Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed assured that the recent decision to increase VAT on 43 items will not impact the prices of essential goods.
He made this remark while speaking to the media following a meeting of the Advisory Council on Government Procurement at the Secretariat on Thursday (Jan 2).
The Adviser said, "The increase in taxes on various products is not to fulfill IMF conditions, but rather to enhance revenue."
"The decision to raise VAT on 43 items will not impact the prices of essential goods, assuring that the general public will not face any hardships. Taxes have been increased on three-star and higher-rated hotels, but not on lower-tier hotels and restaurants," he added.
The adviser also expressed confidence that the economy will stabilize in the new year and that banks will receive adequate support.
The budget will allocate increased funds for education and healthcare sectors, he said
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
