Dhaka Raises Property Fees Starting September Under New City Corporation Bill

The City Corporation Amendment Bill, passed by the national parliament on 28 June, requires all city corporations to update their fee schedules for waste removal and road maintenance. In Dhaka the changes will apply to 3.2 million households served by the North and South City Corporations.

The legislation forms part of the government’s annual bill-tracking exercise that compares revenue performance across the country’s ten largest municipalities. Officials began the review after the 2025-26 national budget set minimum collection targets for each corporation.

Effects on household costs and local services

Under the new schedule a typical Dhaka apartment will pay an extra 120 taka per month for waste collection. The same category of property in Khulna will pay 80 taka, while Chittagong has set its increase at 95 taka. Local advocates note that the difference reflects Dhaka’s larger road network and higher volume of commercial waste.

Small businesses operating from ground-floor shops in Dhaka’s Mirpur and Motijheel areas will also face revised annual trade licences. The bill states that licence fees must rise by at least 12 percent, compared with a 9 percent minimum in Rajshahi and Sylhet.

The 2025-26 budget paper allocates 1,450 crore taka to Dhaka North City Corporation for drainage upgrades, an amount 35 percent larger than the sum assigned to Chittagong City Corporation for the same purpose.

Next steps for residents and corporations

City corporations must publish updated fee notices by 15 August. The Local Government Division will publish quarterly progress reports that track whether each municipality meets its revenue target. Residents can submit objections to the new rates through ward offices until 10 September.