Target set for reducing inflation to 6.5% unrealistic as FM didn’t provide plan in budget speech: Debapriya  | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
June 13, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025
Target set for reducing inflation to 6.5% unrealistic as FM didn’t provide plan in budget speech: Debapriya 

Budget

TBS Report
06 June, 2024, 08:00 pm
Last modified: 06 June, 2024, 08:01 pm

Related News

  • Some good steps, but no holistic structural change: CPD
  • Technical students' anger stems from govt's negligence, protests not getting enough media coverage: Debapriya
  • Vulnerabilities from the times of democratic deficit still persist: Debapriya
  • Strengthen institutions before liberalising import: Economists
  • Autocracy in food market due to lack of regulation: Moazzem

Target set for reducing inflation to 6.5% unrealistic as FM didn’t provide plan in budget speech: Debapriya 

TBS Report
06 June, 2024, 08:00 pm
Last modified: 06 June, 2024, 08:01 pm
Debapriya Bhattacharya. Illustration: TBS
Debapriya Bhattacharya. Illustration: TBS

The target set for reducing inflation to 6.5%, from the existing 9%, is unrealistic, said Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

"I don't believe this is realistic because the finance minister's speech did not provide a clear plan as to how this reduction could be achieved," he said in an immediate reaction to the Bangladesh national budget placed at the parliament today (6 June). 

He also noted that it is quite normal for a country like Bangladesh to have a budget deficit. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"But what is more important than the deficit itself is where we are getting the deficit money from, what we are going to do with it, and how we are going to repay that money.

"We will have to borrow the money from outside the country, and 70% of the deficit will still be spent on infrastructure. That means it will take us a long time to repay the money, which is a cause for concern," he said.

Noting that the issue of whitening black money is highly sensitive, he said in the past, opportunities provided to legitimise black money have been ineffective. 

"Instead, these measures disrupt financial discipline, increase social inequality, and encourage corruption in politics. Consequently, I firmly believe that this approach is fundamentally flawed.

In their last election manifesto, the government pledged to adopt a zero-tolerance stance against corruption and to reject any undeclared money acquired through illegal means. Legalising such money now would contradict their election promises."

Debapriya said, "I want to highlight two specific concerns. Firstly, this is likely the first instance where it has been stated that no questions will be asked regarding the origins of black money. This implies that even if the money was earned illegally, it would not be scrutinised, which undermines the rule of law. 

"Secondly, while a flat 15% tax is proposed to legalise black money, individuals or institutions who earn money in an honest way are required to pay up to 30% in taxes. This disparity is inherently unfair."

"At a time when governments worldwide are implementing strict measures against money laundering and black money, our government appears to be regressing. I am baffled as to how such a decision could have been approved," he added.

Top News

Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya / CPD / Bangladesh National Budget 2024-2025

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and Chief Adviser  Muhammad Yunus meet at Dorchester Hotel in London, UK on 13 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    CA Yunus, Tarique agree on election in February if preparations complete
  • BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and Chief Adviser  Muhammad Yunus meet at Dorchester Hotel in London, UK on 13 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    'Historic' Yunus-Tarique meeting ends after nearly 1.5 hours of discussions on polls, other crucial issues
  • Rescuers work at the scene of a damaged building in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
    Tehran retaliates with 100 drones after Israel strikes Iran's nuclear facilities, kills military leaders

MOST VIEWED

  • Wreckage of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner showing part of its registration "VT-ANB" in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave
    Air India Dreamliner crashes into Ahmedabad college hostel, kills over 290
  • File Photo of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus: UNB
    Prof Yunus to receive Harmony Award from King Charles today
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Bangladesh mulls settlements with tycoons over offshore wealth: BB governor tells FT
  • Railway seeks Tk2,000cr foreign loans to revive coach assembly, modernise workshops
    Railway seeks Tk2,000cr foreign loans to revive coach assembly, modernise workshops
  • UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus
    Disclosure of unconfirmed Yunus-Starmer meeting shows ‘diplomatic imprudence’: Analysts
  • Brother sues Latifur's daughter, widow over alleged forgery to seize control of Transcom
    Brother sues Latifur's daughter, widow over alleged forgery to seize control of Transcom

Related News

  • Some good steps, but no holistic structural change: CPD
  • Technical students' anger stems from govt's negligence, protests not getting enough media coverage: Debapriya
  • Vulnerabilities from the times of democratic deficit still persist: Debapriya
  • Strengthen institutions before liberalising import: Economists
  • Autocracy in food market due to lack of regulation: Moazzem

Features

Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

1d | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

2d | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

4d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

6d | Bangladesh

More Videos from TBS

'Historic' meeting between Yunus and Tarique underway in London

'Historic' meeting between Yunus and Tarique underway in London

1h | TBS Today
Iran warns Israel of severe retaliation

Iran warns Israel of severe retaliation

2h | TBS World
Global oil prices soar

Global oil prices soar

3h | TBS World
What did Iran say in response to the Israeli attack?

What did Iran say in response to the Israeli attack?

3h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net