Published: 12:35 AM, 12 July 2026
Tk6.04 lakh crore revenue target for FY27 is achievable: Khosru
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury expressed confidence that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) will meet its Tk6.04 lakh crore tax collection target for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
He stated that government reforms and business-friendly policies will drive the boost in revenue. The minister spoke after meetings at the NBR headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday with representatives from the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), the Saudi Arabia-Bangladesh Chamber, and other business groups.
Finance Division Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder and NBR Chairman Ahsan H Habib also attended the discussions. Responding to questions about the ambitious target, the finance minister said NBR officials were fully prepared to meet it.
“Revenue collection will be good. Everyone at the NBR is fully prepared. Inshallah, we will achieve the revenue target we have set,” he said. The NBR has been assigned a revenue collection target of Tk6.04 lakh crore for the current fiscal year, around 45-50% higher than the estimated actual collection in FY2025-26.
It is the largest year-on-year revenue growth target ever set in Bangladesh. Although economists and business leaders have questioned the feasibility of achieving such a sharp increase, the finance minister remained optimistic. According to the NBR’s preliminary assessment, revenue collection in FY2025-26 is expected to reach around Tk4.15 lakh crore against a revised target of Tk5.03 lakh crore, leaving an estimated shortfall of about Tk88,000 crore.
NBR data show revenue collection from customs duties, VAT and income tax stood at Tk3.90 crore until June 20. During the first 20 days of June, the authority collected Tk29,311 crore and expected to collect another Tk25,000 crore during the remaining 10 days of the month. The final revenue figure for the fiscal year has yet to be compiled. Referring to his meeting with BTMA leaders, Amir Khosru said discussions centred on challenges facing the industrial sector, tax policies, rising production costs and barriers to doing business. The association presented several proposals to the government.
He said some issues were resolved during the meeting, while the remaining proposals requiring policy decisions would be considered by the government.
“We want our industries to become stronger. A strong industrial sector is essential for a strong economy. Future economic growth, investment and employment will largely depend on the performance of our industries. That is why we are working continuously to identify and address the problems faced by businesses,” he said. The finance minister said the government has already taken a number of deregulatory measures to improve the ease of doing business and would gradually remove the remaining obstacles through continued dialogue with the
private sector.
“We are maintaining regular discussions with the business community. We are identifying where the problems lie, what the challenges are, and how they can be resolved quickly. This engagement with the private sector will continue to support economic growth,” he said.
Speaking about his meeting with representatives of the Saudi Arabia-Bangladesh Chamber, Amir Khosru said discussions focused on skills development for Bangladeshi workers, expanding bilateral trade and exploring alternative sources of financing.
He said the government is restructuring its financing architecture and looking beyond traditional funding sources.
“The government’s financing architecture is changing. We are looking for alternative financing sources, and we are also examining what opportunities exist for cooperation with Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The finance minister said the government’s objective is not only to increase revenue collection but also to create a more business- and investment-friendly environment.
He added that efforts to strengthen tax administration, maintain close engagement with the business community and implement necessary policy reforms would continue to improve revenue mobilisation and support sustainable economic growth.
