The government of Bangladesh announced tax reductions on 63 essential goods in the current fiscal year’s national budget to ease consumer costs. Despite the policy’s aim to reduce import and marketing expenses, retail prices of key items such as rice and edible oil have not fallen. Instead, market instability has increased, with some products becoming more expensive.
According to the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), the benefits of the tax relief are being absorbed by traders rather than reaching consumers. CAB Vice President S.M. Nazer Hossain stated that the government’s intention to reduce public hardship through lower taxes has not materialized in practice. CAB attributes the situation to weak market monitoring and the influence of dishonest traders. The organization noted that import taxes on items like rice, wheat, livestock, onions, garlic, and edible oils were reduced to as low as 0.5 percent, yet retail prices remain unchanged.
Market analysts warn that if the government’s revenue sacrifices do not translate into consumer benefits, the policy’s purpose will be undermined. CAB has urged stronger regulatory action to curb unethical business practices and restore market stability.
স্টাফ রিপোর্টার প্রকাশ : ০৬ জুলাই ২০২৬, ২১: ৫৯ চলতি অর্থবছরের জাতীয় বাজেটে জনস্বার্থ বিবেচনায় ৬৩টি নিত্যপ্রয়োজনীয় পণ্যে করছাড়ের ঘোষণা দিয়েছিল সরকার। সরকারের লক্ষ্য ছিল, এর মাধ্যমে আমদানি ও বাজারজাতকরণ ব্যয় কমিয়ে খুচরা বাজারে পণ্যের দাম সহনীয় পর্যায়ে
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