The proposed budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year has been set at Tk 7.90 trillion. One of the key highlights of this budget is the initiative to lower the prices of soybean oil and other essential goods.
On Monday, June 2, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, the economic advisor to the interim government, presented the budget in the National Parliament. During his speech, he announced a significant reduction in the source tax on the import of essential items — from 1 percent to just 0.05 percent. Additionally, the source tax on commissions for local letters of credit (LCs) will be cut in half.
Dr. Ahmed explained that although source tax has a minimal impact on revenue collection, certain traders use it as a pretext to raise prices. To curb such practices and ease the burden on consumers, the government has decided to reduce this tax.
As a result, the prices of several key commodities are expected to drop. These include rice, wheat, potatoes, onions, garlic, peas, chickpeas, lentils, ginger, turmeric, dried chilies, corn, flour, salt, sugar, edible oil (including soybean oil), black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, dates, cassia leaves, various fruits, and computer equipment. The move is expected to bring some much-needed relief to the general public.
The 2025–26 budget has been designed to maintain economic stability, tackle ongoing challenges, and support sustainable growth.
Notably, the size of this year’s budget is Tk 7,000 crore less than the current fiscal year’s (2024–25) budget of Tk 7.97 trillion—marking the first time in Bangladesh’s history that the national budget has been reduced compared to the previous year.
Traditionally, the budget is announced on the first Thursday of June. However, with the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha falling on June 7, the budget was presented earlier this year, on Monday, June 2.
