import prices is due to the increase in the dollar’s value, not tariff hikes. Speaking at a press conference at the NBR headquarters on Sunday, ahead of International Customs Day, he said that no new tariffs have been imposed on imported fruits in the past one and a half years; rather, tariffs and source taxes have been reduced. He noted that the dollar’s exchange rate rose from 80 taka two years ago to 125–126 taka, directly affecting import costs.

Khan emphasized that the government has not raised tariffs on essential goods such as rice, lentils, and edible oil, but instead reduced them in the public interest, even at the expense of revenue. He added that tariff increases are only applied to protect domestic industries and are decided through consultation with stakeholders. The chairman also said customs now focus more on trade facilitation and preventing smuggling rather than being a major revenue source.

He concluded that to increase revenue, the NBR is working to expand income tax and value-added tax collection.