The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has categorized the proposed Tk938,000 crore national budget for FY27 as a growth-oriented blueprint aimed at driving investment, industrial production, and post-crisis recovery.
Welcoming the fiscal plan presented by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, the business chamber noted that while the record-setting budget establishes a framework to support the real economy, its ultimate success will depend entirely on the transparency, structural efficiency, and administrative accountability of its implementation.
The budget features an economic stabilization framework structured around a "Three-R" strategy: Recovery and Stabilization, Restoration and Reconstruction.
FBCCI leadership emphasized that if properly executed, this multi-layered recovery plan will restore macroeconomic stability, encourage private capital formation, and build a more resilient foundation for long-term growth.
The chamber noted that a large spending layout is necessary as the country moves toward a trillion-dollar economy; however, managing an 18.7% spending increase (Tk148,000 crore) over the outgoing fiscal framework will serve as a direct test of the public administration's executive capacity.
Hit targets of a 6.5% GDP growth rate and bringing retail inflation down to 7.5% will require strong market discipline and a modernized supply chain management system.
The business chamber expressed caution regarding the budget's high revenue generation targets and deficit financing structures.
The proposal tasks the National Board of Revenue (NBR) with collecting Tk604,000 crore out of a total Tk695,000 crore revenue goal (10.2% of GDP). FBCCI pointed out that hitting these numbers will be difficult given current pressures on domestic industrial manufacturing, import volumes, and consumer spending.
To minimize disruptions to commerce, the apex body urged the government to prioritize pro-business tax compliance policies, complete the digitalization of the tax administration, and accelerate structural reforms at the NBR.
Of particular concern to the business community is the management of the Tk243,000 crore fiscal deficit (3.6% of GDP). The government's plan to draw Tk112,000 crore directly from commercial banking networks risks triggering a "crowding-out effect," which could restrict the flow of credit to private enterprises, limit new factory investments, and slow formal job creation.
To reduce these risks, FBCCI advised public planners to look toward lower-cost external financing options and concessionary foreign loans.
Furthermore, with the national interest payment bill projected to hit Tk127,500 crore—consisting of Tk105,000 crore for domestic debt service and Tk22,500 crore for foreign liabilities—rising debt service obligations will continue to present a challenge for future development budgets.
Trade readiness initiatives
The chamber emphasized that the state must accelerate the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), expand export diversification, strengthen the banking sector, manage non-performing loans (NPLs), and guarantee an uninterrupted supply of primary energy and power utilities to industrial hubs.
Additionally, as Bangladesh prepares for its official graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the chamber supported the government's focus on signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs), and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to preserve the competitiveness of local manufacturers in global markets.
On the industrial side, the FBCCI welcomed the Tk 60,000 crore Stimulus Package 2026, a Tk2,000 crore SME refinancing fund, and a Tk500 crore allocation dedicated to youth and female entrepreneurs.
The chamber also supported the budget's green energy goals, which aim to source 20% of national power from renewable energy by 2030, backed by long-term tax holidays for solar manufacturing and clean-tech fields until 2031.
While the chamber supported raising the individual tax-free income threshold to Tk375,000, it proposed lowering the maximum personal tax bracket from 35% to 25% and cutting tax rates for non-listed corporations to stimulate investment.
