Prices of life-saving drugs, electronics may drop in new budget

Changes in the tax and duty structure in the national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year could lead to price reductions for several important products, the finance minister said on Thursday, June 11.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury presented the budget in the National Parliament. He said the move aims to reduce the cost of living for ordinary people and ensure the availability of essential goods.

Under the proposed budget, prices may drop for various life-saving medical products, including kidney dialysis services, heart rings or stents, intraocular lenses for eyes, assistive devices for persons with special needs, cancer drugs, other life-saving medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and various medical equipment.

The technology and electronics sector has also been proposed for tax benefits. This may reduce prices of laptops, desktop computers, printers, monitors, SSDs, POS machines, and various computer components.

Additionally, tax reductions have been proposed for baby food, various spices, dates, fertilisers, veterinary medicines, pesticides, and agricultural and fish feed.

Significant concessions have been made in the renewable energy and vehicle sector, including electric cars, electric buses and trucks, e-bikes, solar panels, lithium batteries, charging stations, and other green energy-related materials.

Consumer-level products that may see price drops include mobile phones, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, water purifiers, geysers, CCTV cameras, ATM machines, and various other electronic products. Some skincare and jewellery products may also become cheaper due to revisions in the tax structure.