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“This has created a trust deficit among taxpayers,” he said.

He said the CAG alone cannot ensure accountability in the use of public money if overall governance remains weak, and unless the elected representatives in parliament hold the executive branch to account to ensure proper use of taxpayers’ money.

Central planning is another reason.

Chowdhury pointed out that budgetary decisions are often made centrally, with little consideration for grassroots needs.

“In many cases, we see culverts built where there is no need for them,” he said. The centralised decision-making process results in funds being misallocated and public money wasted.

The disbursement of public funds is further undermined by intermediaries, Chowdhury said. “Funds are siphoned off by middlemen, with the intended beneficiaries receiving little to no benefit.”

Chowdhury, also a former finance secretary, recommended greater use of technology to modernise services and prevent such leakages.

“The upcoming budget offers a chance for the government to reallocate resources. Stop spending on physical infrastructure and focus on social sectors and social protection to benefit more people,” he said.

“We have enough roads and buildings. So we do not need new ones. All we need is quality teachers to ensure quality education and more public healthcare facilities,” said Chowdhury.

Ashraf Ahmed, former president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), said taxes are the price for civilisation.

“No taxes mean no roads, schools, emergency services, or legal frameworks -- all of which exist because we fund them collectively,” he said.

“Imagine a world without fire brigades or roads, where your house burns with none to put out the blaze. That is the reality we risk if taxes vanish.”

However, he acknowledged that government services often fall short, frequently because insufficient tax revenues limit investment in capacity building.

“The state -- and the taxes that fund it -- are the very systems shielding us from disorder. As citizens, we must demand efficiency, transparency, and accountability. We do not want to pay intermediaries for what we have already funded collectively,” he said.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said that harassment and corruption discourage many taxpayers from paying their dues.

Citing a TIB study, he said, “Some 77 percent of people believe they have to pay extra to receive services.”

The complexity of tax compliance and corruption further dissuade potential taxpayers.

“Tax authorities appear like a type of hell for those wanting to comply legally, but for tax evaders, it is a sort of heaven,” he said.

According to Iftekharuzzaman, taxes are evaded in collusion with taxmen. And to attain revenue goals, he said indirect tax is collected from all, regardless of income group.