Cost of cigarettes, phone call rate, internet may rise

The cost of several commodities and services may differ in the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2024-25, to be unveiled on Thursday (6 June). 

According to a source at the finance ministry, the prices of tobacco products, LED bulbs, and computers may go up. Additionally, the cost of mobile phone calls and internet may also rise. 

On the other hand, the prices of powdered milk and laptops may drop. 

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali is set to unveil a proposed Tk 7,96,900 crore national budget for fiscal year 2024-25 at Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on Thursday. It will be his maiden budget. 

This will be the country's 53rd budget and the 25th of the Awami League (AL) government in six terms.

The theme of the budget for the next fiscal year would be "Pledge towards building a happy, prosperous, developed and smart Bangladesh" in pursuit of turning the country's economy into its previous sound state.

Amid the global volatile condition and adversities, the finance minister is eying a 6.75 per cent GDP growth while containing the inflation at 6.50 per cent although the general point-to-point inflation is still hovering slightly below the double-digit mark albeit various efforts from the government to tame inflation.

Finance ministry officials said the possible budget size of Tk 7,96,900 crore would be 4.60 per cent or likely around Tk 35,115 crore higher than the budget of the outgoing fiscal year (FY24).