BANGLADESH NEWS
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday called for spurring all people eligible for paying tax to bring them under tax net to boost revenue and free the country from the net of the income beyond tax.
"There is no alternative to increasing revenue as we want to stand on our own feet and fulfil our development goals with own financing," she said while inaugurating the online tax payment system at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital this morning.
The prime minister said the country witnessed a tremendous success in realisation of direct taxes over the last three years due to various pragmatic steps of the government.
The country witnessed 18 percent growth and almost a double revenue income in the current fiscal due to this success, she said.
To retain this progress, the tax net and the number of taxpayers will have to be increased, she said, urging the taxpayers and recipients to change their mindset in this regard.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, PM's Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman and President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) AK Azad also spoke at the function presided over by National Board of Revenue Chairman (NBR) Nasiruddin Ahmed.
The prime minister said her government has reformed and modernised the tax administration and developed infrastructure to enhance revenue.
"We have also simplified tax payment system much and introduced tax information and service centres, arranged tax fair and developed the tax policy and management," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken initiatives to make the income tax and value added tax (VAT) laws time- befitting. "We have also taken measures for expansion of income tax and VAT departments including construction of a modern revenue building in Dhaka," she said.
The prime minister said the country moved another step forward towards digitalisation with the inauguration of tax payment system through online.
"The system has opened up a new horizon of flourishing tax payment culture in Bangladesh as many Asian countries could not introduce the system," she said, congratulating the persons involved in this success.
Sheikh Hasina expressed the hope that the new system would help boost revenue by encouraging all people eligible for paying tax in tax payment.
She, however, called upon the all concerned to improve the system gradually on the basis of the demands of the taxpayers.
"You will also have to earn ability of regular maintenance of interactive tax website and bearing the pressure of the taxpayers in August-September," she said.
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