DHAKA, June 14, 2026 (BSS) - The Chittagong Stock Exchange PLC (CSE) today welcomed the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026-27, describing it as a timely and bold initiative aimed at economic recovery and building an inclusive economy.

Speaking at a post-budget press conference held at its headquarters, CSE Chairman AKM Habibur Rahman said the historic inclusion of capital market strategies in the national budget reflected the government's growing recognition of the sector's role in economic development.

He praised the government's emphasis on modernizing market infrastructure and enhancing digital capacity, particularly the initiative to operationalize the country's first commodity exchange.

He said the CSE has already completed the necessary technological and regulatory preparations for launching the commodity exchange and stands ready to support the initiative.

It also welcomed measures aimed at diversifying financial products, including the introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and index hedging instruments.

According to the CSE chairman, the exchange's Next Generation Trading System is fully prepared to accommodate these products, while the proposed transition of the settlement cycle from T+2 to T+0 would significantly improve market liquidity.

While expressing overall support for the proposed Tk 9.38 trillion budget presented by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, the CSE put forward several recommendations to further accelerate capital market development.

Among its key proposals, the exchange sought a five-year tax holiday for the commodity exchange segment, citing the substantial investment required to establish and operate a world-class commodities market.

The CSE also recommended increasing the tax rate gap between listed and non-listed companies from the proposed 7.5 percent to 10 percent to encourage more quality companies to enter the capital market. 

To boost new listings, it proposed tax-free income facilities for newly listed companies during their first three years after listing.

In support of the government's digitalization agenda, the exchange suggested reducing withholding tax on technical services provided by non-residents from 20 percent to 10 percent and lowering VAT on software maintenance services from 15 percent to 5 percent.

The CSE further urged the government to retain the existing 20 percent tax rate on dividend income earned by institutional investors, arguing that removing the cap could negatively affect market growth.

Expressing concern over the withdrawal of tax exemptions for zero-coupon bonds, the exchange also called for a policy target to expand the corporate bond market to at least 2 percent of the country's GDP.

CSE Managing Director M Saifur Rahman Mazumdar said the proposed budget acknowledged the need to reduce excessive dependence on the banking sector and promote a balanced financial system where the capital market can play a greater role in financing long-term investments and infrastructure projects.

He reaffirmed the exchange's commitment to working closely with the government and regulators to develop a transparent, modern and internationally competitive capital market in Bangladesh.