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DHAKA, Oct 2 (Reuters) Bangladesh's revenue receipts rose 8.29 percent in August to 25.89 billion taka ($383.96 million) from a year earlier, but were short of a 34 billion taka average monthly target, according to government data on Monday.

In July-August, the first two months of the current fiscal year, revenue collection totalled 50.35 billion taka, up 10.43 percent from a year earlier. Value added tax collections totalled 20.11 billion taka, up 17.77 percent from a year ago.

July-August customs duty receipts were up 3.8 percent at 12.96 billion taka, while income tax receipts rose 17.92 percent to 6.73 billion taka.

Bangladesh has set a fiscal 2006/07 revenue collection target of 410.55 billion taka, around 20 percent higher than a year earlier's revised target.

While National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials say the new target is ambitious, they remain confident they can meet it due to measures they have taken, such as stepping up the fight against tax evasion, early resolution of tax-related legal disputes and streamlining collection activities in the field.

Revenue receipts in the 2005/06 fiscal year to June were 338.9 billion taka, 13 percent up on the previous year, but 6.44 billion taka short of the revised annual target.

Bangladesh has been persistently pressed by donor agencies, including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, to raise revenue collection to reduce dependence on foreign aid.

(US$1=69.7 taka) REUTERS CS VV1429