The 2025–26 fiscal budget has delivered welcome news for ordinary bank depositors in Bangladesh. In a major policy shift, the interim government has proposed exempting excise duty on annual bank deposits below Tk 3 lakh—up from the current Tk 1 lakh threshold. Under the new rule, only deposits exceeding Tk 3 lakh in a year will incur the Tk 150 excise duty.
Announced by Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed during his budget presentation on June 2, the move is part of a broader effort to provide financial relief to the public amid economic strain caused by inflation, foreign debt conditions, and external trade pressures.
Dr. Ahmed framed the proposed budget as a step toward long-term economic stability, not just short-term growth. With a reduced budget size of Tk 7.9 trillion—down Tk 7,000 crore from last year—the government aims to reset priorities. The revenue target stands at Tk 4.99 trillion, and the budget deficit is projected at Tk 2.26 trillion (3.62% of GDP), to be financed through foreign loans, bank borrowing, and savings certificates.
While the budget has scaled back its size for the first time in the country’s history, it emphasizes building a strong economic foundation. Alongside excise duty reform, VAT and tax policies have also seen minor adjustments, although challenges such as inflation, global tariff pressures, and exchange rate fluctuations remain significant concerns.
With these changes, the government hopes to reduce financial stress on low- and middle-income citizens while gradually steering the economy toward stability, equity, and inclusive development.
