Dhaka, June 24 -- Bangladesh's chronic revenue shortfall and lack of tax compliance are at the heart of its fiscal and developmental challenges, said Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, special assistant to the chief adviser of the interim government, on Monday.

He made the observation at a post-budget discussion organised by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) in Dhaka. The event was a joint collaboration between MCCI and Policy Research Institute (PRI).

"The crux of the problem is we have a very low revenue. Our tax-to-GDP ratio is so low; it's really ridiculous," he said. "You simply cannot do anything with the little budget we have."

He pointed out that questions about inadequate spending on health, education or rising fisc...