About the project

Partner: International Growth Centre (IGC).
Project duration: 15 July 2023 – 31 January 2024.

The Gini coefficient in Bangladesh has risen, indicating increased inequality. Recognizing the need for a fair society and higher government revenue, RAPID, supported by IGC and Kivu International, has been advocating for a progressive direct taxation system. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has started acknowledging the importance of direct taxation. IGC has commissioned an extension of the project to further research and sensitize stakeholders on the role of direct taxation in reducing inequality. Using quantitative techniques and Household Income Expenditure Survey (HIES) data, the study aims to provide evidence supporting direct taxation as a means to lower inequality and enhance government revenue. The goal is to inform the NBR's upcoming revenue strategy and contribute to improved fiscal management in Bangladesh. RAPID's expertise and contacts will be utilized for key informant interviews and stakeholder consultations to validate research findings. The dissemination of research outputs will play a crucial role in sensitizing stakeholders and fostering policy change towards a more equitable tax regime.

Project activities

Dissemination Event: Assessing the Impact of Indirect Taxation on Poverty and Inequality: A Pseudo-Panel Data Analysis on Bangladesh and Global Insights from Cross-Country Panel Regressions

On 2 March 2024, Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID), and International Growth Centre (IGC), jointly organised a dissemination event. At the event, Mr M M Fazlul Haque, Member, National Board of Revenue (NBR), was present as Special Guest
RAPID Chairman Dr M A Razzaque moderated the dissemination event on “Assessing the Impact of Indirect Taxation on Poverty and Inequality”. Dr. Md Deen Islam, Research Director, RAPID, delivered the keynote presentation while Dr M Abu Eusuf, Executive Director, RAPID, delivered his welcome remarks in the event. Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, Professor in the Department of Economics at Dhaka University, Dr. Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Director General (Additional Secretary) at the Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Mr. Issam Mosaddeq, Economic Adviser at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UK, and Mr. Towfiqul Islam Khan, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), participated as panelists.



Media coverage
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