At a pre-budget discussion held on April 22, 2026, at the Revenue Building, business leaders warned that foreign apparel buyers are redirecting their orders from Bangladesh to India due to severe gas and electricity shortages. They reported a decline in orders for July and August, raising concerns that the country’s garment industry could face a major crisis if the situation persists.

Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Chamber, said garment production and exports have been falling for eight consecutive months. He urged the government to take effective measures to reverse the downturn. Representatives from Gazipur highlighted a diesel shortage that has disrupted industrial operations, while others called for tax exemptions on renewable energy investments in the upcoming budget to address the energy crisis.

National Board of Revenue Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan responded that tax incentives had previously been offered for renewable energy and would continue in the future. Business representatives from Dhaka, Sylhet, Gazipur, and Narayanganj also demanded raising the tax-free income limit to 500,000 taka and reducing corporate tax rates to ease inflation-driven production costs.