Tax hike to tackle economic crisis

Staff Reporter :

Finance and planning minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that increasing tax revenue and boosting both domestic and foreign investment are the government’s foremost priorities in addressing the country’s economic challenges.

Speaking to journalists while visiting the site of a proposed government hospital in the Patenga area, the minister said, “Our priority is to increase taxes. By doing so, we can enhance investment and improve the tax-to-GDP ratio, which is essential for sustainable economic growth.”

He made the remarks in response to questions about the government’s strategy to overcome ongoing economic difficulties and the key focus areas of the forthcoming national budget.

Khasru highlighted that employment generation remains a central element of the BNP’s electoral agenda and underscored that attracting both domestic and foreign investment is crucial for creating jobs.

“If there is no investment, where will employment come from? That is why we are prioritising investment. Alongside this, we are committed to reforms in healthcare and education to ensure holistic development,” he added.

The finance minister further noted that employment generation would form the core of the next national budget, with the government taking all necessary measures to achieve this objective.

Earlier, he visited the designated land in the Jelepara area under Patenga Police Station in Chattogram, where the proposed government hospital is to be constructed, inspecting the site and assessing plans for the development of healthcare infrastructure in the city.