Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir today spoke to journalists after a view-exchange meeting with local administration officials at the Sylhet Circuit House this afternoon. Photo: BSS

SYLHET, Feb 28, 2026 (BSS) - Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir today 
said the government has no plan to increase taxes on the private sector.

He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after a 
view-exchange meeting with local administration officials at the Sylhet 
Circuit House this afternoon.

Replying to a query regarding the Finance Minister's recent comments, 
Muktadir said the statement had been misrepresented in the media. He 
explained that Bangladesh's tax-to-GDP ratio remains significantly lower than 
that of neighbouring countries.

"Because the country's tax-to-GDP ratio is low, a large portion of revenue 
collection is spent on meeting the government's regular expenditures, making 
it difficult to allocate adequate funds for development activities," he said. 

"The Finance Minister referred to increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio, not 
raising taxes on the private sector," the minister added.

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and Labour and Employment 
Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury and Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin 
Chowdhury Anne were present at the meeting.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Commerce Minister said the 
market situation during the Holy month of Ramadan remains stable. He noted 
that prices of a few items, including lemons, had increased irrationally 
during the first couple of days of Ramadan but have since returned to normal 
levels.

As the minister in charge of the Ministries of Commerce, Textiles and Jute, 
and Industries, Muktadir also said that, as part of advance preparations to 
address post-LDC graduation challenges, a letter has been sent to the 
European Union (EU) seeking a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
 
He added that initiatives would be taken in phases to pursue similar 
agreements with Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom (UK).

The Commerce Minister further said that all outstanding wages and salaries of 
industrial workers would be ensured before the upcoming Holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

After the meeting, the Commerce, Labour and Employment, and Water Resources 
Ministers visited erosion-affected areas along the Surma River and Chenger 
khal River.