Published: 06:01 AM, 22 May 2026
NBR faces Tk 1.76tn revenue shortfall
The National Revenue Board (NBR) faces an uphill battle to meet the revenue collection target set by the interim government for the current 2025-26 fiscal year, requiring a staggering Tk 1.76 trillion in the final two months alone. To hit the target, the tax administration must collect an average of Tk 880 billion in the final two months of May and June. In stark contrast, the NBR managed an average monthly collection of just Tk 320 billion over the last 10 months, bdnews24 reports.
Analysing recent revenue generation trends, NBR officials and economic analysts widely agree that pulling off such massive collections in two months is practically impossible. Consequently, the NBR is on track to wrap up another fiscal year significantly behind the targets established by the authorities.
Despite the mounting deficit, data released by the NBR on Wednesday revealed that the revenue board achieved a 10.60 percent growth during the July-April period of the ongoing fiscal year. Total revenue receipts during these 10 months stood at Tk 3.27 trillion, up from Tk 2.95 trillion logged during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
Under Muhammad Yunus-led interim government's revised fiscal blueprint, the collection target for the NBR was upscaled to Tk 5.03 trillion, a slight increase from the Tk 4.99 trillion originally outlined in the state budget.
Economists and tax officials point to persistent macroeconomic disruptions slowing down the revenue growth.
Business activities and investments took a severe hit during the major political shifts of mid-2024, leaving a lasting impact that rolled over into the current fiscal cycle.
Revenue collections initially appeared resilient in the first quarter (July to September), clocking a strong 20.80 percent growth compared with the same period in the previous year.
Growth plummeted sharply to just 3.31 percent in the second quarter as post-uprising economic stagnation set in.
Although collections stabilised marginally during November and December, the third quarter began with another slowdown in January.
The installation of an elected government in February failed to offer immediate fiscal relief, leaving growth stuck in single digits.
March was even slower, recording a negligible 2.67 percent increase.
Fresh global uncertainties triggered by Middle Eastern conflicts further dampened business confidence in April, restricting the monthly revenue growth to a modest 6.71 percent.
