Dhaka, June 2 -- The proposed national budget has fallen short of meeting the expectations of the business community in fostering a conducive environment for business growth and investment, said Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) President Taskeen Ahmed in his initial reaction on Monday.

"We have seen a few positive steps such as initiatives to control inflation, certain tax waivers, an automated return system, reduction of some advance taxes, the proposal for a central bonded warehouse, and VAT exemption on LNG imports. However, overall, it is a mixed budget, and businesses will still face pressure due to some of the tax burdens," he said.

On the issue of the tax-free income threshold, he noted that it has remained largely unc...