Dhaka, April 5 -- Describing the country's tax-to-GDP ratio as "unsatisfactory", Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has called for expanding the tax net rather than increasing tax rates to boost revenue collection.

The minister noted on Sunday that a significant portion of the economy remains outside the tax bracket.

"We must increase revenue by broadening the tax base, not by raising the burden on existing taxpayers," he said.

Muktadir made the remarks during a meeting at the NEC conference room of the Planning Commission in Agargaon.

He emphasised that strengthening debt management and increasing internal resource mobilisation are the most pressing needs given the current economic reality.

He acknowledged that Bangladesh is...