Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury stating that taxes need to be increased to revive the economy is a pragmatic and necessary viewpoint. 

Yet raising taxes is only one part of the equation. What Bangladesh truly needs is a better tax culture -- one that is rooted in fairness, transparency, and trust.

There is no denying that Bangladesh cannot hope to sustain development, fund essential services, or reduce its debt burden without broadening the tax base. However, what is also true is that for too long, the country has relied on a narrow pool of taxpayers. 

While leaving the majority of citizens outside the system deprives the state of vital revenue, citizens must also not feel hounded by arbitrary enforcement or burdened by complex procedures, while the wealthy and politically-connected continue to evade their obligations with impunity. 

It is this inequity that has eroded confidence in the system. Not only do people feel it a burden to pay taxes, but the impunity enjoyed by politically-connected individuals undermines the very purpose of taxation.

Thus, while we need more taxes, it starts with tax reforms designed to simplify compliance, reduce harassment, and ensure that enforcement is targeted where it matters most: Against those who have the means but choose not to contribute. 

At the same time, the government must demonstrate that tax revenues are being used responsibly -- funding infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social protection. For citizens to see taxation not as a punishment, but as a shared investment in the nation’s future, this is non-negotiable.

Raising taxes without addressing evasion and inequity will only deepen public resentment. But raising taxes alongside reforms that make the system fairer, more transparent, and more accountable can build the trust necessary for long‑term sustainability. A genuine tax culture where everyone pays their fair share is what the nation needs.