The government has reduced import duties on dates, oranges and apples ahead of Ramadan to facilitate imports and help ensure the supply of these fruits during the fasting month.
Under the Cabinet's decision, the existing customs duty on date imports has been reduced from 25 per cent to 5 per cent, effective until March 10.
In addition, the total tax incidence on imported oranges (Malta variety) under HS Code 08051010 and apples under HS Code 08081010 has been reduced from 121.78 per cent to 61 per cent for the period from January 24 to February 23.
The decisions were taken at the 27th Cabinet meeting, held at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat on Sunday (November 15), with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair. The proposals were submitted by the Internal Resources Division.
The Cabinet Division disclosed the decisions in a press release following the meeting. Cabinet Approves VAT and Supplementary Duty Amendment Bill At the meeting, the Cabinet also granted policy-level and final approval to the draft Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty (Amendment) Act, 2026.
Under the proposed amendment, the 2026–27 fiscal year's budget introduced a provision relaxing the requirement for businesses to submit VAT returns every month or for every tax period. Instead, taxpayers were allowed to submit returns within 15 days after the completion of every three tax periods, equivalent to three months.
However, the change subsequently created various obstacles to revenue collection at the field level. As a result, the government found it necessary to revise the provision requiring VAT returns to be submitted within 15 days after every three tax periods or three months by amending Section 64 of the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012.
As Parliament was not in session, the President promulgated the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, on October 14 under the authority granted by Article 93(1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, following Cabinet approval.
The Cabinet has now given final approval to the draft amendment bill, subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, with the aim of converting the ordinance into law during the current parliamentary session.
