Jamaat amir urges govt to scrap motorcycle tax plan

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman has called on the government to withdraw a reported plan to impose advance income tax on motorcycles.

According to reports, the government is considering bringing motorcycles under the tax net in the 2026–27 fiscal year by introducing an annual advance income tax of between Tk 2,000 and Tk 10,000, depending on engine capacity.

In a Facebook post published at around 11:15am on Sunday (May 17), Dr Shafiqur Rahman urged the authorities to reconsider the proposal.

He said media reports suggested that the plan would place an additional tax burden on motorcycle owners. He noted that most motorcycle users are not financially well-off and rely on these vehicles for their livelihoods.

While acknowledging the need to broaden the tax base to increase state revenue, he said additional taxation on people already under financial pressure would be inappropriate.

He expressed hope that the government would step back from the proposal if it was under active consideration. Otherwise, he warned, it would be seen as a decision against public interest.