Dhaka, May 18 -- Speakers in a discussion highlighted that excessive reliance on indirect taxes, such as Value Added Tax (VAT) and Advance Income Tax (AIT), to finance the national budget is significantly driving up inflation and slowing down investment growth in Bangladesh.

They voiced the concern at a roundtable discussion titled 'Over-reliance on Indirect Taxes: Multifaceted Impacts on the Economy,' organized by the platform 'Voice for Reform' at the BDBL Bhaban in the capital's Kawran Bazar on Monday.

Snehasish Barua (FCA), Director of SMAC Advisory Services, presented the keynote paper at the event, which was moderated by Fahim Mashroor, co-coordinator of Voice for Reform.

The roundtable brought together prominent economists, form...