Prime Minister Tareque Rahman calls for building a taxpayer-friendly NBR to restore public trust in post-fascist Bangladesh
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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday called for a systemic overhaul of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), urging officials to restore public trust following years of alleged political interference and administrative dysfunction.
Addressing the Revenue Conference 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Dhaka, the Prime Minister emphasized that the success of the government’s development agenda, particularly amidst a fragile national economy, relies heavily on the NBR’s ability to modernize and foster public confidence.
“It is time for us to turn around in a Bangladesh freed from fascism,” Rahman said, noting that the NBR had previously been compromised by partisan interests and arbitrary practices that ignored established rules and policies. He asserted that the agency must transition into a reliable, taxpayer-friendly institution that citizens view with trust rather than fear.
The Prime Minister underscored the need for revenue officials to develop multidimensional expertise to keep pace with a rapidly changing global economic landscape. He identified digital economy, e-commerce, transfer pricing, international taxation, trade-based financial crimes, money laundering, and artificial intelligence as critical areas where officials must gain clear proficiency.
Rahman pointed out that the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains significantly below its potential. He warned that the policy of repeatedly increasing the tax burden on existing taxpayers is unsustainable. Instead, he advocated for a digital, data-driven approach to identify individuals with the capacity to pay, while simplifying procedures to encourage voluntary compliance.
“The goal of a modern tax administration is not merely to collect more revenue, but to encourage more people to pay taxes voluntarily,” the Prime Minister stated. He added that while those who contribute should be honored, intentional tax evaders must be brought under the legal framework through efficient, corruption-free, and harassment-free methods.
Regarding Value Added Tax (VAT), Rahman described it as a cornerstone of a modern economy but cautioned that administration must be handled carefully so as not to impede business operations. He reiterated that tax, VAT, and customs administration should not rely on coercion, but on building a foundation of mutual trust between the state and the taxpayer.
The conference, organized by the Internal Resources Division of the Ministry of Finance and the NBR, also featured addresses by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir.
Highlighting the recent performance of the NBR, the Prime Minister noted that revenue collection showed positive trends from mid-February through the end of June. He expressed confidence in the capacity of the revenue officials to lead the reform efforts, urging them to prioritize national interests over personal or political gains to help build a prosperous new Bangladesh.
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