Prime Minister Tarique Rahman officially opened the Revenue Conference 2026 on Tuesday, marking the nation's second major gathering aimed at accelerating revenue generation and broadening the tax base.

Organized by the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the flagship event took place at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.

Following the inauguration, the Prime Minister toured various exhibition stalls demonstrating revenue collection operations, administrative procedures, and strategies designed to expand the tax footprint.

A thematic video documentary titled “We Will Pay Taxes and Build the Country” was also featured during the opening proceedings.

Acting NBR Chairman Ahsan Habib presided over the session and moderated an interactive dialogue between the Prime Minister and personnel from various revenue departments, during which field officials shared their operational experiences and institutional challenges.

Addressing the gathering, PM Tarique Rahman called on NBR personnel to "put past differences behind them and work together with honesty, efficiency and dedication for the country’s progress."

He underscored that the administration intends to advance through collective action and is "committed to creating an environment that fosters honest and capable officials to contribute more effectively."

Recognizing the operational hurdles faced by revenue personnel, the Prime Minister assured that the government will "give due consideration to their legitimate demands while also ensuring the prudent use of taxpayers’ money."

He urged all stakeholders to execute their duties dutifully to drive positive national transformation.

The session also featured addresses by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, and acting NBR Chairman Ahsan Habib.

Designed to enhance systemic transparency and accountability, this year’s convention serves to familiarize taxpayers and commercial entities with NBR’s structural reforms, procedural framework and revenue collection operations.

Dedicated divisions handling income tax, value-added tax (VAT), and customs are slated to present their specific action plans and key priorities to discuss methods for increasing revenue mobilization.

This event is the second iteration of its kind in Bangladesh's history, following the inaugural revenue conference organized by the NBR in 2023, which featured seminars across income tax, VAT, and customs, alongside informational kiosks and a revenue history museum.

Attended by roughly 1,500 participants—including senior government officials, economic experts, and key figures from trade and revenue sectors—the conference represented Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first direct interaction with NBR personnel during his tenure, allowing him to gain firsthand insight into field-level operations and structural bottlenecks.