Dhaka, Oct. 2 -- A much-debated mid-year fiscal measure hiking taxes earns more ire than additional revenue income to uplift Bangladesh's low tax-to-GDP ratio in the past fiscal year.

Fearing a large shortfall in tax-revenue collection in the bygone year, the interim government imposed increased taxes on a range of 100 items last January but receipts trailed targets in five major sectors, with cigarettes having miserably missed its bumped-up mark by Tk 20.18 billion.

Excise-duty hike on air tickets also lost gear, missing its target by Tk 230 million in the past fiscal year.

A latest assessment document prepared by the value-added tax (VAT) wing of the revenue board on reasons for failing to get to the goals in raising revenues reveals...