{"id":"bd","country":"bd","kind":"country","name":{"en":"Bangladesh","local":"বাংলাদেশ"},"languages":["bn","en"],"currency":"BDT","symbol":"৳","fxPerUsd":122.3,"cities":{"T1":"Dhaka","T2":"Rajshahi","T3":"Jamalpur"},"basket":{"teaCup":15,"simpleMeal":110,"haircutMen":120,"milkLitre":92,"breadLoaf":68,"unskilledDayWage":650,"minWageMonthly":12500,"shopRentSqftMonth":{"T1":120,"T2":50,"T3":25},"electricityCommercialKwh":15.5,"lpgCommercialCylinder":1837,"petrolLitre":165},"tax":{"salesTax":"VAT 15% standard (reduced rates 5-10% for some trades, e.g. small restaurants and retail)","smallBizThreshold":"VAT registration threshold reported at Tk 30 lakh pre-budget, with FY2026-27 proposal to cut to Tk 20 lakh (other guides cite Tk 50-80 lakh; enacted figure unconfirmed); small traders under the threshold pay simplified turnover tax (4% or a fixed category amount, capped at Tk 2 lakh)","localLevies":"City corporation / pourashava trade licence fee plus signboard tax and 15% VAT on licence fee; holding-tax pass-through in rent"},"licences":[{"name":"Trade licence (city corporation / pourashava / union parishad)","fee":"Est. Tk 500-5,000/yr for a small shop plus signboard tax; renewal each July","authority":"Dhaka North/South City Corporation or local government","source":"https://dncc.gov.bd"},{"name":"TIN (e-TIN) for income tax","fee":"Free, online","authority":"National Board of Revenue","source":"https://secure.incometax.gov.bd"},{"name":"BIN (VAT registration / turnover tax enlistment)","fee":"Free, online; may become mandatory for trade licence renewal","authority":"National Board of Revenue","source":"https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/411755/budget-fy27-small-businesses-to-come-under-wider"},{"name":"Food business registration / licence","fee":"Est. small fee; enforcement mostly via mobile courts","authority":"Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA)","source":"https://bfsa.gov.bd"},{"name":"Fire licence (for shops in markets, restaurants using gas)","fee":"Est. Tk 2,000-10,000","authority":"Fire Service and Civil Defence","source":"Est.: required for restaurants after Bailey Road fire (Feb 2024) crackdowns"}],"festivals":[{"name":"Ramadan","dates2026_27":"about 8 Feb – 9 Mar 2027","effect":"iftar stalls (piyaju, beguni, jilapi, haleem) boom from 3 pm; daytime tea stalls curtained or shut"},{"name":"Eid ul-Fitr","dates2026_27":"about 10 Mar 2027 (holiday ~5-9 days)","effect":"biggest retail peak; tailors stop new orders ~15th Ramadan; cities empty for a week as people go home"},{"name":"Pohela Boishakh (Bangla New Year)","dates2026_27":"14 Apr 2027","effect":"panta-ilish, sweets, clothing (red-white) and fair stalls; halkhata (shop new ledger) day when credit is settled"},{"name":"Eid ul-Adha","dates2026_27":"about 16–17 May 2027","effect":"cattle haats, butchers, spice and hide traders; restaurants quiet; long holiday"},{"name":"Durga Puja","dates2026_27":"about Oct 2027 (2026 edition ended ~21 Oct)","effect":"sweets, clothing, puja-mandap fair stalls in Hindu areas"},{"name":"Victory Day / winter fairs","dates2026_27":"16 Dec 2026; fairs Dec–Feb","effect":"pitha (rice cake) stalls and winter fair food boom"}],"seasons":[{"months":"Mar–May","what":"Pre-monsoon heat (38-42°C) and Kalbaishakhi storms; heatwave school closures; cold drinks up"},{"months":"Jun–Sep","what":"Monsoon: waterlogging in Dhaka/Chattogram, river floods in north and north-east; dengue peaks Jul–Oct"},{"months":"Apr–May, Oct–Nov","what":"Cyclone windows on the coast (Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram)"},{"months":"Dec–Feb","what":"Mild dry winter: best season for street food, pitha, tea and fairs; fog delays transport"}],"payments":{"digitalShare":"Est. 15-25% at small shops; bKash/Nagad mobile money widely held but street sales mostly cash","credit":"baki khata very common at mudi (grocery) shops, settled at halkhata on Pohela Boishakh"},"notes":"Bangladesh's small businesses run on lower wages and prices than India (a milk tea is Tk 10-20) but face weaker infrastructure: frequent load-shedding when gas-fired plants lack fuel, LPG cylinders that sell Tk 400-500 above the BERC official price, and fuel prices set by government order (octane Tk 165 after a 17% rise in Sep 2026). There is no single national minimum wage; boards set sector rates (garments Tk 12,500), and shop helpers are paid informally. Small traders pay a simplified turnover tax rather than full 15% VAT, and the trade licence from the city corporation is the key document. Mobile money (bKash) is far more important than cards, and India's UPI-style merchant QR is less common. Political hartals and blockades, monsoon flooding and dengue are major disruption risks. The tea stall (cha-er dokan, tong) also sells cigarettes, banana, bun and biscuits and serves both lal cha (sweet black tea) and condensed-milk tea. Ready-made garments are cheap, so tailoring centres on Eid and women's salwar kameez and blouses.","regions":[{"id":"bd-dhaka","name":"Dhaka Division","why":"highest rents and wages; DNCC/DSCC trade licence regime; traffic and waterlogging; shop closing-time orders"},{"id":"bd-chattogram","name":"Chattogram Division","why":"port city wholesale prices; hill-tract permit rules; cyclone exposure; Cox's Bazar tourism"},{"id":"bd-sylhet","name":"Sylhet Division","why":"remittance-rich (UK diaspora) high spending; tea estates with separate wage rules; flash floods"},{"id":"bd-khulna","name":"Khulna Division","why":"coastal cyclones and salinity; shrimp economy; lower rents"},{"id":"bd-rajshahi","name":"Rajshahi Division","why":"mango season economy; hot dry climate; low rents and wages"},{"id":"bd-rangpur","name":"Rangpur Division","why":"poorest division, seasonal hunger (monga) cycles; north river floods"}],"factors":[{"id":"P01","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage reference (garments, lowest grade)","value":"Tk 12,500/month (valid Mar 2026); no national minimum wage covering shops","role":"HV","source":"https://wageindicator.org/work/minimum-wage/countries/bangladesh42204-dhaka-ready-made-garment/49676-grade-4","estimate":false},{"id":"P02","cat":"Wages","name":"Other sector minimum wages (leather, junior operator)","value":"Tk 8,525/month total","role":"HV","source":"https://wageindicator.org/work/minimum-wage/countries/bangladesh50425-leather-goods-and-footwear/50428-grade-4","estimate":false},{"id":"P03","cat":"Wages","name":"Typical tea-stall / shop helper pay","value":"Tk 6,000-10,000/month plus meals and sleeping in shop","role":"HV","source":"Est.: below RMG floor; informal sector; Numbeo average net salary Tk 27,772 (Oct 2026)","estimate":true},{"id":"P04","cat":"Wages","name":"Unskilled day labour (T2)","value":"Tk 600-700/day (Dhaka Tk 800+)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: from RMG floor Tk 12,500/26 = Tk 480 plus casual-labour premium","estimate":true},{"id":"P05","cat":"Rent","name":"Small shop rent, T1 Dhaka (neighbourhood market)","value":"Tk 80-200/sq ft/month; advance of 6-12 months common","role":"HV","source":"Est.: from typical Dhaka listings; no official series","estimate":true},{"id":"P06","cat":"Rent","name":"Small shop rent, T2 Rajshahi and T3 Jamalpur","value":"T2 Tk 40-60; T3 Tk 20-30 per sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: scaled from T1 by tier ratios","estimate":true},{"id":"P07","cat":"Rent","name":"Rent advance / salami","value":"Landlords take 3-12 months' advance; market shops sold by 'position' (salami) in Dhaka","role":"PD","source":"Est.: common market practice; no official data","estimate":true},{"id":"P08","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial electricity (LT commercial)","value":"About Tk 15-16/kWh after the June 2026 tariff rise (average retail rose Tk 9.11 → Tk 10.40)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: commercial slab historically ~1.5x average retail; average from https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/power-energy/411765/berc-withdraws-excess-power-tariff-for-up-to-75","estimate":true},{"id":"P09","cat":"Energy","name":"LPG 12 kg cylinder, BERC official","value":"Tk 1,837 for Oct 2026 (Tk 1,585 in Sep)","role":"HV","source":"https://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/lpg-price-rises-by-tk21-per-kg-12kg-cylinder-now-tk1837/196983","estimate":false},{"id":"P10","cat":"Energy","name":"LPG market price gap","value":"Cylinders selling at Tk 2,300+ (21 Oct 2026); BERC hearing 29 Oct on bottlers' Tk 2,137 request","role":"RE","source":"https://bdnews24.com/business/o5pyyc2pz3","estimate":false},{"id":"P11","cat":"Energy","name":"Octane / petrol per litre","value":"Octane Tk 165, petrol Tk 160, diesel Tk 135, kerosene Tk 155 (Oct 2026, unchanged from Sep hike of up to 17%)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/power-energy/421056/fuel-prices-unchanged-for-october","estimate":false},{"id":"P12","cat":"Energy","name":"Kerosene stoves at tea stalls","value":"Many tea stalls still use kerosene stoves or clay chula with wood; kerosene Tk 155/L","role":"PD","source":"https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/power-energy/421056/fuel-prices-unchanged-for-october","estimate":false},{"id":"P13","cat":"Energy","name":"Load-shedding","value":"1-6 h/day in summer outside Dhaka when gas/LNG is short","role":"RE","source":"Est.: recurring summer shortfalls 2022-26","estimate":true},{"id":"P14","cat":"Prices","name":"Milk tea at a roadside stall","value":"Tk 10-20 (lal cha Tk 8-10); was Tk 10 milk tea in 2022","role":"HV","source":"Est.: updated from 2022 Daily Star survey https://d11.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/tea-prices-rise-dhakas-roadside-stalls-2987081 for 2023-26 inflation (~9%/yr)","estimate":true},{"id":"P15","cat":"Prices","name":"Milk, 1 litre","value":"Tk 92 (range Tk 65-110; loose milk cheaper, condensed milk widely used in tea)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Bangladesh","estimate":false},{"id":"P16","cat":"Prices","name":"White bread 500 g","value":"Tk 68","role":"HV","source":"https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Bangladesh","estimate":false},{"id":"P17","cat":"Prices","name":"Simple meal (bhat-dal-bhorta-egg at a hotel)","value":"Tk 90-130; inexpensive restaurant Tk 200","role":"HV","source":"Est.: below Numbeo inexpensive restaurant Tk 200 https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Bangladesh","estimate":true},{"id":"P18","cat":"Prices","name":"Men's haircut (T2)","value":"Tk 80-150","role":"HV","source":"Est.: no 2026 survey; scaled from wages","estimate":true},{"id":"P19","cat":"Tax","name":"VAT standard rate","value":"15%","role":"HV","source":"https://trykintsugi.com/sales-tax-guides/apac/bangladesh","estimate":false},{"id":"P20","cat":"Tax","name":"VAT registration threshold","value":"Tk 30 lakh pre-budget; FY27 budget proposed Tk 20 lakh (enacted figure unconfirmed)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/411755/budget-fy27-small-businesses-to-come-under-wider","estimate":false},{"id":"P21","cat":"Tax","name":"Turnover tax for small traders","value":"4% of turnover from 1 Jul 2026, or fixed category/location amount capped at Tk 2 lakh, no VAT books","role":"PD","source":"https://trykintsugi.com/sales-tax-guides/apac/bangladesh","estimate":false},{"id":"P22","cat":"Tax","name":"BIN tied to trade licence renewal","value":"Proposed: BIN mandatory to renew trade licence","role":"HV","source":"https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/411755/budget-fy27-small-businesses-to-come-under-wider","estimate":false},{"id":"P23","cat":"Licences","name":"Trade licence","value":"Mandatory from city corporation/pourashava; annual renewal by fiscal year (July)","role":"HV","source":"https://dncc.gov.bd","estimate":false},{"id":"P24","cat":"Licences","name":"Food safety enforcement","value":"BFSA and mobile courts fine restaurants Tk 10,000-200,000 for hygiene/adulteration","role":"RE","source":"Est.: frequent mobile-court drives reported 2023-26; https://bfsa.gov.bd","estimate":true},{"id":"P25","cat":"Rules","name":"Shop closing time","value":"Dhaka shops ordered to close by 8 pm at times (energy saving, 2022-23); Labour Act weekly half-day closure","role":"RE","source":"Est.: Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 s.114 and 2022 government directive","estimate":true},{"id":"P26","cat":"Rules","name":"Polythene bag ban","value":"Thin polythene banned since 2002, re-enforced at supermarkets 2024; jute/paper bags push up costs","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Environment Conservation Act amendment 2002; 2024 enforcement drives","estimate":true},{"id":"P27","cat":"Rules","name":"Weekend","value":"Friday (and Saturday for offices); Friday prayer time slows trade 12:30-2 pm","role":"HV","source":"Est.: official working week","estimate":true},{"id":"P28","cat":"Payments","name":"Mobile financial services","value":"bKash/Nagad dominate; merchant QR growing; cash still most street sales","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Bangladesh Bank MFS statistics show over 200 million registered accounts","estimate":true},{"id":"P29","cat":"Payments","name":"Baki (credit) and halkhata","value":"Grocers carry customer credit, settled each Pohela Boishakh at halkhata","role":"PD","source":"Est.: long-standing trade custom","estimate":true},{"id":"P30","cat":"Finance","name":"Microfinance and SME loans","value":"BRAC, Grameen, ASA microloans (Tk 20,000-500,000) at ~24% flat cap; SME Foundation credit wholesaling","role":"PD","source":"Est.: Microcredit Regulatory Authority 24% interest cap","estimate":true},{"id":"P31","cat":"Calendar","name":"Eid ul-Fitr peak and exodus","value":"Clothing/shoe sales peak; Dhaka empties 5-9 days, local food stalls lose trade","role":"HV","source":"Est.: annual Eid holiday pattern","estimate":true},{"id":"P32","cat":"Calendar","name":"Ramadan iftar market","value":"Iftar items sell 2-4x; tea stalls lose daytime trade","role":"HV","source":"Est.: annual pattern","estimate":true},{"id":"P33","cat":"Climate","name":"Heatwave","value":"Apr-May 40°C+, daytime footfall drops","role":"RE","source":"Est.: BMD heatwave alerts 2023-26","estimate":true},{"id":"P34","cat":"Risk","name":"Hartal / blockade / political unrest","value":"Shutdowns of 1-7 days; 2024 uprising curfews and internet blackout","role":"RE","source":"Est.: recurring political shutdowns; July-Aug 2024 curfew","estimate":true},{"id":"P35","cat":"Risk","name":"Floods and waterlogging","value":"Annual urban waterlogging; major river floods some years","role":"RE","source":"Est.: FFWC flood records","estimate":true},{"id":"P36","cat":"Risk","name":"Cyclone","value":"Coastal districts lose 2-7 days trade","role":"RE","source":"Est.: BMD cyclone history","estimate":true},{"id":"P37","cat":"Risk","name":"Dengue outbreak","value":"Jul-Oct; staff sickness and lower evening footfall","role":"RE","source":"Est.: DGHS dengue data","estimate":true},{"id":"P38","cat":"Risk","name":"Fuel/LPG shock","value":"Octane up Tk 20 in Sep 2026; LPG +Tk 252 in Oct","role":"RE","source":"https://www.nst.com.my/amp/business/economy/2026/09/1537323/bangladesh-raises-fuel-prices-17pct-amid-global-oil-price-surge","estimate":false},{"id":"P39","cat":"Language","name":"Business language","value":"Bangla almost universal; English for formal paperwork","role":"HV","source":"Est.: census language data","estimate":true},{"id":"P40","cat":"Economy","name":"Per-capita income","value":"About US$2,800","role":"HV","source":"Est.: BBS FY2025 per-capita income ~US$2,820 https://bbs.gov.bd","estimate":true},{"id":"P41","cat":"Economy","name":"Urbanisation","value":"About 32% urban (2022 census); ~40% by World Bank estimate","role":"HV","source":"https://bbs.gov.bd","estimate":false},{"id":"P42","cat":"Business","name":"Tea stall format","value":"Tong/cha-er dokan sells tea plus cigarettes, banana, bun; condensed milk and lal cha; mostly 1-person","role":"HV","source":"https://www.bangladeshmonitor.com.bd/hotel-pdf/desi-tea-tales-and-trends","estimate":false},{"id":"P43","cat":"Business","name":"Flexiload / mobile shops","value":"Mobile top-up and bKash agent counters bolted onto grocery and repair shops for commission income","role":"PD","source":"Est.: ubiquitous agent model","estimate":true}]}