Bangladesh’s ambition to become a $1 trillion economy by 2034 is being linked to major reforms in investment, industry revival, tax policy and agriculture modernisation, policymakers and economists said at a roundtable in Dhaka on Saturday.
The discussion, titled “Crisis-Moment Budget 2026–27”, held at the SirDAP International Conference Centre, centred on how the FY2026–27 budget must address inflation, weak investment and implementation gaps while laying the groundwork for long-term transformation.
Prime Minister’s Economic and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said the government’s vision of “Bangladesh for All” prioritises inclusive growth through industrial recovery, infrastructure modernisation and agriculture-led development. He said a Tk60,000 crore recovery package is being prepared to revive dormant industries, expand production and attract private investment.
He also said reforms will focus on reducing bureaucratic delays, improving policy consistency and strengthening administrative systems for both domestic and export-oriented sectors.
Planning State Minister Jonaid Saki said inefficiency and corruption in project implementation continue to undermine development outcomes. He stressed integrated planning and timely execution to avoid fragmented projects and cost overruns, adding that a four- to four-and-a-half-year strategic framework is being considered.
He also highlighted a 10,000MW renewable energy target as part of the government’s medium-term transition plan.
Apex Footwear Managing Director Nasim Manzur called for a sharp cut in corporate tax from 27.5 per cent to 20 per cent, aligned with Vietnam, and urged at least three years of stable tax policy to encourage investment.
He said weak airport logistics and storage systems are causing firms to lose several hundred million dollars annually. He also called for digital, risk-based tax audits and warned that regulatory unpredictability continues to discourage investment.
Researcher and rights activist Maha Mirza said agriculture must be prioritised in the national budget, proposing that its allocation be raised from 5 per cent to 10 per cent.
She said agriculture remains heavily reliant on traditional practices, including sun-drying rice, and called for expanded mechanisation through combine harvesters, crop dryers, more union-level procurement centres and cold storage facilities.
She also warned that subsidies and mechanisation benefits are often captured by politically influential actors, leaving small farmers excluded and pushing rural workers to urban areas.
Speakers said the FY2026–27 budget must be reform-driven, with stronger tax administration, improved governance, higher productive investment and targeted rural economic support.
They said sustained policy stability and coordinated reforms are essential if Bangladesh is to achieve its $1 trillion economic target by 2034.
The roundtable was attended by Policy Exchange Bangladesh Chairman M Mashrur Riaz, former Finance Secretary Muslim Chowdhury, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Mohammad Hatem, Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh President Kausar Alam and North South University School of Business and Economics Dean Dr AKM Waresul Karim. The session was moderated by CharCha.com Editor Sohrab Hasan.
